[Sept. 2021] After having the first wonderful meal in Florence, Italy, even though we were full and drowsy, we hurried to visit the baptistery of the Duomo, which we had reserved.
I’ve seen the Duomo in Florence many times, but when I went out to the Duomo Square, I could not help myself saying “wow”.
In addition to its beautiful appearance, its size is amazing.
Once upon a time, when I was young and energetic, I had a hard time climbing to the top of the dome and bell tower of the Duomo, but since I had never been in the baptistery, we decided that seeing it would be the highlight of sightseeing this time.
We arrived at the entrance of the baptistery a little later at 3:15 of the reservation time, but the person in charge said, “The museum will close first, so please go there.”
This ticket was a combination of the baptistery and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
The museum is behind the Duomo and we found it without any difficulties.
This museum is said to have a history dating from 1891, but it has recently been refurbished and has a modern feel.
On one side of the stylish corridor, the names of the people involved in the construction of the Duomo, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery were engraved.
Sculptures are collected in the large room on the ground floor, and the original of the famous “Gate of Paradise” in the baptistery is also here.
The gate on the baptistery is now a replica.
The reason for the “Gate of Paradise” is that it was so wonderful that Michelangelo called it that way.
It’s gold, but it’s not made of gold, it’s gold-plated, and the material is copper.
According to our guidebook, there was a competition for the gates of the baptistery in the 15th century, and Brunelleschi, who built the cupola of the Duomo, and Ghiberti, who was young, jointly received an order, but Brunelleschi was not happy about it and gone to Rome, so Ghiberti spent many years building the gates alone.
It is said that the prototypes of these two people at the time of this competition were so creative that it was even said that this was the beginning of the Renaissance.
On the ground floor of the museum, there is also a sculpture “Pieta” that Michelangelo made for his tombstone but he did not like it and broke it himself.
Upstairs, you’ll find sculptures from Giotto’s Bell Tower, an exhibition of how Brunelleschi’s cupola was made, and the choir loft.
If you go further up, there is a roof terrace where you can actually see the Duomo cupola, but we didn’t go that far.
For some reason, we didn’t get there, unintentionally.
In fact, I think it’s more fruitful to see these museums with a guide.
We must have overlooked a lot of important things because we only looked at the famous things while dragging the drowsiness of fullness.
Well, then to the main purpose baptistery.
The baptistery has a history dating from the 12th century, and it is believed that it was probably built on the site of an ancient Roman temple.
When you enter, you will see a glittering mosaic on the ceiling.
I remembered Ravenna.
The mosaic is a work at the end of the 13th century, and apparently it was created by multiple artists.
Many celebrities from Florence were baptized in this baptistery, including Dante.
This was worth seeing.
By the way, for both the museum and the baptistery we had to show the “Green Pass (Covid Vaccine Certificate)”.
Without it, there are very few places you can enter in Italy.
It is advisable to get the vaccinations done without being stubborn and get a vaccination certificate.
