Trip to Italy - Journal Entry #12e - September 24, 2009 - 8:42 am
Chris and I saw one more site in Florence today. We returned to the central Duomo and went into the next door Baptistry (which has very limited hours and was closed in the morning). The Baptistry is almost empty inside. Once again, the attraction here is the art work on the inside of the dome. But what distinguishes this ceiling is that it is constructed of mosaic, gold leaf tiles. It shimmers! The panels tell several Christian stories including the story of creation, thestory of Mary and Jesus, and the entry
into heaven or hell. These were some of the most beautiful panels we've seen. Interestingly, the individual artists who created these mosaic scenes are unknown.
There is a major attraction on the outside of the Baptistry as well. It is the celebrated doors created by Lorenzo Ghiberti in the 1420's. The doors, called the "Gate of Paradise," were commissioned to mark Florence's
deliverance from the plague. They are quite remarkable. And of course, they are gold. [Actually, the doors we saw are copies. The originals are in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.]
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