Galileo, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Brunelleschi, the Medici family, Dante, Machiavelli – these were the greats among the people who helped shape and define the Renaissance in Firenze that soon swept across Europe 500 years ago and whose collective genius still gives modern man pause to wonder.
Architecture, art, literature became more secular and influenced by Greek and Roman cultural ideals in that ear spawning some of the most remarkable pieces of works that have stood the test of time – Brunelleschi dome in the Duomo and his invention of perspective, Michaelangelo’s David, da Vince’s Mona Lisa, Galileo’s research, the writings of Dante and Machiavelli – to name but a very few.
Our students were surrounded by these works during their two warm sun filled days in Firenze.
After arriving and checking into our hotels, we set off along the Arno River, which was a significant factor in Florence’s economic development from the 1200’s to 1400’s.
We arrived thereafter at the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s statue, David. Michelangelo worked on this 5 m statue exclusively between 1501 and 1504. After its completion, it was agreed that it would not be placed at the top of the cathedral. Rather, it was placed in front of seat of government of the day. Michelangelo had captured the Florentine spirit of the day. His David is an idealized man of absolute aesthetic manhood who symbolized a city that began to see itself as made powerful by superior intelligence and culture not by brute strength. David was a defender of civil liberties, hence its placement outside the Palazzo Vecchio.
Later on, some of the teachers and students had a sunset climb of the Duomo through Brunelleschi’s dome.
When we arrived at the top, the sun had gone down and darkness began to envelope Florence.
Dinners each night were held at the hotel.
The next morning there were four tours running simultaneously. The majority of students toured the Galileo Museum and had an opportunity to work with replicas of Galileo’s inventions. Those that went to the Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) saw the resting places of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Rossini and Marconi. Others learned more about the power and influence of the Medici, one of the most famous and powerful Florentine Renaissance families. The fourth group toured the Bargello Museum which at one time was the Medici family’s home and which now houses some of the Renaissance’s finest art collections, weapons and ceramics.
That afternoon, we all toured the Uffizi Gallery which was originally built between 1559 and 1574 by the Medici family to house the offices (uffizi means offices) of the four major guilds of the day so that they could monitor their business dealings. In 1737, Anna Maria Lusa, the last of her dynasty bequeathed the family’s art collection to the people of Florence; hence the gallery.
The Ponte Vecchio Bridge spans the Arno at its narrowest point. The shops on the bridge once housed butchers (who would throw unwanted remains into the river), linen merchants, grocers and black smiths. These shops were later replaced by gold and jewellery shops as the river smelled so badly. The Gallery was designed by Vasari as what is known as Vasari’s Corridor. The corridor was built over the Ponte Vecchio in 1565 to allow the Duke and his family to go between their home in the Palazzo Pitti on one side of the Arno across to the their offices on the other side without having to mingle with the common folk below.
About an hour away from Firenze is Siena which was in the Middle Ages, in constant conflict with Florence until it was defeated by the Florentines in the 15th C.
The beautiful piazza in the centre of town is the Piazza del Campo. It is a shell shaped piazza bordered by 12th C buildings. The fountain, the Fonte Gaia, located there is fed by a 500 year old aqueduct and is a replica of the original carved in the 14th C.
If you saw the last James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, you may recall the frenzied horse race at the beginning of the film. Twice a summer, the piazza is used as a race track for the Palio. This is a bareback horse race which has its roots in the 13th C. Victory assures the jockey tremendous admiration from his citizens especially those in the contrada he represents.
Towering above the piazza is the Torre del Mangia, the second tallest bell tower in Italy. A 505 step climb up a very narrow staircase which a few of us managed, guarantees magnificent views of Siena and the local countryside.
Assisi is of course the home of St. Francis and his burial place in the crypt of the basilica that bears his name. Students had time to see this ancient town after visiting the church.
Our final stop was in Norcia, a hilltop town located just over two hours from Lanciano. This town is famous for its meats and truffles. The butcher shops were doing a brisk business when we arrived.
Following dinner, we traveled back to Lanciano weary from our three days on the road.
