Duomo in Florence - Santa Maria del Fiore, Firenze

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is Florence's Cathedral. It is simply known as Il Duomo, and is located in the heart of Florence's centro storico. Il Duomo is known for its massive dome, which can be seen from the surrounding hills. Florence's Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore aka Il Duomo is the fourth largest cathedral in the world.

Florence Cathedral Il Duomo was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to the design of Arnolfo di Cambio and completed structurally in 1436 with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi.

Giotto, who was the Florence city architect at the time, designed the Campanile, the bell tower, next to Florence's Dome around 1334, when he was assigned to take voer overseeing all construction as the city of Florence architect. Although the giant Dome was part of the plan neither Cambio nor the great artist, architect & engineer Giotto had an idea how it would actually be built, as engineers in the early Renaissance did not have the experience to build such a Dome like the one atop the Pantheon in Rome, which was built by the Ancient Romans about 1500 years earlier.

The Dome's architecture and design led in 1419 to a contest financed by Florence's Cosimo de Medici to find a great engineer who in the late medieval Italy had the vision to engineer the Dome to completion. The two main competitors were Lorenzo Ghiberti (famous for his work on the "Gates of Paradise" doors at the Baptistery) and Filippo Brunelleschi who was supported by Cosimo de Medici, with Brunelleschi winning and receiving the commission. Although Brunelleschi won, Ghiberti, appointed co-adjutator, mocked his plans and called them unfeasible. Brunelleschi, deeply offended, then pretended a sickness and left for Rome, leaving the project in the hands of Ghiberti. But Ghiberti soon had to admit that the whole project was beyond him. In 1423 Brunelleschi was back in charge and took over sole responsibility.

Brunelleschi had to invent special hoisting machines for hoisting large stones. These specially designed machines and brilliant masonry techniques were Brunelleschi's spectacular contribution to architecture. The ability to transcribe a circle on a cone face within the innermost double-shelled wall makes the self-sustaining "horizontal" arch construction possible, since geometrically, a circular plan is needed for such an erection.

It could be said that the word "creativity" and the end of the medieval period marking the beginning of the Renaissance occurred when men like Brunelleschi, Giotto, Da Vinci et. al challenged their own vision and imagination to accomplish architectural structures and works of art previously thought to be impossible. In fact, creativity was only associated with great minds who attained previously thought of impossibilities, unlike the late 20th century and early 21st century when rap music and inexplicable contemporary modern art are considered creative expression by some opinion leaders and art leaders.

Brunelleschi's Dome was in fact an enormous and revolutionary achievement. Much like the art of frecoes, which was lost around the time of the eruption of Vesuvius in the 1st century, the formula for concrete had long since been forgotten as well. Therefore, Brunelleschi would have to build the dome out of bricks, 7 million bricks in fact, with the inner shell providing a platform for the timbers that supported the outside brick structure. To show what his dome was to look like, Brunelleschi constructed a wooden and brick model of Il Duomo with the help of Donatello and Nanni di Banco, which model may be seen in the Museum Opera del Duomo, next door to Il Duomo. In gthe Museum Opera del Duomo you may also see Donatello's wooden sculpture of Mary Magdellan. His model served as a guide for the craftsmen, but was intentionally incomplete, as to ensure his control over the construction or as we would say today to preserve his intellectual property over the design of the dome.

Brunelleschi's solutions were ingenious and unprecedented: the distinctive octagonal design of the double-walled dome, resting on a drum and not on the roof itself, allowed for the entire dome to be built without the need for scaffolding from the ground, the first large dome ever to be built without centering. But, because the dome rested on a drum with no external buttresses supporting it, there could be no lateral thrusts at the base of the dome.

There are 463 steps to the top, which today travelers to Florence may climb to find some of the best panoramic views of the city. Other highlights include a cavernous interior, many wonderful frescoes, detailed ceiling mosaics that portray Dante's circles of Hell and stained-glass windows created by some of the greatest artists of the time, such as Vasari, Zuccari, Donatello, Uccello and Ghiberti.

