OUR TRAVELS
Photos of sightseeing enthusiasts
A TRIP ROUTE
IT IS WORTH SEEING
The most famous exhibit of the Galleria dell'Accademia is Michelangelo's David. A huge, classic act depicts the biblical hero who defeated the giant Goliath. The sculpture was commissioned by the authorities of Florence in 1504 and was placed in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. In 1873, the statue of David was moved inside the Academy to protect it from pollution. A copy of it was erected in its former place, but it is far from the beauty of the original.
INTERESTING FACTS
The action of the popular triller Ridley Scott about the psychopath Hannibal Lecter takes place in Florence (Hannibal, 2001). The figure of the corrupt police commissioner Rinaldo Pazzi appearing in the film is related to the historical events of the 15th century. Members of this family organized the so-called Pazzi conspiracy to overthrow the Medici and seize power. The plot failed and its leader was hanged on the balcony of the Palazzo Vecchio. A similar fate befell the faithless police commissioner, who was punished for treason by Dr. Lecter in the same way as his famous ancestor.
INTERESTING STORIES
It turns out that the Pazzi family has a connection with Poland. Well, the Pazzi family was recognized in the 17th century by the Polish magnate Pac family as their distant relatives, descended from a common ancestor. The progenitor of the Pacs, according to their mythology, was supposed to come to Lithuania from Italy. It was favored by a similar surname and the similarity of the Pazzi coat of arms to Pacowska Gozdawa. As a result, Pazzi sent the Pacs relics of St. Mary Magdalene de 'Pazzi, and the Pacs consecrated her church in Pažaislis in Kaunas.
IT IS WORTH KNOWING
If you only have one day to visit Florence, you must see Brunelleschi's Dome. This masterpiece of architecture will certainly be appreciated by even a complete layman. The largest dome in its time was built without a load-bearing skeleton. The reward for the hardships of climbing the 463 steps will be a fabulous view of the interior of the cathedral and the frescoes covering the dome. The figures of the Last Judgment are right above the visitors' heads, and Satan's enormous black tail almost touches the tourists standing in the gallery. And from the sewn of the dome you can admire the breathtaking panorama of the city.
WORTH RECOMMENDING
In October 2013, another novel by Dan Brown, "Inferno", was published. The author became famous years ago with the book "The Da Vinci Code", which was strongly criticized by the Vatican. This time, the protests of the Church should be avoided, because "Inferno" is primarily a tribute to Dante, the author of "Divine Comedy". The action of the novel takes place in Florence, and the book itself would be a perfect guide. Thanks to the great erudition of the author, a trip around Florence with his commentary could be an extraordinary experience. It is a pity that I visited Florence a few months earlier, because probably soon after the book's premiere, the "In the footsteps of Robert Langdon" option will be added to the tourist offer of the city on the Arno.
Italy - Florence, Pisa
May 2013
The trip to Tuscany was my first trip with low cost Ryanair. I had a lot of concerns about the meticulous approach to the dimensions and weight of hand luggage, described on the forums. But fortunately, the flight went without any complications. Pisa welcomed me with warm spring rain and problems with accommodation. Without being discouraged, I went to Florence. When I woke up, the sun was shining and there was a slight breeze. The weather was perfect for sightseeing.
The feeling I experienced after wandering the streets and squares of Florence for several hours was a great regret. Watching magnificent buildings, monuments and sculptures, admiring the mastery of architectural details or the multitude of paintings and applied arts, I felt very sad that my country, which was once one of the European powers, has so few of them. Well, history has treated us very harshly. I thought for a long time how to present the photographic material from my trip to Tuscany. To avoid chaos, I finally decided to present my photos from Florence, divided into the northern, eastern, western and southern parts, i.e. Oltrarno. Naming not very romantic, but certainly very practical.Florence - northern part
I took my first steps in Florence in the northern part, because here was my accommodation base. Most of the interesting sights are concentrated around San Lorenzo and San Marco. Here too, in the inconspicuous Galleria dell'Accademia, is the original statue of Michelangelo's David. I must admit that he made a much greater impression on me than the masterpieces of painting collected in the Uffizi gallery. Set under a large dome, over four meters high, the marble sculpture is simply overwhelming with its beauty and size.
Florence - eastern part
It is here that the greatest monuments of Florence are located: the Duomo, campanile, baptistery, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi gallery, Santa Croce and many, many others. When on Sunday morning I was sailing with a crowd of tourists along the shaded Via de Servi and suddenly I found myself in Piazza del Duomo I was simply speechless with delight. I saw a huge, like a transatlantic body of the cathedral covered with white, green and pink Tuscan marble. I haven't seen anything like this before!
Florence - Oltrarno
Oltrarno literally means "on the other side of the Arno". However, I remembered the southern district not thanks to the excellent collections of paintings and applied art in the Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens or the Renaissance frescoes from the Brancacci Chapel. I experienced a moment of horror in a small cafe on Via de Bardi, while I was enjoying my morning coffee. Due to carelessness, I dropped the camera on the floor. To my horror, all the photos on the memory card disappeared. Luckily, after removing the card and restarting the camera, everything returned to normal.
Florence - western part
The most recognizable place in this part of Florence is the Ponte Vecchio bridge, which like a magnet attracts both tourists and the Florentines themselves. Apparently, it looks most beautiful at sunset. I saw him at different times and I must admit that he did not impress me that much. I liked the most in the morning from the banks of the Arno river, but when I walked it, it resembled an ordinary Florentine street.
Pisa
Pisa has not been kind to me. On the day of my arrival, she greeted me with heavy rain, and when I returned, the sky above the city was covered with thick, black clouds. When I finally got to Campo dei Miracoli - Field of Miracles, I had the impression that I had witnessed a miracle, because probably all the tourists who visited Pisa on that day were there. Fortunately, the tour was so organized that there was no need to queue to enter. Admiring the world-famous Leaning Tower, I was surprised to find that inside it is empty and does not look like a curve from all sides.
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