Days of summer
in Florence, the Renaissance City.
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Florence panorama atop Piazzale Michelangelo |
We arrived
after about two hours of travelling in one of Italy’s fastest, the AltaVelocita Freccioargento. The afternoon ride introduced us to Tuscany’s
beautiful countryside with lots of gold and green farmlands, in particular the
rolling hills where Florence is perched. We haven’t really started our ‘formal’
exploration of Florence yet, the scene however, is already worth the visit. I
silently thanked God for giving us this journey.
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Palazzo Vecchio, now a museum |
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Hotel Pendini and Piazza della Repubblica |
After a quick
drop off at the Sta. Maria Novella Station (the Tren Italia AV9418,
afterall, continues its journey towards Venezia), we hailed a taxi just
opposite the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, which dropped us off at
our hotel, Hotel Pendini, at the center of the small city, near the
ever-crowded Piazza dela Repubblica. Aside from the vast piazza just
beside the hotel, the view from the hotel room shows the top of Florence’s Duomo.
Not bad.
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Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore |
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Capella di Medici |
Florence is a
small city. On our first night, we visited the Florence Cathedral, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (locally known as the Duomo, the tallest
structure in the city), and marvel at its gothic design (marbled panel in
green and pink). We learned later that it was consecrated during the 1400s
and it was built by three different designers/engineers starting in late 1200s.
The Duomo complex is comprised of three magnificent structures: the Duomo,
Giotto’s Bell Tower or the Campanile, and the Baptistery. Later
in the night, we visited the Capella di Medici, particularly the Sagrestia
Nuova, or the mortuary chapel for the Medici family. It’s interesting to
see a blend of old and new in this area, as we see lots of pizzerias and small
hotels dotting this area of the city.
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Ponte Vecchio at the back |
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Santa Trinita |
Like any other
typical European city, Florence’s streets are narrow, and its lanes, cobbled.
Walking early to cover more areas, we felt a slight chill, not unlike that when
we were in Paris. Autumn is now slowly making its way towards the continent.
Alice had a grand time exploring the city’s streets. With all the branded
stores just a stone's throw away from the hotel, and Florence’s other small shops selling
authentic Italian leather bags and shoes, what more can a wife wish? Anyways,
on our second day, we set our path towards Ponte Vecchio ("The Old Bridge"), and after just about a
10-minute walk from the hotel, reached the Arno River, near the Ponte
Santa Trinita. We first visited the Church of Santa Trinita and
admired such works as Madonna and Saints and Annunciation, which
are housed there. We then moved towards Ponte Vecchio.
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Santa Croce |
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After taking
several photos of the family at the Ponte Vecchio, we proceeded to the Basilica di Santa Croce. Although the church is being reconstructed inside, there’s no
denying the beauty of its pure gothic structure, with its porticos and
cloisters. Along with its campanile, the church of Santa Croce is a huge,
imposing white structure. We bought tickets so that we could proceed inside, and there we saw the
tombs of, among others, Galileo Galilei, Dante Alighieri, Michaelangelo, and
Niccolo Machiavelli.
After our time
at the Santa Croce, we proceeded to the crowded Piazza della Signoria, where
you can find both the famous Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio. Outside,
we took photos of famous statues (copies only, originals inside the museums) such
as that of ‘David’ (Michaelangelo) and ‘Hercules and Cacus’
(Bandinelli).
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having a taste of Florence's gelato |
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at Belvedere Fort |
We took a rest
in one of the pizzerias dotting the area, and of course, we did not pass the
opportunity to have a taste of Firenze’s gelato, considered the best in
the world. (In fact, during our stay in the city, we always grab a gelato
everytime there’s a chance.)
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Piazza della Independencia |
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sign at the Academia Museum |
On our last
day, we visited the Belvedere Fort, which we learned was built by the
Medici family to protect them from rebels. We also passed by Piazza dela
Independencia, which covers both sides of the road in a symmetrical
fashion, and the Piazza San Marco one of the oldest and most popular
squares in Florence among the locals. Of course, we have to go to the Academia
where you can see Michaelangelo’s original of ‘David’. We even passed by
the Philippine Consulate in Florence along the way. The square of
the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata is huge and old, and Alice and
the kids spent some time praying inside the church. We then spent the afternoon
exploring many of the shops, as well as the local market, and spending a short
time at the Basilica di Santa Maria del Santo Spirito and the PalazzoPitti.
The most
memorable evening in Firenze (Florence) however, was spent by the family
resting above a hill where Piazzale Michelangelo is perched, marveling
at the romantic panoramic view of the Renaissance City. It was really a night
to remember for all times: the family just whiling away time, savoring gelato
and listening to classic Florentine music on guitar by a local artist, while
looking at the Arno River and the medieval structures at a distance as the
sun sets.
Priceless.
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