| Page Views: 371 Last Visit to Florence: - | Florence by Ramonq - last update: May 14, 2009 |
It's what I imagined it to be. Florence, one of Italy's most visited city is an architectural gem boasting some of the finest examples of classical European medieval and Renaissance architecture. The narrow maze-like streets, which go in every direction, lead to some spacious ornate piazzas, and they provide a sense of anticipation for travellers of what's around the corner. The centre of the city is fashionable and stylish as it was during its feudal heydey under the mercantile family, the Medicis. However nowadays, half of the people strolling around the streets of Florence are tourists like me who are fascinated by the things that don't occur at home, like beautiful old architecture. I just hope the Florentines understand the reason why the tourist hordes descend on their city all year round. It's simply because Florence is just a great city to behold and offers so much cultural diversions. |
Il Duomo Florence's centre of attraction is the imposing Duomo, which is located right smack in the middle of the old city. Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 1450's, the Duomo dominates the skyline of Florence whose immense red tiled dome appears like a glorious crown over the city. Walking down Via dei Calzaiuoili from the great Uffizi Museum, the narrow road opens up dramatically to the Piazza San Giovanni where one can finally see this very imposing cathedral in full close-up view. Like myself, those who have witnessed the Duomo for the first time, gasped and expressed a sense of wonderment at the facade, whose fanciful play with colour and ornate embellishment makes this cathedral unique amongst other Renaissance architecture. You can walk around the cathedral and view it from different angles and one cannot be amazed at the fine details that went into the construction of it. Florence must have been fabulously wealthy when this was built because as one can see, this was such a grand undertaking. It never failed to impress generations of people who have seen it. The sight of the Duomo was truly an unforgetable experience for me. |
The Old City Built along the Arno River, Florence has a labyrinthian layout of narrow streets and lanes. The old city centre and where most of the important tourist sights are located in the northern bank of the river. Crammed in this dense section of the city are the wonderful churches like the Duomo, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, and San Lorenzo as well as the Palazzo Vecchio and the owrld famous Uffizi Museum. This part of Florence is like a large open air museum filled with historical monuments of the golden era. And to cater for the tourists, the piazzas and vias are crammed with boutique stores selling luxury goods, al fresco cafes, souvenir shops, and great Italian restaurants, utilising the old buildings for modern purposes. Florence is as sophisticated and stylish as Milan and all the needs of any type of travellers are catered for, albeit at a price. Yes, it's an expensive city, because the tourism demand exceeds the supply side and the Florentines are a mercantilistic lot, a trait that has been handed down since the Medicis. |
In the southern bank of the Arno River are palaces, gardens and parks. The majestic Palazzo Pitti is ensconced within the vast palatial garden called Giardino di Boboli. This section of Florence offers a respite from the claustrophobic and crowded streets of the old city centre across the river. The two sections are joined by numerous stone bridges, all but one were destroyed by the Germans during World War 2 to repel the Allied Forces. The Germans spared Ponte Vecchio because it is a most beautiful bridge and it also has some sentimental value for them. Nice to know that even at war, the Germans still respect heritage sites. Crossing the Ponte Vecchio or any of the new bridges is one of the highlights of visiting Florence because it has a grandious feeling about it. The view from the southern section of the city especially high above the Giardino is a picture postcard scenery of Florence. |
Historical Overview Like most Italian cities, Florence had its origins dating back from the ancient Roman era which was given the name Florentia. The Romans built temples, baths and forum around the area were Piazza della Repubblica is now located. They also built a river port on the Arno and walls surrounding the city. Christianity took hold of Florentia in the 2nd century AD, and early Christian churches were built. The strategic location of Florence made the city attractive to foreign invasions by the Goths, Byzantines, and Hungarians during the medieval ages, that walls were built around the city to protect itself. Florence then was a feudalistic society where the rich aristocratic families and the church ruled the daily lives of its people, and acted as patrons to the construction of civic infrastructures and religious centres. Political life became strained as 2 noble factions, the Guelph and the Ghibellines vie for power and the merchant classes, who were increasingly becoming wealthy, also want a piece of the action. By the 15th century, this merchant class found a leader, Giovanni de Medici which spawned a new dynasty, was responsible for the coming of the Renaissance period, the golden age for Florence, culminating during the rule of Lorenzo de Medici. |
The Renaissance was a time when medieval values were challenged and the pursuit of rational science and culture flourished in a belief that mankind is dominant over nature. Florence, which became the main city of the Florentine Republic, was right in the thick of the Renaissance, and many artists had come to put their imprint on the city such as Boticelli, Donatello, Masaccio, Raffaello, and Lippi, as well as Michaelangelo, Galileo and the great Leonardo da Vinci. Florence in the 15th century was Europe's most important city. Alas, the Medicis came to an end in the 18th century when Florence declined into a provincial backwater. Florence now appears to be reflecting on its glorious past, as very little new architecture of note has been built. |
Modern Florence The modern era, starting from the later half of the 19th century, saw Florence expanding outwards with much less visionary than their Renaissance counterpart. Like many European cities, Florence destroyed its walls and transformed them into ring roads. Some roads in the inner city were widened for private cars and many non-descript residential apartments were built on the once farmlands around Florence. Some of the roads have been pedestrianised to minimise the effect of air pollution on the grand old buildings. A train station was also constructed near the city centre but this made the city accessible to millions of tourists who visit it every year, straining its infrastructure further. One wonders, if a Renaissance mark 2 will ever dawn on this beautiful city. Pehaps one day.... |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Finest example of Renaissance culture" | | Cons: | "Crowded" | | In A Nutshell: | "The Renaissance city" |
 Comments for Ramonq about Florence | | | | |
MarvintheMartian Sun Mar 7, 2004 00:07 UTC
Excellent introduction page for Florence! |
|
|
email me
add as friend
