A DAY AND A HALF IN FLORENCE & PISA
January 12, 2016From Venice S. Lucia station, we traveled to the capital city of Tuscany, Florence, via ItaliaRail. It took us about 2 hours to reach this beautiful city, which is known as the cradle of Renaissance, the cultural movement that spread throughout Europe in the 14th century. Upon reaching Florence S.M.N Station, we headed to the lodging located in Borgo Santi Apostoli area, which we booked through AirBnb. Mario, our host, was very friendly. He gave us a warm welcome, showed us around his cosy apartment and our room. After settling in, we only managed to have a short chat with him before he headed out to work. He told us this year's winter was delayed, so the weather was still cold though it was supposed to be spring time already. We left the house thereafter to do some sightseeing.
First stop was Ponte Vecchio - literally next to where we stayed. Up until 1218, Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, was the only bridge across River Arno, which cuts through the old part of the city. It is the only bridge that survived the World War II but the current bridge was rebuilt after a flood in 1345. The attraction here is the multitude of shops built upon its edges, held up by stilts. Apparently at the beginning, there were all types of shops, including butchers, fishmongers and tanners, whose wastes caused a pretty rank stench in the area, and in 1593, the Medici family (the family that ruled over Florence in the 15th-17th centuries) decreed that only goldsmiths and jewelers be allowed to have their shops on the bridge in order to improve the well-being of all, including their own as they walked over the bridge.
Ponte Vecchio |
The little 'houses' are actually shops |
Palazzo Vecchio |
The Neptune Fountain |
Benvenuto Cellini's statue Perseus With Medusa's severed head |
Bartolommeo Bandinelli's Hercules and Cacus |
A copy of Michelangelo's statue David. The original is housed in the Accademia. |
View of Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore from the cafe. |
The facade of the Cathedral |
The Cathedral and Giotto's bell tower |
The cupola, Brunelleschi’s Dome, remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. |
Beautiful street art at the Piazza. |
Dinner was at a small restaurant that Mario frequently visited. He recommended it to us because it was not touristy and the food was reasonably priced as most of their patrons were locals. Sadly, I've forgotten the name of this place :( It was hidden in some alley, not easy to find even with the map he drew for us.
Tuscan soup v veggie n bread |
Sliced chicken breast v salad |
Sliced pork v potatoes. This was succulent and absolutely delicious. |
People usually line up before the opening time, so it is best to go early to increase your chances of getting the item you want as the popular items will be available in limited quantities. |
Palazzo della Carovana. Housing the main building of the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa - a public higher learning institution |
Stalls selling arts and crafts along the way |
Stalls selling arts and crafts along the way |
Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square), also known as The Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), is a wide walled area located to the north of the old town center in Pisa. Standing in a large green expanse, Piazza del Duomo houses the four masterpieces of medieval architecture – Duomo ( the Cathedral), the Baptistry, the Campanile (the 'Leaning Tower') and the Campo Santo (the monumental cemetery). The whole square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Piazza del Duomo, Pisa |
The Leaning Tower of Pisa - the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, known worldwide for its unintended tilt. |
Cattedrale di Pisa |
The Baptistry |
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