Our train was rushing northwards through the picturesque and undulating landscapes of the Italian peninsula. We were bound for Venice with an overnight stopover at Florence (Firenze in local parlance). Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region is situated in the Northwest region of Italy. The train staff was at their hospitable best to make our travel a pleasurable experience. From time to time we were served lip-smacking snacks. The enchantment of the journey was interrupted by a sudden question from my husband:
“What has the city of Florence to do with America? They have a very important relation, you know.” He added, as if giving me a clue. I ransacked my mind but drew a blank.
“American continents are named after Vespucci Diaz Amerigo, who belonged to this city”, he informed me. Thus a question that had puzzled me since childhood was answered. In fact, it was Amerigo who was the pioneer in drawing extensive maps of the New World and had showed the way to the world for the new settlement. My husband further extolled Florence, as it was the city, which gave birth to the renowned men and women like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Florence Nightingale, Nicollo Machiavelli, Guccio Gucci, and Roberto Cavalli. I was awestruck both by the remarkable knowledge of history of my husband and the 'prodigious womb' of the city of Florence.
We had planned our Florentine visit en-route Venice from Rome. Without much ado, we had boarded the train to Florence the cheapest and best mode of travel in Italy (although the signs in Latin can be quite confusing). The four hours of travel gave us a view of some of the most spectacular Italian landscapes. The wonderful journey culminated in the plush station of Florence. A walk of hundred a yards led us to the cushy Sempione hotel, housed in a 16th century building. A brief stop at the hotel and we hit the city streets.
The entire present day Florence was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. In fact, the glory of Florence lies in its vibrant past. A journey to Europe is incomplete till you visit Italy. The country is the warehouse of Renaissance art, history and modern religion with its epicentre is Florence. A journey to Italy is incomplete without a visit to Florence which has preserved its pristine originality, unparalleled in the world.
The arched and domed medieval buildings house a plethora of old world charms, artefacts and pieces of historical and artistic importance. Thanks to meticulous traffic management, the cramped and busy cobbled roads carry the heavy loads of traffic. Short on time, we could see but one museum and decided to leave others for the next time. There are long queues of people outside museums to buy the tickets and it takes at least two hours to get the tickets. Such is the craze to gaze on the famous Florentine art! Even hurrying through the Natural History Museum took two hours.Later we continued with the leisurely walk of the city. As we ambled through Florence (the entire city can be crisscrossed in a walk of merely an hour) we got acquainted with the nuances of art that permeate its veins. On the roadside we found a lot of people drawing sketches of the tourists at a nominal charge. Then there are enchanting theatre shows. Indeed, art continues to provide livelihood to the descendants of greatest propounders of Renaissance even today.
Slowly we strolled into the flea market of Florence. I made the most of the opportunity as the most famous brands of Italy were being sold at cheap prices. Frantically, we filled our bags with some of the most spectacular clothes. We did not want to miss on the sculpture of David the artifact symbolising the zenith of Renaissance art movement. This sculpture depicts the ideal human form and is carved out of a stone of 15 feet, capturing the intensity of focused energy in him when he made the fatal blow at Goliath. Notably, depiction of such climactic scenes was a forte of the Michelangelo. As we hurried towards the famous Academy of Fine Arts Museum, we learnt to our dismay that the museum building was under renovation. We had to content ourselves by having a walk around the magnificent building.
It was Medici Cosimo, the ruler of Florence who had patronized great artists like Donatello and G\Fra Angelico. His grandson Lorenzo provided patronage to philosophers and artists like Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Centuries later, Florence keeps its artistic flavour alive. In the imposing buildings, in the inner by lanes of the walled city, on the cobbled roads, we still get a whiff of regency of the House of Medici which held onto the reins of power of this glorious city for a long time. The royal crest of six balls still adorns many aspects of the city reminding the casual visitor of the splendour of the bygone era.
We made a quick dash for the arched and quaint Ponte Veecho Bridge on River Arno to look at the famous jewellery stores situated there.
The rich architectural and artistic heritage of the city is evident on each stone laid in it. Indeed it is not an exaggeration to call Florence the Art Capital of World.
As the sun dipped behind the majestic facades of buildings we started feeling the fatigue and decided to call it a day. The typical delicacy of Florence, wild boar was sampled at a restaurant that could seat a hundred people. Having 'pigged out' we strolled into the cosy room of the Sempione for a peaceful night's sleep.
Points to Remember while Visiting Florence:1. House wine is very cheap. One should try to savour as much as one can.
2. A lot of discount sales go on in Florence at any one time. One should definitely visit them to pick up good bargains.
3. Everything in Florence is within walking distance. So a cab is not required for sight seeing.
4. Flea markets are inexpensive.
5. Florentine ice creams are really delightful.
6. Communication problem exist as people over there hardly know any English.
7. Best time to visit Florence is April/June & Sept/Oct. The weather is good & prices are cheap during these days.
Other Facts about Florence:
1. The city has two airports Amerigo Vespucci is 5km northwest of the city centre and Galileo Galilei (for international flights) is about 75 km west of the city.
2. In 1865, Florence was chosen to be the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and remained capital until 1871.
Must Visit:
1. Duomo: The world's fourth largest cathedral. Its façade made in pink, white and green marble leaves you awestruck.
2. Academy of Fine Arts Museum.
3. Bargello Museum: The museum houses Michelangelo's Bacchus and Dontello's David.
4. Medici Villas: These are a few villas situated in idyllic surroundings in the countryside around Florence.
5. Piazza Della Signoria is a favorite with tourists. Hordes of foreigners laze around the Piazza and click themselves in front of the Ammannati's Mannerist Fountain of Neptune.
6. Dome and Bell Tower.
