While Brancacci is credited for the chapel’s existence, the artist responsible is known simply by the name Masaccio. It is actually referred to as the “Sistine Chapel of the Early Renaissance.” While not a Florence museum, it is influential, important, and among the top of our list of recommendations. If the chapel was located inside the Vatican Museums, it would likely see millions of visitors per year as the Sistine Chapel does. The chapel is named for the silk merchant financially responsible for its creation, Felice Brancacci. While it is definitely not a museum, the Brancacci Chapel is the kind of place you walk into and immediately understand you are somewhere important. The stop includes admission to the Da Vinci Museums and, finally, a stop in Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view of Florence. Da means “from”, so you could call him Leonardo from Vinci if you want. Pisa is only a 4-hour stop so our trip includes a visit to Vinci. If you want to streamline the day, we have a great day trip from Florence to Pisa that includes transportation and tickets. You’ll have to reserve tickets a few weeks in advance if you want to climb the tower, which is something I recommend doing. If you’re just going to the tower, the train is the best option and you can take a taxi from the train station to the tower. The tower takes its name after its hometown, Pisa, which is just over an hour from Florence by train and car. The tower leans 5.5 degrees, or about 15 feet, according to Britannica, and thanks to some restoration projects in 1999, it may never fall. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a beautiful structure that would likely be famous even if the foundation had been poured correctly, but the fact that it was built incorrectly makes it a must-see. There is a very fine grate over the water system and if the coin falls through, it brings good fortune. You should put a coin in the boar’s mouth and let it roll off its tongue into the water below. Rubbing the boar’s nose has very little to do with the tradition but is now almost obligatory to get the boar ready for what is next. Luckily, I am Italian and know the story well. I’ve read extensively online and many writers cover the superstition incorrectly. For such a small monument it is hard to believe, but amongst locals, this is a top Florence attraction. The fountain was very popular and, like many fountains, it has been surrounded by superstition. The Medici Family procured the Roman marble copy in the 17th century and they, or another family, commissioned Pietro Tacca to create a bronze copy of the statue and turn it into a fountain. They would make marble statue copies of the greek bronze statues, often melting the bronze to make weapons. The Romans were superior warriors and when they conquered Greece, they underwent Hellenization, which basically means they started to act more like the sophisticated and artistic Greeks. The Greeks liked creating statues out of bronze and were undoubtedly superior to the Romans when it came to creating art. When the sun sets over the Arno and, as Mark Twain described it, "overwhelms Florence with tides of color that make all the sharp lines dim and faint and turn the solid city to a city of dreams," it's hard not to fall under the city's spell.Il Porcellino in Mercato Nuovo is a bronze copy of a bronze copy of a Roman marble copy of a Greek bronze statue of a wild boar. Today millions of us follow in their footsteps. Florence was "discovered" in the 1700s by upper-class visitors from everywhere making the grand tour. There's a reason why everyone flocks here, however: it's the heart of the city, and home to the Uffizi, the world's finest repository of Italian Renaissance art. A walk along the Arno offers views that don't quit and haven't much changed in 700 years navigating Piazza della Signoria, always packed with tourists, requires patience. They take on a certain magnificence when day breaks and when the sun sets their muted colors glow in this light. Florence's is a subtle beauty-its staid, unprepossessing palaces built in local stone are not showy, even though they are very large. For centuries it has captured the imaginations of travelers, who have come seeking rooms with views and phenomenal art. Florence, the city of the lily, gave birth to the Renaissance and changed the way we see the world.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |