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Sunday, July 6, 2008
Below are some pictures of window and doors that caught my attention on my recent trip to Florence. I am sure that one could spend a lifetime there and still not run out of beautiful treasures to feast the eyes on! Everywhere you look there is splendor, attention to detail and the utmost respect for beauty. I hope you enjoy looking at these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.
This photo was taken from the rooftop cafe at the Uffizi. The whole rooftop had a railing of this "quatrefoil" design.
This is another view from the rooftop cafe of the Uffizi. You can see more of the quatrefoil railing.
A modern awning, that doesn't detract from the architecture, that I find very appealing in it's simplicity.
Notice the initials in the center of this beautiful ironwork balcony
Magnificent beyond belief this window in the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. This cathedral reportedly holds 30,000 people. The cornerstone was laid in 1296.
A interior transom window over a door in the JK Place Hotel. I fell in love with this Hotel and their wonderful staff and I will be devoting a whole posting to it.
This was one of the simpler windows and only one of a few that I saw with flowers. I don't know why they don't have more flowers in Florence, if not only because it is so very, very, very HOT there.
You can see the scale of the architecture. The man in the window is dwarfed in proportion.
I can only imagine that this glass is a recent addition. I found it a little out of character, but at least they didn't have a neon sign blasting away at you.
I loved the clock set between these two windows and the gold arms on it. I wonder how long it has been telling the time for the Florentines.
Look up at the ceiling through this window and you will see the most beautiful vaulted ceiling adorned with frescoes.
And of course Chanel was in a very prominent position right on the Piazza della Signoria facing the Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio. You can see
The picture on the left is one of the staircases in the Uffizi. There are a mere 200 stairs to climb to reach to top floor of the gallery.
The Uffizi was originally built as offices for the Medici family who were astute bankers. It is now one of the oldest and most famous art museums in the world.
These were the only painted doors I saw in Florence and they particularly stood out for that reason. You can notice that the black door has a very attractive Carrara marble surround that lines the deep door casing.
Notice the beautiful frescoed ceiling and the intricately detailed marble mosaic floor, to say nothing of the iron and glass door!!!!!
Magnifico
Post Note: I have arrived in Ferrara and spent today riding around this 15th Century walled city on bike. Tomorrow morning I start my studies at the University of Architecture.
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