Duomo Museum

The Duomo Museum was founded in 1891 to preserve the workings of the Duomo over centuries. It was radically remodeled in 2015 and is very modern.

The first large room has a life-size recreation of the original facade from the 14th century. It was later destroyed and a Renaissance facade added.

Across the room are Ghiberti's original golden doors for the Baptistry. Michelangelo called the "The Gates of Paradise." Each of the panels recreates an Old Testament story. The doors were originally on the side of the Baptistry building that faces the cathedral. These original ones, gold-covered bronze, are now in this museum and a copy is installed on the Baptistry.

The next room was a stunning hallway containing the original statues that graced the facade.

This one is Abraham preparing to sacrifice Isaac.

On the wall opposite the statues were small bas-reliefs by Pisano. Most of them were dedicated to various arts and guilds -- apothecary, music, etc. This one is the creation of Adam.

There were a number of displays relating to Brunelleschi and his design and creation of the dome. This is his small wooden model of the lantern, the very top of the dome.

Tomorrow: more from the museum, plus the Baptistry.