Reading Time: 4 minutes
Ruchira takes us on a tour of Florence, the fountainhead of European Renaissance. The very mention of this movement conjures up names of legendary artists – Leonardo DaVinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Botticelli among many others. Read more in the weekly column, exclusively in Different Truths.
Florence is the fountainhead of European Renaissance. The very mention of this movement conjures up names of legendary artists – Leonardo DaVinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Botticelli among many others. Having read about all this in history textbooks at school, I would dream of touring the spot. Years later my dream became a reality. At 21, when I got an opportunity to visit Italy, I grabbed it with both hands.
So, one bright autumn afternoon, after a comfortable bus ride from Rome I arrived in Florence. I looked around me and was bemused! There was art everywhere! The buildings and other edifices were so picturesque. The capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, Florence aptly derives its name from the Latin Firenze meaning flowers /floral. In fact, it is hailed as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.
A Walking Tour
We alighted at the Piazzale Michelangelo a massive square located across the Arno River from the center
Crème of Renaissance
Our first halt was at Santa Maria del Fiore the domed cathedral which is familiarly hailed as the Duomo. This is the most famous landmark of Florence. Rated as the world’s largest masonry dome, this splendid cathedral houses brilliant artworks and architecture created over 600 years. Its picturesque Gothic facade of red, green and white marble, the elaborate interior of stained-glass windows, mosaics,
A must see in Florence is the grand palace Palazzo Vecchio, dating back to the 12th century, it was the residence of the Medici family and Florence’s supreme governing body for nearly six hundred years. Since 1872, it has doubled up as a museum and the town hall. This building is replete with charming frescoes, sculptures, painted ceilings, intricate carvings the major theme being scenes from The Bible.
The Piazza Della Signoria is a famous artistic square in Florence. It is a virtual treasure trove dotted with globally renowned sculptures e.g., Michelangelo’s David, Fountain of Neptune, Hercules, and Perseus with Medusa’s head.
We also visited the Ponte Vecchio. Linking the two banks of the Arno River, it happens to one of the city’s
Palazzo Pitti is a massive 15th-century palace located in a quieter area on the bank of river Arno. The rulers of Florence lived here till about 1919. Thereafter it was taken over by the government and transformed into a museum complex. Situated on an elevated spot overlooking Florence, the Palazzo retains the atmosphere of a private collection in a grand house.
Florence is a massive flamboyant canvas whose vistas cannot be covered within a given time frame. To enjoy it you must let your imagination run riot, must have unlimited time on your hands. Wallow in the beauty you see all around…let it permeate into your soul. It’s a pity that while on a tour of the city I did not possess a camera. Nevertheless, the beauty of the city was etched in my mind forever.
©Ruchira Adhikari Ghosh
Photos from the Internet
#CrèmeOfRenaissance #Camera #WalkingTours #ArnoRiver #MichelangelosDavid #PiazzaleMichelangelo #BasilicaDiSanLorenzo #PonteVecchio #SliceOfLife #DifferentTruths