Italian mosaic #02 / Florence

dmrog (48)in #travel • 7 years ago

The next day after a visit to Siena, I visited in Florence. The city is very beautiful, if not for one thing. I was with a tour in this city, but because the impression is very much dependent on the presentation of the city guide. It was... extremely negative. A sleepy voice, boring story, tedious history of the city and historic buildings. Do not take tours in Florence! Or if you take this to have a lot of free time. In my case it was, but I regretted my lack of preparation for individual cities and didn't know many interesting places.

This entry will explore the city for those who were not there at the same time information where to look and where to go in your free time. Not all will have pictures, but I hope will be useful.

I think many have heard his name but not everyone will be able to learn it in person. Dante Alighieri.
His monument is located near the Basilica of Santa Croce. In the square a huge number of excursions.
The second most popular tourist attraction - Piazza San Giovanni and Piazza del Duomo. They are building, which is the main hallmark of the city: (left to right) baptistery, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto's Campanile.
Possibilities of my camera and the square was not enough to convey the scale. In the Cathedral, among other things, can simultaneously accommodate 20 thousand people. The whole stadium!
Gorgeous artwork on the sample window.
The tour ended in the square of Sinorii about Palazzo Vecchio. There are many famous sculptures. This is the most famous. Left a copy of the sculpture of David to the right is Hercules and Cacus.
Hercules looks at the only eye-catching color of the statue is green. This is Perseus with the head of Medusa. Behind him two works of art exhibited in the loggia dei Lanzi.

Our tour ended...! Knowledgeable Florence people do not believe. Yeah, to be honest, we walked through the streets past a number of historical sites in Florence, but the tour was so "beautiful". With interest I clicked the channels of the radio, which listened to the tour. Sometimes switched to another group of Russian, but they had no better. After that it was only invitations to walk through the palaces for an additional fee. I repeat: do not take tours in the city! This is my opinion, but I do not wish others of the same first impressions about the city. On my walk, and tips.

First and foremost, being in any city go to the river. Water is life. Around rivers is always under construction. In Florence, the Arno flows.
At first glance, it is not the biggest river. The shores are overgrown with greenery, promenade high. But in 1966, the rains and the partial release of water from Dams upstream, the Arno burst its banks on 3 meters above the beach! Were flooded all ground floors and basements. 34 dead, 5000 families were left without homes, thousands of schools were completely closed. The damage to the historical values of the city suffered even more. More than 14 thousand subjects of history and art and more than 3 million papers, manuscripts and books were lost forever. Small elements of the city do not lend themselves account!
And do not say, right? Especially if you look under the bridges. In this case, under the bridge "Hello GRATSIA". But the rain and only one day of flooding is deadly.
On the waterfront there are a variety of buildings. This Palace for example, as I understand it, the chamber of Commerce.
A little further is the view of the Uffizi gallery.
And, of course, the most famous bridge of Florence. For me - the most recognizable spot of the city. The old bridge Ponte Vecchio has preserved its appearance since 1345!
On the way to the bridge I was in the yard near the waterfront. We have had asphalt or tile.
Silence, emptiness, desolation,... Here, tourists almost do not go. And in the photo by the way of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Being in the city I didn't even know that it is recommended by some sites for a full view of the churches and cathedrals of Florence. Was surprised.
Go back to the old bridge. So you would say that seeing a bridge? I would not. And this is it!
Of course on the bridge, there are standard views of the river. Here is a monument. This also came to be photographed with the bride Zhenya, when I already removed the camera. It was... ugly. Not for me to assess them. The main thing that loved each other. The picture monument to Benvenuto Cellini. Read Wikipedia: he was a sculptor, goldsmith, soldier and musician, and painter.
This photograph of Arno almost all the tourists.
Or like this. The view in the other direction.
Then I will go to detail and advice. The only thing I remember during a quick run on the tour - pig. Take a picture of it for the crowd ~~wild boar~~ tourists failed. The only way.
But on the contrary it was quite a different animal. More enjoyable, simple and fun. And the attention of tourists is not enough for him.
Then - a couple of beautiful buildings. Unfortunately, I failed to find what it is. Who knows?
And here it is.
Move on to details. you will walk in Florence - look at the walls. As in the rest of Italy however. On the walls you can see everything from posters and busts...
...to the old maps!
Jewelry can be such a serious...
...to such small and inconspicuous.
Even in Italy before the unusual road signs.
In some doors you can knock on like old times.
You can see a lion with wings...

31... or look at the entrances to the house behind the fence. It is clean and well maintained.

And you can still visit the square and the Pitti Palace, the gardens Boboli, Fort Belvedere... Now I write these lines and I regret that I never got there. But it was close.

Do not repeat my mistakes! Florence is a beautiful city!

Thank you all for your attention!

#italy #photography #blog #florence