Life & Style | Travel
The charm of Florence
Florence spreads out under the sunny Tuscan skies like an impressionist painting with enough old-world charm.
- By Subhomita Sen, Pages Editor
- Published: 23:56 May 9, 2008
- Florence from Ponte Vecchio.
- Image Credit: Photo by Subhomita Sen
If Rome prides itself as the city where a lifetime is not enough to see all its historic splendours, a tour of Florence can be over in a day.
Its easy connectivity with other Italian cities by train made it an attractive destination to explore during our short getaway to Italy.
Florence or Firenze, the regional capital of Tuscany in the centre of Italy, was once the nerve centre of Renaissance arts and architecture. Its erstwhile rulers — the Medici family — patronised artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Sandro Botticelli.
Today, some of their greatest works are on display at many museums.
Florence is a vibrant city and the joi de vivre rubs off on you as soon as you step out of the main train terminal — Santa Maria Novella.
The grand Duomo
You have to walk barely five minutes to gaze at the impressive dome of Florence's most distinct landmark — the Duomo.
The cathedral was built to regain Florence's pride of place as an architectural superpower among its Tuscan rivals, and even today it is majestic.
The octagonal dome is made of four million bricks and took 16 years to complete.
The Duomo is the fourth largest cathedral in the world and its interiors are equally awe-inspiring, with frescoes and sculptures of Rennaisance masters.
Our next destination was the Galleria dell'Accademia. There are cars and even rickshaws to ferry tourists but there is no better way to soak in the true spirit of the city than on foot along the cobbled path.
A ten-minute walk along the roads lined with an
array of designer-label stores, souvenir shops and pizzerias took us to the Galleria dell'Accademia.
The building which also houses the Florence Art School is a prosaic structure and there is nothing to suggest that it houses one of the greatest works of art — Michaelengelo's David.
Magical impression
The 14 foot- and 3 inch-high statue of the biblical hero David, carved out of a single stone, casts its magical spell on you instantly.
The riveting gaze and the robust features of David is captivating.
The statue conveys not only his supreme physical strength but also his sharp intellect which helped him outwit Goliath.
The statue was meant to symbolise the Florentine Republic which enjoyed enviable cultural supremacy and military prowess and had to fend off many formidable enemies.
However, the excitement of seeing this great work of art is slightly dampened because photography is not allowed.
The roadside tratorias are mandatory pitstops for a hearty lunch before you continue your journey.
Our next destination was the Piazza del Signoria. It is the central meeting point of the city which also houses an open-air museum with replicas of some of the famous works of art.
The disappointment of not being allowed to be clicked alongside David was soon overcome as I struck a pose next to the replica of David.
A melee of mime artistes along the way is a welcome distraction before you hit the River Arno.
The waters of the river has caused deluges over the years, submerging many parts of the city, yet it is also the lifeline of the city with several businesses flourishing along its banks.
Across the river
We cross Ponte Vecchio, an old bridge and the setting changes dramatically. Cobbled streets with old jewellery shops take you back several centuries to a time when merchants traded their wares along these pavements.
The narrow roads soon give way to a steep incline as we start our ascent
towards the Piazzale Michelangelo. A good 15 minutes climb and the view from the summit is breathtaking.
With the city bathed in sunshine under the blue sky and the Arno flowing gently, it is a sight to behold.
As we make our descent, this would be the most enduring image of this historic city.
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