Close to Heaven
After a pleasant drive from Pisa, through the scenic Tuscan Countryside. Clara mother and I arrive at Italy's most beautiful flower. Firenze.
Many of the world's most famous writers, poets, artists, architects and artisans lived and worked here. This includes Cimabue and Giotto, the Pisanos, Brunelleschi, Donatello , Ghiberti, Della Robbia and Botticelli to name just a few. Then of course there was Michelangelo and Leonardo.
The city itself rests on the banks of the Arno River, which divides it in two. Joined by picturesque bridges, filled with architectural masterpieces and surrounded by gentle hills, Florence is also a work of art.
The city was founded in the first century BC by the Romans, and after early upheavals, flourished in the periods between the 11th and 15 centuries, when it reached it's cultural and artistic peak. UNESCO has reported that 60% of the world's important pieces of art are located in Italy and half of them are located in Florence.
Situated almost in the middle of Italy, this city of about five hundred thousand souls rests on a broad plain, between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas. Connected by rail, motorway and with an international airport nearby, Florence is a center of industry, commerce, and tourism and more importantly, still a significant center of culture and the arts.
It is early Sunday afternoon when were arrive at the Piazza San Giovanni. We are awed by the immense beauty of the buildings, the Duomo,the Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto's Bell tower, and one of the oldest edifices in the city, the Octagonal, Baptistery of San Giovanni.
The Baptistery di San Giovanni
This elegant building is clad in green and white marble strips it's small windows, surrounded by arches, It' also has pillars, decorated with green and white horizontal bands of marble. But the most famous features are the bronze doors.
The south door was executed by Andrea Pisano (1330-36) The North door, finished by Ghiberti with help from Donatello Paolo, Uccello and Masolino (1403-24) The most famous and most splendid, is the East door. Also created by Ghiberti, it has intricately worked scenes from the Old Testament. So taken with it, Michelangelo name it "the Gates of Paradise."
The Dome of the Baptistery is covered with Byzantine mosaics. The interior of the building is rather stark, but the floors have some superb Inlays and there is a precious collection of works of art, including those of Michelozzo.and Donatello
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