Museums, Towers, and Great Architecture: Trip to Florence

by Daria Facchinato · July 29, 2025

On Thursday, May 29th, the SACD study abroad group took a trip to Florence. Our first stop of the day was the Hospital of Innocence, which was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. This was one of the first buildings of the Italian Renaissance to incorporate classical architectural principles such as symmetry, proportion, and the use of columns and rounded arches. However, these aren’t just any columns; Brunelleschi used unusually slender ones to reflect Renaissance ideals of harmony, proportion, and humanism, creating an elegant, classical aesthetic that marked a clear departure from the heaviness of Gothic architecture.

You know you’re in Florence when you see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The facade is just breathtaking. The display of white, green, and pink marble seems to shimmer in the sunlight. Its intricate Gothic detailing mixed with elements of Romanesque and Renaissance architecture pulls your eyes upward until they meet Brunelleschi’s dome, which is towering over the city.

Although this wasn’t just an outside adventure, all of us had tickets to see the interior as well! The Crypt of Santa Reparata was the most interesting part, especially getting to see the tomb of Brunelleschi. But weirdly enough, it’s tucked away in the gift shop? Like the man who designed the dome just gets a casual little mention while people buy postcards. Aside from that, seeing the visible remains of early Christian mosaics and tombs was a great real-life history lesson.

Later that day, our class had the opportunity to attend the Opera del Duomo Museum, where we got to see the original doors that used to be on the east side of Florence’s baptistery. Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise were displayed up close in crazy detail. How did they get such detailed storytelling into bronze panels in the 1400s? This was an incredible chance to appreciate the craftsmanship and storytelling that was once displayed for all of Florence to see. Many areas of the museum had glass panels in the floor, where you could look down and see the archaeological remains beneath your feet. This made us realize you never know how many layers of history you’re standing on.

To conclude the first night of our Florence adventure, we decided to head up to the top of the bell tower. Climbing Giotto’s bell tower was such an amazing experience. While some people were definitely not loving the stairs, the amazing view was totally worth it. You get this perfect, sweeping look at how Florence was designed: terracotta rooftops, tight winding streets, and the Duomo right in your face, and it made for great photos. We timed it perfectly with the sunset, and the lighting made it seem like the entire city had a gold hue.

On Friday, May 30th, we started our adventure with the Uffizi Galleries, and let me just say, you could spend hours in here and still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface; every room is a treasure trove of masterpieces. The ceilings were beautifully painted, and the long corridors were like walking through a timeline of art history. All of us had to document our favourite works to share with the class, along with taking a trip to a museum of our choice. Many of us found our way to the Gucci museum, where we explored the various themed rooms and had some fun with all of the mirrors, lights, and over-the-top fashion displays. The other half of the group took a trip to the Medici Chapel, where they got to see some incredible sculptures by Michelangelo. The atmosphere of the space felt intimidating, like it was designed to declare just how important, powerful, and wealthy the Medici family was compared to everyone else.

The remainder of our trip consisted of some Derive walking through Florence’s streets, passing by the San Lorenzo Market, Ponte Vecchio, and many more. Every alleyway, every dome, every cobblestone has a story, and getting to explore those stories firsthand with friends and unexpected adventures along the way made the experience so much more meaningful.