The cathedral was consecrated by Pope Eugene IV on March 25, 1436 (the first day of the year according to the Florentine calendar). It was the first 'octagonal' dome in history to be built without a wooden supporting frame (The Roman Pantheon, a circular dome, was built in 117–128 A.D. with support structures). It was one of the most impressive projects of the Renaissance. During the consecration service in 1436, Guillaume Dufay's similarly unique motet Nuper rosarum flores was performed. The structure of this motet was strongly influenced by the structure of the dome.

Brunelleschi's ability to crown the dome with a lantern was questioned and he had to undergo another competition. He was declared the winner over his competitors Lorenzo Ghiberti and Antonio Ciaccheri. His design was for an octagonal lantern with eight radiating buttresses and eight high arched windows (now on display in the Museum Opera del Duomo). Construction of the lantern was begun a few months before his death in 1446. Then, for 15 years, little progress was possible, due to alterations by several architects. The lantern was finally completed by Brunelleschi's friend Michelozzo in 1461. The conical roof was crowned with a gilt copper ball and cross, containing holy relics, by Verrocchio in 1469. This brings the total height of the dome and lantern to 114.5 meters (375 ft). This copper ball was struck by lightning on 17 July 1600 and fell down. It was replaced by an even larger one two years later.

Piazza del Duomo
Firenze 50122 Italy
+39 055 215 380
info@duomofirenze.it
Open Hours10am-5.30pm Mon-Sat (10am-3.30pm 1st Sat each month); 1-5pm Sun
Click here for the Duomo Offical Website

For more about Florence travel and things to do in Florence visit Italian Broadcasting Company 24/7 Italy TV on demand at www.WebVisionItaly.com

Genoa Italy - Great Italy Destination & Home of Christopher Columbus

Genoa Italy offers the Italy vacation traveler fine food, great museums, a lively city, and history which inlcudes the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, explorer and sailor who discovered the new world and changed Western history in 1492.

Christopher Columbus is known as ‘the man who discovered America’, when he set sail from Europe trying to find a westward sea passage to the Orient. He instead landed in the Caribbean Sea dubbed The New World in 1492. Today is the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492 in the Julian calendar and October 21, 1492 in the modern Gregorian calendar.

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa in 1451. His father was a weaver and small-time merchant, and Columbus had two more siblings. As a teenager, Christopher started his sea voyages traveling extensively. Columbus eventually made Portugal his base. It was from here, in Portugal that he attempted to gain royal patronage for a westward voyage to the Orient - his ‘Enterprise of the Indies’. No king or royal kingdom was ready to fund his project. He tried to convince them, but failed everywhere, except for the Spanish King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella who saw some promise in his proposal. Finally, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to sponsor this historic sailing expedition, and on 3 August 1492, Columbus and his fleet of three ships, the Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Niña, set sail across the Atlantic. Some two and a half months later, they sighted land.

On 12 October, Columbus and a group of his men set foot on an island’s soil, what later became famously known as the Bahamas. However, Columbus thought that he had reached the Indies, so the sailors started calling the natives of that island as ‘Indians’. In all, Columbus made 4 voyages to the west, till his health degraded badly and he was unable to sail further. He died of arthritis and malaria. The anniversary of Columbus's 1492 landing in the Americas is observed as Columbus Day on October 12 in Spain and throughout the Americas, except that in the United States it is observed on the second Monday in October.

With his four voyages of exploration and several attempts at establishing a settlement on the island of Hispanila (Dominican Republic and Haiti), all funded by Isabella I of Castile. Columbus initiated the process of Spanish colonization, which foreshadowed general European colonization of the "New World."

Funding for Christopher Columbus expedition to The New World
Columbus sought financing from all the European Monarchs at the end of the 15th century. On 1 May 1486 Columbus presented his plans to Queen Isabella, who, in turn, referred it to a committee. Althought the committee rejected the plan, to keep Columbus from taking his ideas elsewhere, and perhaps to keep their options open, Ferdinand and Isabella, known as the Catholic Monarchs, gave him an annual allowance of 12,000 maravedia and in 1489 furnished him with a letter ordering all cities and towns under the the domain of Ferdinand and Isabella to provide him food and lodging at no cost.

