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DAY 5
THE HILLS OF CHIANTI
OVERNIGHT IN FLORENCE
The Chianti region stretches over a large rural area from Florence to Siena,
bordered by the rivers Arno, Elsa, Ombrone and Arbia. On its hills, set amidst
very precious vineyards and historical villages, the famous Chianti
wine is produced.
Enjoy awesome views and landscapes on a drive through the hills of Chianti,
through woods and pine forests, vineyards and olive groves on the
Via Chiantigiana, The Chianti Road.
You'll enjoy a
360-degree panorama of the land of the famous Gallo Nero
(Black Rooster) wine, the
Chianti Classico.
Less well known, but equally sought after is the Chianti Classico DOP
(Denominazione di Origine Protetta) extra virgin olive oil.
The Florence American Cemetery and Memorial is one of fourteen permanent
American World War II military cemetery memorials erected on foreign soil
by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
There are 4,402 servicemen and women interred in the 70-acre cemetery. Most died in the
fighting which occurred after the capture of Rome in June 1944. Included among them
are casualties of the heavy fighting in the Apennines shortly before the war's end.
DAY 6 / FRIDAY / NOVEMBER 07
GUIDED TOUR OF RENAISSANCE FLORENCE
OVERNIGHT IN FLORENCE
The cultural and historical impact of
Florence is overwhelming. Close up, however, it is one of Italy's most atmospheric and pleasant
cities and retains a strong resemblance to the small late-medieval center that contributed so much
to the cultural and political development of Europe.
In the hot summer season, Florence can be one of Italy's most clogged tourist traps,
with up to 2,000 tourist buses arriving daily. Early November is a
perfect time to visit.
Bernini Palace Hotel
The Hotel Bernini Palace is found just behind the Palazzo Vecchio
in an historical building that dates from the
15th century. Between 1865 and 1870 it was used as the Parliament of the young
Kingdom of Italy, when Florence was the capital.
Florence
is the town where the
Italian Renaissance was born and therefore for
centuries has been considered by people from all over the world to be a place that
cultured people must visit.
“A man who has never been to Italy is always conscious of an inferiority.”
--- Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1776
It's believed that Florence was founded as a colony of the Etruscan city of Fiesole in
about 200 BC, but development only really got underway in around 59 BC, when
Julius Caesar
set up an army camp on the banks of the Arno River.
The city recovered from the rigors of the Dark Ages through the influence of the Germanic
Holy Roman emperors, and came into its own in the 12th century.
Though Florence was racked by plague, political turbulence and factionalism, its commerce
thrived, providing the economic backbone to the cultural flowering known as the Renaissance.
The influence of the
Medici family on the city is inestimable, due to its banking interests,
artistic patronage and taste, papal influence and political power.
Lorenzo de Medici (or
"Lorenzo The Magnificent," as he was called by the people of Florence) was a statesman,
ruler, and patron of the arts. "The Magnificent" was a common title of respect in Italy
at the time, but it was Lorenzo who raised it to special status.
Born January 1, 1449, Lorenzo ruled Florence with his younger brother, Giuliano,
from 1469 to 1478. After
his brother's assassination in 1478, he was sole ruler until his death in 1492.
Perhaps Lorenzo's greatest contribution to history was his patronage of the arts.
He contributed
more than anyone to the flowering of Florentine genius in the late 15th century,
supporting such giants as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Lorenzo treated the
artists under his protection with respect and warm-hearted familiarity.
Like a jewel-case surrounded by the landscape of the green hills of Tuscany,
Florence proudly shows its
invaluable art treasures to the world.
Walking Tour
At 10 am, we begin a walking tour of the heart of Florence.
Fortunately, everything is conveniently located within easy walking distance of our hotel.
Sights included on our guided tour of Florence are
(1) the
Duomo (Cathedral) with its immense
cupola by famed architect
Filippo Brunelleschi ,
(2)
Giotto’s tower, and
(3) the Baptistery, with
its beautiful mosaics and bronze doors, one of which is called
the Gates of Paradise,by
Lorenzo Ghiberti.
The
Duomo of Florence is the fourth largest cathedral in the world, after St. Peter's
in Rome, St. Paul's in London and the Duomo in Milan.
Il Palazzo Vecchio
©Photo by Michael Reed ~ Creative World Travel
The tour continues to
Piazza della Signoria , the historic center of Florence.
Il Palazzo Vecchio (The Old Palace) is the main complex in Piazza della
Signoria .
The Palazzo Vecchio, constructed in 1299, was the home of the
Florentine guilds.
Then, as well as today, it functioned as the seat of municipal government and the
heart of Florentine culture. It was here that the city's 5,000 guild members, who had the
power of the vote, gathered to discuss and determine city issues.
In addition to textile workers and bankers, the guild members included masons and
builders, sculptors, lawyers, and solicitors.
In 1540, Cosimo I of the Medici family converted the palace into the residence of the
Dukes of Florence.
Major attractions inside Il Palazzo Vecchio include Room of the Lilies, Elenora di
Toledo's Rooms, the inner courtyard with the Putto Fountain, and Michelangelo's
statue the Victory.
