Inside the Duomo

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, called the Duomo, is the centerpiece of Florence. We have now been by it many times. One of the first days here we thought we would go inside -- entry is free, but it's not at the top of the list of attractions here. However, there was an enormous line stretching halfway around the building. Yesterday we went at the opening time (10:45) and there were only a dozen or so people in line. What a difference now that Epiphany is over!

Once we were inside, we realized that it is a quite empty, large space. The guidebook says it is the third largest cathedral in Europe, after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London. 

Looking back toward the entrance, there is a 24-hour liturgical clock above the door. The panel of frescoes shows the Four Evangelists and is by Uccello.

Looking to the front the altar is in front of a stained glass window.

The crowning feature (literally!) of the cathedral is the dome designed and built by Brunelleschi. The interior wall of the dome is covered with frescoes of the Last Judgement by a number of artists. It is almost too much to take in. A popular activity is climbing to the top of the dome, which we did in 2015. The dome actually consists of two, one inside the other. The stairway goes up between them, getting steeper and narrower as it nears the top.

There are just a few statues in the cathedral. Here are two, but I was unable to identify either the subjects or the sculptors.