Italy: Firenze Florence in Marble
November 2007, by Gini
We left wet Rome for another day and headed north for Firenze as the Italians call it - Florence (makes life interesting when we are searching for train destinations!) The public transport was definitely on the improvement and a lot cheaper than in France. We arrived in Firenze and couldn't help but find the Duomo Cathedral. I can honestly say I have never seen such a Cathedral as this. Your average Cathedrals are quite plain and lifeless on the outside but this Cathedral sung with its amazing marble colouring, detailed carvings and stylish clean persona it radiated from every angle.
It was as if the architect had designed the Cathedral inside out with all its wonderful detail and colour for the world to see everyday and left the inside simple and clean which complimented it nicely. The only colour on the inside was in the dome creating a painted layered story of the heavens and earth. It definitely made the walk up the dome worth it. I couldn't help thinking how could one paint from such a height and not freak out!
After marveling for a while around the dome rings we made it to the top and outside! It was so calm and peaceful (apart from the many tourists squeezing where they could) outside with a top view. The landscape has an unusual shape about it. From the tree line silhouettes to the terracotta roofs below. You start to understand Leonardo's displayed interest in the plant life in his earlier works. What better inspiration than his own country side.
For the rest of the day we strolled around the many piazzas, which had they own reason to be marked on the map. Piazza della Repubblica was once the Roman Forum and still has one pillar standing! Piazza della Signora with a castle like building which holds art stories of the history of Florence and an amazing sculpture park. Piazza degi Strozzi with its lumpy stone formations on its buildings was also worth a peek.
With a quick two euro freshly made sandwich in hand we headed to the back of the very long queue for the Museo Uffizi. We didn't quite understand the waiting system as the queue would never move! After an hour and a half we finally made it into the warm arms of the Museum. We checked out the famous artists we had heard of and a few I had studied so many years ago but collections on single artists were small as they are scattered across Europe which was a little disappointing or an excuse to visit them? hmmm.
After a few hours wandering, the Museum slowly drained our energy levels so we grabbed some yummy pasta takeaway and retreated to our Leonardo decorated hotel room. It felt like stepping back in time to the Renaissance period.
The next day was a little more laid back, the sun was shining once more and it was a little warmer so we moseyed through the market stalls and found our piggy friend. Who was happy to dribble our coins into his pocket with a good luck wish in return. It was an easy distance to the Ponte Vecchio (bridge) which has cute buildings growing out the sides. Housing jewelry stores but once was the home to butchers, tanners and blacksmiths until their smell got them evicted in the 18th century. Since then it has been goldsmiths and what gold they have! Now look who is dribbling!
Before we crossed the bridge we noticed signs for 'NO LOCKS ALLOWED' on the Vecchio statue and I had noticed a few locks on the piggy statue and on random railings around the river. So we went back to check it out and it turns out they are love locks, wishing luck for the relationship? Who knows maybe google does... After that side track we headed for Giardino di Boboli. Once a Medici's estate (one very rich family who ruled Florence for a time) for a stroll around the gardens. And my what pretty gardens they were if only Mr Darcy was there... It had a grand English feel to it, fit to be a kings garden with sculptures at every turn and stunning views of the hill sides.
More surprising was the costume gallery which Tom didn't share in my enthusiasm quite as much. It had a detailed timeline of dress through the last two centuries and an amazing research part into the clothes found on the owners of the estate who died around 1562. Some 450 years later and the cloth still remains with clues to help understand pieces of our past. And who said clothes are just to dress us! tut tut.
We filled our bellies with cold lasagna for lunch - not happy chappies! from a tourist trap cafe and headed for the train bound for Bologna, where the true Lasagna is made! and of course the fabulous Bolognaise sauce.
G
It was as if the architect had designed the Cathedral inside out with all its wonderful detail and colour for the world to see everyday and left the inside simple and clean which complimented it nicely. The only colour on the inside was in the dome creating a painted layered story of the heavens and earth. It definitely made the walk up the dome worth it. I couldn't help thinking how could one paint from such a height and not freak out!
After marveling for a while around the dome rings we made it to the top and outside! It was so calm and peaceful (apart from the many tourists squeezing where they could) outside with a top view. The landscape has an unusual shape about it. From the tree line silhouettes to the terracotta roofs below. You start to understand Leonardo's displayed interest in the plant life in his earlier works. What better inspiration than his own country side.
For the rest of the day we strolled around the many piazzas, which had they own reason to be marked on the map. Piazza della Repubblica was once the Roman Forum and still has one pillar standing! Piazza della Signora with a castle like building which holds art stories of the history of Florence and an amazing sculpture park. Piazza degi Strozzi with its lumpy stone formations on its buildings was also worth a peek.
With a quick two euro freshly made sandwich in hand we headed to the back of the very long queue for the Museo Uffizi. We didn't quite understand the waiting system as the queue would never move! After an hour and a half we finally made it into the warm arms of the Museum. We checked out the famous artists we had heard of and a few I had studied so many years ago but collections on single artists were small as they are scattered across Europe which was a little disappointing or an excuse to visit them? hmmm.
After a few hours wandering, the Museum slowly drained our energy levels so we grabbed some yummy pasta takeaway and retreated to our Leonardo decorated hotel room. It felt like stepping back in time to the Renaissance period.
The next day was a little more laid back, the sun was shining once more and it was a little warmer so we moseyed through the market stalls and found our piggy friend. Who was happy to dribble our coins into his pocket with a good luck wish in return. It was an easy distance to the Ponte Vecchio (bridge) which has cute buildings growing out the sides. Housing jewelry stores but once was the home to butchers, tanners and blacksmiths until their smell got them evicted in the 18th century. Since then it has been goldsmiths and what gold they have! Now look who is dribbling!
Before we crossed the bridge we noticed signs for 'NO LOCKS ALLOWED' on the Vecchio statue and I had noticed a few locks on the piggy statue and on random railings around the river. So we went back to check it out and it turns out they are love locks, wishing luck for the relationship? Who knows maybe google does... After that side track we headed for Giardino di Boboli. Once a Medici's estate (one very rich family who ruled Florence for a time) for a stroll around the gardens. And my what pretty gardens they were if only Mr Darcy was there... It had a grand English feel to it, fit to be a kings garden with sculptures at every turn and stunning views of the hill sides.
More surprising was the costume gallery which Tom didn't share in my enthusiasm quite as much. It had a detailed timeline of dress through the last two centuries and an amazing research part into the clothes found on the owners of the estate who died around 1562. Some 450 years later and the cloth still remains with clues to help understand pieces of our past. And who said clothes are just to dress us! tut tut.
We filled our bellies with cold lasagna for lunch - not happy chappies! from a tourist trap cafe and headed for the train bound for Bologna, where the true Lasagna is made! and of course the fabulous Bolognaise sauce.
G
The size is breath taking
The view from the first level of the dome
The heavens above
Amazing scultpure park of marble
A view of the Ponte Vecchio bridge, once housed black smiths and tanners
The night view from the Museum
Strange locks with messages about loved ones
Once the Medici estate, nice!
Large donuts which others wanted to take home