After continually lobbying at the Spanish court and two years of negotiations, he finally had success in 1492. Ferdinand and Isabella had just conquered Granada, the last Muslim stronghold on the Iberian peninsula, and they received Columbus in Cordoba, in the Alcazar castle. Isabella turned Columbus down on the advice of her confessor, and he was leaving town by mule in despair, when Ferdinand intervened. Isabella then sent a royal guard to fetch him and Ferdinand later claimed credit for being "the principal cause why those islands were discovered".

About half of the financing was to come from private Italian investors, whom Columbus had already lined up. Financially broke after the Granada campaign, the monarchs left it to the royal treasurer to shift funds among various royal accounts on behalf of the enterprise. Columbus was to be made "Admiral of the Seas" and would receive a portion of all profits. The terms were unusually generous, but as his son later wrote, the monarchs did not really expect him to return.
According to the contract that Columbus made with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, if Columbus discovered any new islands or mainland, he would receive many high rewards.

In terms of power, he would be given the rank of Admiral of the Ocean Sea and appointed Viceroy and Governor of all the new lands. He had the right to nominate three persons, from whom the sovereigns would choose one, for any office in the new lands. He would be entitled to 10% of all the revenues from the new lands in perpetuity; this part was denied to him in the contract, although it was one of his demands. Additionally, he would also have the option of buying one-eighth interest in any commercial venture with the new lands and receive one-eighth of the profits.

Columbus was later arrested in 1500 and supplanted from these posts. After his death, Columbus's sons, Diego and Fernando, took legal action to enforce their father's contract. Many of the smears against Columbus were initiated by the Castilian crown during these lengthy court cases, known as the pleitos colombinos. The family had some success in their first litigation, as a judgment of 1511 confirmed Diego's position as Viceroy, but reduced his powers. Diego resumed litigation in 1512, which lasted until 1536, and further disputes continued until 1790.

My Rome-Walking Tour Guide Maurizio Meyer walks Rome

My Rome-Walking Tour with Maurizio Meyer from old Rome centro storico Campo de' Fiori and Piazza Navona, walking through Rome's cobblestone streets passing Palazzo Farnese, walk down to Via Giulia cross Ponte Sisto over Tiber River west to Trastevere, and then climbing the Janiculum Hill for bird's eye views of Rome.

On the way Maurizio brings us to some off the beaten path Rome points of interest - each providing the Rome traveler verious bird's eye views of Rome.

Across the Tiber from Trastevere is Knights of Malta sovereign land for a look through the most famous keyhole in the world and the famous view of Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica Dome.

Maurizio's Rome tour also includes a jaunt to Monte Mario for a fabulous bird's eye view of all Rome the Tiber River and Ponte Milvio.

Maurizio's My Rome Walking Tour climb up Janiculum Hill from Trastevere offers all kinds of views of Rome's centro storico:


Rome Walking Map

Click this link for larger Rome Map: My Rome Walking Tour: Maurizio's Rome VIDEO Walking Tour of Rome Map

Fendi Spring Summer 2010: Milan Fashion Week

Fendi Fashion Show Spring Summer 2010: Milan Fashion Week

Missoni Sping Summer 2010 Fashion Show: Milan Fashion Week

Missoni Sping Summer 2010 Milan Fashion Show: Milan Fashion Week 2009

Milan Fashion Week wraps up after the Women's Spring Summer 2010 fashion shows from Italy's fashion designers. The world loves to see what's in store from famous Made In Italy fashion brands like Armani, Bottega Veneta, Cavalli, Dolce & Gabanna, Ferre, Ferretti, Gucci, Prada, Moschino & Versace.

WebVisionItaly.com brings you Milan Fashion Week, September 2009, where the runway models are strutting the fashion cat walks showing off the latest designs by Made in Italy brands. Here enjoy video of Missoni Spring Summer 2010 Fashion Runway.