Cupola Maintenance by Climbers

After being postponed due to high winds, work to check the state of the terracotta on Brunelleschi’s Dome as well as the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower has begun today, November 15.

Professional climbers have checked the surface of the dome by attaching their ropes to the railings surrounding the lantern at the top of Florence’s cathedral. See a full gallery of images here.

“This is a great method that allows us to check inch by inch the state of the dome,” says Luca Bagnoli, president of the Opera del Duomo, the organisation in charge of preserving the following monuments: Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of San Giovanni and the Cathedral Museum all located in Piazza del Duomo.

Meanwhile, a crane reaching 135 metres (442 ft) has been built so that the workmen can review the upkeep of the pole at the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower (14 metres/45 ft high), with its small golden ball and cross at the tip.

To read more in Italian visit Florence’s La Repubblica news site. (karen gee)