Europe 2: Florence

We travel to Florence by train in the morning, enjoying a scenic two-hour ride through the farmlands of Tuscany. You will find that traveling by train is a very comfortable way to go. Our first-class cars are air-conditioned, so they are cool and quiet, making for a most enjoyable ride. You can bring snacks on board, or eat in the dining car, or just relax and talk with your travel companions. The train is also a place to meet some local Europeans, most of whom speak enough English to communicate with you. The train goes faster than a bus, and doesn’t have to stop for traffic, or toilet breaks, so you arrive at your destination sooner and more refreshed. This is one of many differences between our approach and the standard bus tours. We will explore this fine art capital and see many amazing and beautiful sights. You will see how Florence became the birthplace of the Renaissance, and visit the places where these early artistic developments happened in the late 15th century. Our hotel, the Grand Hotel Baglioni, is in the middle of the city, making it very easy for us to explore the many historic attractions, shops and restaurants. After checking in and having lunch we will go on a walking tour with our local guide, covering many of the important sights. We visit inside the great Duomo Cathedral, with the world’s third largest dome, completed by Brunelleschi in 1434, which many consider to be the event that began the Renaissance. After appreciating Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery, with its “Gates of Paradise” doors carved by Ghiberti, we walk the few short blocks to the Piazza della Signoria, with its many statues, and the noble architecture of the Palazzo Vecchio. In the afternoon you can enjoy an optional visit with your escort to the Uffizi Gallery, which is a must for any art lover. This museum contains the finest colleciton of Italian renaissance art, with masterpieces by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Bellini, Mantegna, Raphael, and so many more geniuses. Your escort will point out the most interesting pieces and explain their significance. The rest of the day will be free, perhaps for shopping, and the evening is free to relax and dine. The Straw Market is fun for shopping, as is the hug sidewalk market by the Church of San Lorenzo, just one block from our hotel! Across the Arno River you will find interesting old streets for walking, further away from the tourist center, with lots of antique shops and modern boutiques with the latest fashions. For those interested, we begin with a bus ride to Piazzale Michelangelo, a wonderful hillside attraction that offers stunning view across the city on the other side of the Arno River. This is the one of the world’s great panoramas, so it is worth it, and the bus ride getting there takes us through interesting residential neighborhoods. The vista takes in the full span of Florence, spreading below you in a sea of clay tile roofs, punctuated by many domes, towers, bridges and framed by hills in the background, with the commanding presence of the great Duomo rising above all. A full-size, bronze copy of Michelangelo’s David stands in the middle of the square, surrounded by a small army of vendors selling snacks, film, t-shirts and other souvenirs to the many visitors who will be sharing this popular view. It only takes fifteen minutes to soak up the scene, but this brief expedition is most rewarding. When finished we take a very pleasant walk downhill that leads to quiet lanes along the river, and then to the Ponte Vecchio, which you can reach in fifteen minutes. After a long break for refreshments and shopping around, the group can then go to the day’s second museum, just to see one statue — Michelangelo’s David. Yes, this one piece is worth the short walk over to the Accademia Gallery. He stands 18 feet tall, a perfect marble figure ready to strike down the giant. Again, we have learned that the lines during the day are too long, but the gallery is open late, so we time our arrival to walk right in without waiting. The streets of Florence will also keep you entertained, with their many colorful people, cheap sidewalk vendors, musicians, ancient buildings and many, many restaurants. The high quality leather stores will especially tempt you, with their designer shoes and handbags. Every corner you turn in Florence offers another glimpse of history, and you will have enough free time to roam around and soak up this Tuscan atmosphere. If you want to do some serious shopping, we can show you where the designer boutiques are located, and the jewelry shops. If you just want some small leather items, the numerous sidewalk stands have low prices on a variety of wallets, belts, lipstick holders, bags and souvenirs of all kinds.

Blip | January 19, 2008

Tags:. .noble. .jewelry. .enjoyable. .glimpse. .ponte