Day 8: Strolling Florence
“Many travelers toss aside their hometown blinders. Their prized souvenirs are the strands of different cultures they decide to knit into their own character. The world is a cultural yarn shop. “
- Rick Steves
The Abduction of the Sabine Women
The work above is by Giambologna. According to Roman myth, Rome lacked women to grow its population, so the men rampaged the neighboring villages and took women as their own. How’s that for awful?
A Renaissance Stroll
We left the Cinque Terre early in the morning and arrived at one of the most influential cities in the Renaissance. Colleen tells stories instead of just dry dates and statistics, making the information she gives more relevant.
This was the land of the flowering of “Rinascimento,” the rebirth of western Europe. This was the land of Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, Brunelleschi, della Francesca, Ghiberti, Bernini, Caravaggio, Donatello, and the patrons extraordinaire: the Medicis.
It was rainy today. Winter is the rainy season, but we would rather have a little wetness than the hordes of people to battle through in the high season. Colleen made sure we stood in line for short amounts of time.
The center of Florence is the Piazza Della Signoria (the main town square), and it dazzles.
David versus Hercules
The tyrannical Medicis wanted Florence to eclipse Rome as the cultural center of Italy. The colossal naked statue of David. The symbolism was well chosen. The Florentines saw David as a symbol of liberty and freedom for the Republicans. David looks in defiance toward Rome.
Ironically though, David symbolizes the reasserted domination of the Medici family. When the Medici came back into power after a brutal battle, they erected the opposing statue of Hercules and Canus.
Another David
This work by Donatello, a contemporary of Michelangelo, depicts David with Goliath. It is the usual way this biblical scene is portrayed. Note how each artist has a different interpretation.
Power and Proximity
The Uffizi's courtyard opens directly onto the Piazza Della Signoria with a glimpse of the Duomo built by Cosimo de Medici. The proximity and direct views of central landmarks symbolize the might and influence of the Medici family.
The Gates of Paradise
This work by Lorenzo Ghiberti depicts biblical scenes. It was mind-staggeringly beautiful for its grace, intricacy, and scale.
The Pitti Palace: Don’t pity the Medici
The Pitti Palace was the Medici country home. It holds the vast treasures of the Medici, who many say precipitated the Renaissance. We architects hold a great debt to them for their monumental support for the evolution of the arts and sciences. The Pitti Palace is now an arts center that showcases things from the past and supports contemporary arts.
Medici Might
The rough-face stonework of the facades further enhances the grand courtyard of the Pitti Palace. This is massive stonework meant to portray the influence and enduring existence of the Medici.
Fantasy Fashion
Contemporary fashion designers from all over the world were asked to design clothes that were cutting edge. Not exactly comfortable.
The Boboli Gardens
There are three main essential garden types in the West's history: the English garden, the French garden, and the Italian garden.
The Italian garden's formality is typified by long straight axes, clipped hedges, and a variety of room-like spaces. The high and mighty of Italy were competitive about showing their wealth to each other. They would stage elaborate parties that could last days with entertainment that tantalized all the senses, from gurgling waterworks to outdoor feasts.
Delightful Coincidence
Traveling is full of delightful coincidences. I have always admired Tony Cragg is for his contemporary abstractions of the human figure. He takes his inspiration from organic forms and the long glorious history of sculpture.
Garden folly
Follies hold a special place in garden design. Free of any practical use, they are flights of fancy whose sole function is to delight and act as a foil to nature. They are party central. Just think of all the naughty things they did at these places!
Curves and Control
Architectural axes are nothing but straight physical and visual paths to contrast against the curving, rounded nature forms. It symbolizes man’s mastery over nature. Whatever it means, it is full of dramatic delight. My daily health walks would be more pleasurable if I had this to walk in.