In front of Il Palazzo Vecchio stands a copy of the famous statue of
David by
Michelangelo, the
Marzocco by Donatello and the Neptune Fountain.
Next to the Neptune Fountain is an equestrian statue of Grand Duke Cosimo I.
The entrance to the Uffizi Gallery is just off the square. In the area covered by
the Loggia dei Lanzi there are numerous statues, including the bronze
Perseus
by
Benvenuto Cellini.
Afternoon Free
The afternoon is free to explore Florence on your own.
We recommend that you continue on to
visit the Franciscan
Church of Santa Croce. There you can contemplate the celebrated tombs and
memorials of
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Niccolò Machiavelli
Galileo Galilei
Gioacchino Rossini
Dante Alighieri
You might also want to visit the museum
Galleria dell'
Accademia to see the original statue of
Michelangelo's David.
The
statue of David used to stand in front of Palazzo Vecchio , but was
later moved indoors to protect it from the elements.
This afternoon, be sure to begin your personal taste test to determine the
best gelato (Italian
ice cream) of Tuscany, Umbria and Rome.
A traditional favorite is Vivoli, a Florence landmark tucked away on Via Isole
delle Stinche near Santa Croce.
Always look for
gelato artigianale, authentic homemade ice cream.
DAY 7 / SATURDAY / NOVEMBER 08
UFFIZI GALLERY
OVERNIGHT IN FLORENCE
The construction of the Uffizi palace began in 1560, when the Duke Cosimo I dei Medici
decided to build a special building for the offices (uffizi in Italian, hence the name)
of the thirteen magistracies, that is, the administrative center of the Florentine State.
Cosimo I commissioned the building project to
Giorgio Vasari, painter and
architect at the Medici court, who realized one of the most famous architectural
masterworks of Florentine Mannerism.
The
Uffizi Gallery
is one of the greatest art collections of the world. The list
of artists on display is awesome: Bernini, Botticelli, Brueghel, Canaletto, Caravaggio,
Cimabue, Dürer, Ghirlandaio, Giotto, Goya, Leonardo da Vinci, Filippo Lippi, Michelangelo,
Rafael, Rembrandt, Rubens, Tintoretto … to name but a few of the most famous.
Our group has special reservations for admission to the Uffizi, so standing in the
long lines is not required.
The afternoon is free.
Il Ponte Vecchio
Around the corner from the Uffizi is is the most famous
bridge of Florence, the famed Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), lined with
goldsmiths' and jewelry shops.
Built in ancient times by the Etruscans, the bridge has weathered many storms -
and storming by invading legions. Because of its location over the widest part of the
Arno River, the bridge has been rebuilt and restored many times throughout its
long history.
The Ponte Vecchio was built in 1345 by
Taddeo Gaddi and Neri di Fioravanti to replace the ancient Roman bridge that had been
destroyed many times by the flooding of the Arno. It was the only bridge spared by
the Germans when they retreated from Florence in 1944.
In the middle of the bridge is a bust of the famed sculptor (and goldsmith)
Benvenuto Cellini by Raffaello Romanelli.
Across the Arno River is
the Pitti Palace , built in the 15th century by the
Florentine Pitti family. The palace
and was occupied by the Medici family around 1550 after they came to power.
The building of the original palace was probably supervised by Brunelleschi. Over the
centuries, the palace was expanded by the Medici and turned into a priceless private museum
of paintings, sculptures and other rare collectibles.
In the back, the Pitti Palace opens up to the beautiful
Boboli Gardens with fountains,
sculptures and sweeping views of the city of Florence.
The San Lorenzo market is close to our hotel, located between
the Medici-Riccardi Palace, the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapel. It
is probably the busiest market in Florence.
During the day, street vendors sell
everything from t-shirts to leather goods.
Look for the statue of
Giovanni dalle Bande Nere ,
father of Cosimo I, the first Medici Grand Duke. The shield with six balls on the
base is the Medici emblem.
Trattoria Mario is near the San Lorenzo market and is considered one of
the best choices for lunch.
The
Central Market (Mercato Centrale) is housed inside a large two-story building
designed in the 19th century. On the ground floor of the Central Market, vendors sell meats,
fish and a variety of cheeses. If you are in the area at lunchtime, you can try one of the
already prepared Tuscan take-out foods.
On the first floor of the market one can purchase fresh fruit, vegetables as well as
dried fruit, nuts, honey, homemade pasta, wine, herbs, and other produce.
Florence is the place to buy that special Italian leather jacket or bag. Among the most famous shops is
Cellerini , an institution in a city where it seems
that just about everybody is wearing an expensive leather jacket.
The textile trade has been a mainstay of the Florentine economy since the middle ages
and the city has a long history as one of one of Europe's greatest producers of
luxury textiles.
By the early sixteenth century, the mass production of woolen cloth had already given way
to a smaller and more luxurious commerce in silks, brocades, fine linens, embroideries,
trimmings and specialty fabrics--an identity that is still proudly maintained today
by Florence's fashion and interior furnishings industries.
History of Florence
Florence Art News ~ Webmagazine on Art and Culture of Florence and Tuscany
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