Today, being Valentine’s Day, I decided to reminisce on some of the beautiful destinations in many parts of the world that I have fallen in love with. One of these memorable places that continue to captivate my heart, my soul, and my whole being is Florence, Italy.
Firenze, as it is called in Italian, is the capital of the Tuscany region which is in central Italy. Its diverse natural landscape, which is usually dominated by rolling vineyards and those tall, majestic cypress trees, is definitely a sight to behold. It is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance which is the main reason why hordes of tourists continue to flock to the region aside, of course, from the lure of the vintage wines from its many vineyards.
When my siblings and I arrived in Florence, we did not waste any time because there were just so many sights listed in our “must visit” list, the city being home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture.
First stop was the Duomo di Firenze, formally known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (St. Mary of the Flower) which got its name from the lily, the symbol of Florence. It is the most important landmark in the city and is the third largest cathedral in the world, following St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Taking 140 years to build, the structure’s 19th century Gothic Revival design makes it stand out among the other old buildings in the area. Its dome is an architectural wonder because it is composed of four million bricks, weighing over 40,000 tons, standing 10 stories high, making it the largest masonry dome in the world, a masterpiece way ahead of its time.
The uniquely attractive exterior of the cathedral is made of polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered with white material. In front is its equally famous Baptistry with doors made of bronze, so majestic looking that it is often referred to as The Gate To Paradise. The cathedral also has a free-standing 278-foot Campanile or Bell Tower, made attractive by rich cultural decorations and its polychrome marble encrustations.
Next stop was at the nearby Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze (Gallery of the Academy of Florence) which houses Michaelangelo’s famous sculpture, David, among many other beautiful masterpieces. The 17-foot, 16th century marble statue of the Biblical hero was originally put up in the public square outside the city’s seat of government, to symbolize the city’s defense of its civil liberties, as it was then threatened on all sides by more powerful rival states. It was only after almost 400 years that the statue was transferred to its present location at the Galleria.
Our tour guide explained to us that, unlike the other statues depicting David and his triumph over Goliath, this version by Michaelangelo shows the hero before the battle, as he looks tense and ready, with bulging veins in his lowered right hand. His left hand holds the sling which is draped over his shoulder, crossing down at his back to his lowered right hand which holds the handle.
The colossal size of David is not only impressive, it has also become the Renaissance symbol of strength and youthful beauty, aside from originally signifying Florence’s message to its more powerful political adversaries.
To revisit the beautiful memories of our childhood years, my siblings and I decided to pass by the Pinocchio Museum which is conveniently located in between the Galleria and the Cathedral. In there, the world-famous creation of Carlo Lorenzini (aka Carlo Collodi), a native of Florence, comes to life through very attractive and interesting multimedia presentations. Of course, we couldn’t help getting for ourselves some merchandise depicting the world-famous puppet.
A visit to Florence is never complete unless one finds the time to relax and de-stress, so we drove to the outskirts of the city and enjoyed our quota of vintage wines from the region, amidst the calming view of majestic cypress trees and rolling vineyards. I realize I’ve ticked off the city on my bucket list but I also know I will find the time to visit it again. After all, love means never having to say goodbye! Ti amo, Firenze!
YOUR monday CHUCKLE
QUERY: Why do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and then, get Coke Zero?
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