Duomos and drains………….

…………The buildings of Italy span almost 3,000 years and some of the drains bear witness to this fact as you walk through the streets!!!! There is a very distinctive “drain” smell!!! It’s astonishing how an essentially unpleasant pong can enhance ones sense of “place”!
We visited Duomo’s (Cathedrals) in Florence, Arezzo, Siena and Lucca. The Duomo in Siena (1136-1382) is one of Italy’s greatest, a spectacular mixture of sculpture, paintings and Romanesque-Gothic architecture. (it brought Rod to his knees!) Apart from the masterpieces by Donatello, Michelangelo, Pinturicchio and Nicola Pisano, is an astonishing inlaid marble floor throughout the entire church depicting a series of historical stories. The floor is usually covered with only parts of it exposed, but for the month of September it is uncovered and on show in all its glory.
Also on display is a collection of large, beautifully illuminated manuscripts for Gregorian chants predating the invention of accidentals (sharps and flats) and indeed the Duomo housing them, probably 8th – 9th century, it is amazing that the colours are still so vibrant…….maybe they are preserved by the “pong”.
We could have spent our whole holiday just taking in this one place! …….to be continued……wish you were there……….xxxxx