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 Florence, capital of the region of Tuscany,
is a spectacular and historic city,
interspersed with many famous art galleries and churches.
Birthplace of the
Renaissance, an amazing outburst of activity from the 14th to the
16th century that completely changed the Tuscan town and the world.
Under the benevolent eye (and purse) of the Medicis, Florence
blossomed into an unrivalled repository of art and architectural
treasures by geniuses such as Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Cellini,
Donatello, Fra Angelico, Ghiberti, Giotto, Leonardo, Michelangelo,
and Raphael. Since the 19th century, it has been visited by millions
wanting to see Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus,
Brunelleschi's dome on the Duomo, and Giotto's campanile (Bell
Tower).
 Mary McCarthy famously described Florence (Firenze) as a "City of
Stone." This assessment digs deeper than merely the fact that the
buildings, streets, doorjambs, sidewalks, windowsills, towers, and
bridges are all cobbled together in shades of gray, stern rock hewn
by generations of the stonecutters Michelangelo grew up with.
Florence's stoniness is evident in both its countenance and its
character. Florentines often seem more serious and slower to warm to
strangers than the stereotypical Italians.
The city's fundamental
rhythms are medieval, and it's fiendishly difficult to get beyond
the touristy surface and see what really makes Florence tick.
Although the historic center is compact, it takes time and effort to
get to know it personally, get the hang of its alleys, and
understand the deep history of its palace-lined streets. |
