I will be traveling to Florence again in a few weeks. In preparation for my trip, I wanted to dig a bit deeper into the art and architecture. I just finished reading Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King. It is a fascinating read on one of the greatest engineering achievements of the Renaissance. At just under 170 pages, it brings the history and the innovations to light, everything from how to construct a Dome of that size to the new machinery of hoists and cranes invented to enable the construction.
Last time I went, I climbed the Dome. I wished I had read this book in advance as there are so many things I missed in that climb. Just wanted to share this recommendation for those traveling to Florence and will be climbing the Dome. Even if you are not, it is amazing just to understand the revolutionary engineering required, the background on the political climate, and the interpersonal relationships of the key Renaissance artists involved with the construction.