4th Italy picspam
So in this picspam I will show you guys the reminder of the places I visited on my trip... yes, this is already the fourth and last part :)
Part one, Part two, Part tree
The last pictures of the other day's picspam were from Firenze (Florence). It was by far the place that was the busiest that we visited, or maybe it seemed that way because there were no cars/scooters in Venice where we had spent the last 3 days.
The highlights of Firenze for me are the magnificent Cathedral, with 3 colors of marble and details almost like lace. It's mesmerizing and very impressive.
Front, Santa Maria del Fiore
Inside. The dome, 600 years after its completion, is still the largest dome built in brick and mortar in the world.
And it was also great to see "Il Ponte Vecchio" that is a main attraction I've had on my work wall for a while now (Mel had sent a postcard of it in '08 ;) )
The shops on the bridge are mostly jewelers.
Of course the best thing while traveling is to look around and take pictures. I took tons of them (no wonder I ended up with over 2500 of them), and the next two must be my favorite of them all.
I guess it's the colors, I don't know. Love how they turned out.
Speaking of colors, my gang was attracted to art supplies shops like moths to flames, wherever we went ;)
We were supposed to go back to Florence for another day, but didn't after all as we rested and visited Montecatini. That's ok too!
Next was Siena
Lots of steep hills and absolutely gorgeous streets. The historic center of Siena has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . (Quebec City too, btw. Just saying.)
More of those. There's a lovely uniformity to the city.
Siena has its own 3 color cathedral too! (there is a big BIG rivalry between the two cities)
The interior, with striped columns. Btw the perspective effect is made more dramatic because they cheated and didn't put the columns in a straight line, getting them closer and closer together towards the back of the church. It makes for an optical illusion impression that the church is bigger than it is in reality. There were plans to make it huge, the biggest in existence at the time, but they ran out of money and the pest derailed plans, too.
In said cathedral, the floor is absolutely mesmerizing.
As was the ceiling of a side gallery. Just wow.
Sienna has the famous Palio horse race around this plaza twice each year. Seventeen Contrade (which are city neighbourhoods originally formed as battalions for the city's defence) vie for the trophy: a painted banner, or Palio bearing an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Palio is not simply a tourist event as a true Sienese regards this in an almost tribal way (our guide was HILARIOUS talking to us about it). In fact the Sienese are baptised twice, once in church and a second time in their own Contrade fountain. And new parents negotiate to decide to which Contrade their kids will be from if they happen to be from separate ones themselves. Yes, they take it that seriously.
Finally, the last place we visited was San Gimignano, a small walled medieval hill town. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometres outside the town.
Unfortunately it poured down rain really heavily that day and spoiled the fun. It happens, with skies like this:
While in other cities, such as Bologna or Florence, most or all of their towers have been brought down due to wars, catastrophes, or urban renewal, San Gimignano has managed to conserve fourteen towers of varying height which have become its international symbol. Here are some:
lovely houses near a well
at least umbrellas make for nice pictures?
And well... rain does make the pavement shiny. And slippery.
random image of a little store
So, as you can see, it was a magnificent trip that I loved from start to finish. I wish I could have loved to go to Rome and even further South, but that will be for another trip. We had no control on the weather but all in all it doesn't matter all that much. What does is all of the beautiful things and places I saw and the fun I had with my friends.
I hope you enjoyed the ride by proxy! =D
Part one, Part two, Part tree
The last pictures of the other day's picspam were from Firenze (Florence). It was by far the place that was the busiest that we visited, or maybe it seemed that way because there were no cars/scooters in Venice where we had spent the last 3 days.
The highlights of Firenze for me are the magnificent Cathedral, with 3 colors of marble and details almost like lace. It's mesmerizing and very impressive.
Front, Santa Maria del Fiore
Inside. The dome, 600 years after its completion, is still the largest dome built in brick and mortar in the world.
And it was also great to see "Il Ponte Vecchio" that is a main attraction I've had on my work wall for a while now (Mel had sent a postcard of it in '08 ;) )
The shops on the bridge are mostly jewelers.
Of course the best thing while traveling is to look around and take pictures. I took tons of them (no wonder I ended up with over 2500 of them), and the next two must be my favorite of them all.
I guess it's the colors, I don't know. Love how they turned out.
Speaking of colors, my gang was attracted to art supplies shops like moths to flames, wherever we went ;)
We were supposed to go back to Florence for another day, but didn't after all as we rested and visited Montecatini. That's ok too!
Next was Siena
Lots of steep hills and absolutely gorgeous streets. The historic center of Siena has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . (Quebec City too, btw. Just saying.)
More of those. There's a lovely uniformity to the city.
Siena has its own 3 color cathedral too! (there is a big BIG rivalry between the two cities)
The interior, with striped columns. Btw the perspective effect is made more dramatic because they cheated and didn't put the columns in a straight line, getting them closer and closer together towards the back of the church. It makes for an optical illusion impression that the church is bigger than it is in reality. There were plans to make it huge, the biggest in existence at the time, but they ran out of money and the pest derailed plans, too.
In said cathedral, the floor is absolutely mesmerizing.
As was the ceiling of a side gallery. Just wow.
Sienna has the famous Palio horse race around this plaza twice each year. Seventeen Contrade (which are city neighbourhoods originally formed as battalions for the city's defence) vie for the trophy: a painted banner, or Palio bearing an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Palio is not simply a tourist event as a true Sienese regards this in an almost tribal way (our guide was HILARIOUS talking to us about it). In fact the Sienese are baptised twice, once in church and a second time in their own Contrade fountain. And new parents negotiate to decide to which Contrade their kids will be from if they happen to be from separate ones themselves. Yes, they take it that seriously.
Finally, the last place we visited was San Gimignano, a small walled medieval hill town. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometres outside the town.
Unfortunately it poured down rain really heavily that day and spoiled the fun. It happens, with skies like this:
While in other cities, such as Bologna or Florence, most or all of their towers have been brought down due to wars, catastrophes, or urban renewal, San Gimignano has managed to conserve fourteen towers of varying height which have become its international symbol. Here are some:
lovely houses near a well
at least umbrellas make for nice pictures?
And well... rain does make the pavement shiny. And slippery.
random image of a little store
So, as you can see, it was a magnificent trip that I loved from start to finish. I wish I could have loved to go to Rome and even further South, but that will be for another trip. We had no control on the weather but all in all it doesn't matter all that much. What does is all of the beautiful things and places I saw and the fun I had with my friends.
I hope you enjoyed the ride by proxy! =D