On top of the Duomo...

Our day started when Jerimy and I agreed to tag team the day. I volunteered to take the boys out this morning for a walk and meet up with Daddy around 2pm at a certain location. Oliver, Lucius and I were out the door roughly 10ish for our walk. Going our usual route into the city took us down to the Duomo, where we hung a left to head toward Santa Maria Novella.

The boys have asked to go in Santa Maria Novella church every time we pass the train station, as it's right across the street. It's been on my list of things to see, so I paid the 5 euros to enter. It's pretty much what you'd expect if you've been following along on our adventures. Architecture always tends to be repetitive of buildings that have come before, but I have an absolute love of design. I enjoy seeing the similarities and differences in these old churches.

After visiting the church and crypt (sadly the grand cloister was closed today) we sat on the steps to eat our picnic lunch. The low winter sun is quite bright so the boys moved to the shade of a cop car.

Pigeons started to gather along with the groups of tourists in the piazza in front of Santa Maria Novella. The boys have a bad habit of chasing them to see them fly away. I did eventually save the birds by stopping their tormentors.

I did a little shopping in a few shops around town and then headed to San Lorenzo to meet up with Jerimy. Daddy took the boys home to play, while I took yet another climb.

 

This time it was up the Duomo stairs to the top of the cupola. One of the most interesting tower stairs I've climbed. I was walking inside the architecture I've admired for years, thinking of the men building the dome of this cathedral... amazing.

The staircases were a crazy combination of square, circular and crazy hodge podge around the curved dome. At one point near the top you're actually climbing straight up the interior curve of the duomo. The balcony at the top of the climb was FULL of people. It was hard to make the circuit of the whole path but I manage to make the rounds a few times to get the complete view multiple times before making my way down. (Again I took a TON of photos of the climb, stairs, tight squeezes and view from above but I'll probably find more time to post them after our return home.)

I still had the evening to myself out in the city (thank you Jerimy!). I sat near the cathedral for a long time just people watching. Then walked to the Ponte Vecchio bridge to watch the sunset, but started missing my family. Sharing adventures, however stressful they can be, is so much more fun than being alone (however peaceful and amazing those moments are). So I started walking home, stopping at the grocery store to get a little something for dinner.

I am so in love with my husband for being amazing. Encouraging me to follow my dreams, for being patient while I take photographs, and for giving me time to myself to explore Florence alone. What an amazing couple of days. I'm happy to report I've crossed a majority of stuff off my "to see & do" list this trip.