Cruising to Florence - The Origins of the Renaissance

Florence and the Birth of the Renaissance

If there is one city which can be credited for leading Europe out of the dark ages, that city is Florence. Although it's population never exceeded 60,000 during this period, Florence was Europe's center of culture and commerce for over 250 years, and its currency, the gold florin, fueled the continent's emergence into the Renaissance. From the early 1300s, the florin was the currency that made trade and industry possible. It funded the Papacy, and the wars of English kings. Florentine writers such as Dante and Boccaccio were instrumental in the evolution of ancient Latin into modern Italian. Renaissance and neoclassical architecture were invented in Florence, as was opera. Perhaps the most important family in the history of the European continent, the Medici, were Florentine. The Medici married into the royal families of Europe and were instrumental in ruling the continent during the Renaissance. Their patronage of the arts in Florence and across Europe led to the rise of artistic geniuses such as Donatello, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Leonardo Da Vinci. At the beginning of the dominance of Florence, Pope Boniface VIII paid the city the ultimate compliment when he postulated that a fifth element must be added to Aristotle's list of the building stones of the universe. To earth, air, fire and water the Pope added the Florentines.

Florence's Duomo

Towards the end of the dark ages, the citizens of Florence set out to build a cathedral which would dominate the skyline of their city. It was to have a dome that would become the symbol of Florence, and they invited the world's greatest architects to bid for the task of its design. Architect after architect came before the committee in Florence to explain how he would solve the problems inherent in the dome's design. Finally a young creative genius, Brunelleschi, stepped forward. He took an egg out of his pocket, and smashed it down on the Florence committee's table. As he did so, the bottom of the egg cracked and flattened, and an "egg" dome appeared before them. Brunelleschi was hired on the spot.

A Visit to Florence

Our cruise ship docked in Livorno early in the morning, and being adventurous, we decided to visit Florence on our own. The taxi ride from the port to the main train station was quick and inexpensive, and soon we were on the train headed to Florence. The ride took one and a half hours, and the views of the Tuscan countryside were enchanting.

Trying to see all of Florence in one day is like trying to leap the English Channel in a single bound, a task best left to Superman. So we planned ahead and limited ourselves to a few highlights which are the major landmarks of Florence. Our plan was to see Brunelleschi's Duomo, The Academia, and The Uffizi Palace, and enjoy a true Tuscan lunch in between.

Florence's Uffizi Palace, and the Academia are two of the most famous art galleries in the world. The Uffizi is filled with Renaissance paintings and sculptures by the greatest masters of the era. Each room is filled with world famous works which overwhelm the senses. Strolling through this gallery is a highlight of Florence not to be missed. On the other hand, the Galleria is smaller and much less imposing, but in it you will find the one masterpiece which may be the ultimate symbol of Renaissance art, Michelangelo's David. A word of advice; the lines outside these galleries are astounding and can dishearten the most dedicated art lover. We made reservations in advance over the internet, appeared at the scheduled times, and were escorted in without waiting.

For our Tuscan lunch we chose Restaurante Antico Fattore, a charming and reasonably priced Tuscan eatery in the historic center of Florence. The traditional Tuscan cuisine was a treat, as was the Lemoncello, and our visit included an opportunity to learn a little more about the history of Florence.

The architecture of Florence's Duomo, the baptistry next door, and the artworks in both were amazing to behold. The detailed sculptured reliefs on the Baptistry's doors where created by Ghiberti, and took decades to complete.

We would have liked to climb to the top of the Duomo if time had permitted. Oh well, that is just one of thousands of reasons to return to this magnificent city, Florence.

Happy cruising. Andrew Kruglanski, Cruisin Susan Cruise Blog
http://cruisesuz.com

Andrew Kruglanski
Cruisin Susan Cruise Blog
http://cruisesuz.com
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