Tempio Maggiore Firenze Part Two

If you stand on the Plaza of Michelangelo and over look the city of Florence you will notice immediately the dome of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore or Il Duomo. If you look to the left and a little further back you will see another smaller dome. This is the Tempio Maggiore or The Great Synagogue of Florence, Italy.

Tempio Maggiore is one of the largest synagogues in Europe. Although Jews survived in Tuscany better than some other areas of Europe they were still persecuted and second class citizens There was a Jewish emancipation in 1848 of the Jewish communities living in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The temple was built in the moorish style and designed to fit in as worthy counterpoint to the famous Catholic dome

Comparisons aside this temple is a magnificent structure and museum. It has a fantastic history and had been miraculously preserved and maintained. Sadly, as with most synagogues around the world security is noticeable and you can not take a camera inside. However they do allow you to take photographs with your cell phones.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Tempio Maggiore Firenze

Tempio Maggiore Firenze

Tempio Maggiore Firenze

Tempio Maggiore Firenze

Tempio Maggiore Firenze Part One

If you stand on the Plaza of Michelangelo and over look the city of Florence you will notice immediately the dome of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore or Il Duomo. If you look to the left and a little further back you will see another smaller dome. This is the Tempio Maggiore or The Great Synagogue of Florence, Italy.

Tempio Maggiore is one of the largest synagogues in Europe. Although Jews survived in Tuscany better than some other areas of Europe they were still persecuted and second class citizens There was a Jewish emancipation in 1848 of the Jewish communities living in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The temple was built in the moorish style and designed to fit in as worthy counterpoint to the famous Catholic dome

Comparisons aside this temple is a magnificent structure and museum. It has a fantastic history and had been miraculously preserved and maintained. Sadly, as with most synagogues around the world security is noticeable and you can not take a camera inside. However they do allow you to take photographs with your cell phones.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Tempio Maggiore Firenze

Tempio Maggiore Firenze

Tempio Maggiore Firenze

Italian Statues Part Two

One of the great things about European cities is the collection of beautiful statues in each city. We also have beautiful outdoor sculptures in The United States but not done by Michelangelo or Donatello to name a couple of the more famous ones. The statues in Italy are amazing. Every city, every courtyard, every plaza is full of beautiful out door sculpture, some famous some not. Here are some more from out recent tour in Italy.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Italian Sculpture

Italian Sculpture

Italian Sculpture

Italian Sculpture

Italian Statues Part One

One of the great things about European cities is the collection of beautiful statues in each city. We also have beautiful outdoor sculptures in The United States but done by Michelangelo or Donatello to name a couple of the more famous ones. The statues in Italy are amazing. Every city, every courtyard, every plaza is full of beautiful out door sculpture, some famous some not. Here are some from out recent tour in Italy.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Italian Sculpture

Italian Sculpture

Italian Sculpture

Italian Sculpture

Italian Sculpture

Rome Domes

Rome has the most Obelisks of any city in the world. That includes 13 ancient Roman and Egyptian obelisks. That said, it has even more domes. There are literally hundreds of domes with in the city. It was a favorite building technique during the growth of the ancient city. Some are spectacular and some not so much so or in need of repair. Many are parts of churches usually in the bell towers.

These are just a few that we saw during our recent trip.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Rome Domes

Rome Domes

Rome Domes

Italian Doorways Part 2

On each visit to Europe I seem to wind up taking images of doorways. Doors fascinate me because of their plurality. They are both an entry and exit. Some doorways in Europe are literally thousands of years old. Here are some I captured in October of 2019 in Rome, Florence and Elba.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Italian Doorways

Italian Doorways

Italian Doorways

Italian Doorways Part 1

On each visit to Europe I seem to wind up taking images of doorways. Doors fascinate me because of their plurality. They are both an entry and exit. Some doorways in Europe are literally thousands of years old. Here are some I captured in October of 2019 in Rome, Florence and Elba.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Italian Doorways

Italian Doorways

Italian Doorways

Street Art In Firenze

I am fascinated by people who create miraculous art only to know that in hours or days it will be gone forever. Artists that do sand sculpture or ice sculpture or in this case a sidewalk painting all while knowing it will only last for hours. The next day it rained all day in Firenze and all I could think of was the temporary nature of what this man does. It must take a strong personality to cope with that.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Street Art

Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore

The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, is the cathedral of Florence, Italy and commonly known as Il Duomo. It was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design of Arnolfo di Cambio and was structurally completed by 1436. Unfortunately it is one of those places that is almost impossible to photograph without a crane or a drone.

It is located in the Piazza del Duomo surrounded small streets and thousands of people. This shot taken 20 years ago from across the river in The Piazza of Michelangelo gives you an idea of the size and scope. Click Here

In this close view you can see the beauty and the style of marble used to create this sanctuary.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Il Duomo

Firenze Italia

Italy has a lot of beautiful cities but Firenze (Florence) is certainly one of the best jewels on the necklace. What makes it so special is it’s location in the mountains along the Arno river and its history of being the centre of Italian culture for so long. When your city can boast bridges built by Michelangelo, you know it is special. This is a view of the city from a park just outside taken during a brief rain shower. You can buy a print of this image on my commercial site by clicking here.

Firenze Italia