TRAVEL FLORENCE
(Including day out tours of Pisa and Siena)
GENERAL INFORMATION-Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and the province of Florence. A centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family. Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. The city is noted for its history, culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. Florentines reinvented money in the form of the gold florin. The Florentines, perhaps most notably Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1466) and Leon Batist' Alberti (1404-1472) invented both Renaissance and neoclassical architecture. Florentine bankers financed Henry the Navigator and the Portuguese explorers who pioneered the route around Africa to India and the Far East. It was a map drawn by the Florentine Paulo del Pozzo Toscanelli, a student of Brunelleschi, that Columbus used to sell his "enterprise" to the Spanish monarchs, and which he then used on his first voyage.
HISTORY-A colony is established here in the middle of the 1st century BC for veterans of Julius Caesar's campaigns. It is referred to a few years later as Colonia Florentina - the flourishing colony. When Florence begins its territorial expansion, in the 12th century, the town - like many others in northern Italy - is governed as a commune. The Florentines resist princely rule longer than any other commune apart from Venice, not finally succumbing until the Medici are accepted as dukes of Tuscany in the 16th century. During the 13th century bankers from north Italy, collectively known as Lombards, gradually replace the Jews in their traditional role as money-lenders to the rich and powerful. The business skills of the Italians are enhanced by their invention of double-entry book-keeping. Creative accountancy enables them to avoid the Christian sin of usury; interest on a loan is presented in the accounts either as a voluntary gift from the borrower or as a reward for the risk taken. Siena and Lucca, Milan and Genoa all profit from the new trade. But Florence takes the lion's share. Florence is well equipped for international finance, its famous gold coin, the florin. First minted in 1252, the florin is widely recognized and trusted. It is the hard currency of its day. Half a century later great fortunes are again being made by the financiers of the city. Prominent among them in the 15th century are two families, the Pazzi and the Medici. In 1569 the pope creates Cosimo grand duke of Tuscany. During his reign, the region, with Florence as its capital, incorporates the great prize of Siena (from 1557). The grand duchy of Tuscany now takes its place among the great dynasties of Europe. Two women, Catherine and Marie de Medici, play powerful roles on the European stage as queen consorts and regents of France. The inheritance passes down peacefully within the ruling Medici family, to son or brother, until Gian Gastone dies without an heir in 1737. Thereafter the grand duchy becomes attached to the imperial house of Austria (by the treaty of Vienna in 1738). The mid-century brings the successful struggle to be free of Austrian rule and the establishment of the independent kingdom of Italy - of which Florence is the provisional capital, from 1865, until Rome is captured in 1870.
GEOGRAPHY--Florence lies in a basin formed by the hills of Careggi, Fiesole, Settignano, Arcetri, Poggio Imperiale and Bellosguardo (Florence). The Arno River flows through it.
CLIMATE-
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
HIGH 11 12 16 18 24 28 31 31 27 21 15 11
LOW 2 2 5 7 12 15 18 18 14 10 5 3
AREA-102.40Km2
POPULATION- 3, 67,800
CO-ORDINATES-43°47′N 11°15′E
TIME ZONE- UTC+1 Summer UTC+2
AIRPORT-Florence's Amerigo Vespucci international airport (IATA: FLR) has good connections to the centre of the city, which can be reached in about fifteen minutes by taxi or bus. The Ataf-Sita "Vola in Bus" ("Fly by bus") service costs €5.00 one way, and makes the circuit between the airport and the central train station every half an hour from 5:30AM to 8PM, then once an hour afterwards.
SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS AT FLORENCE-
HISTORY-A colony is established here in the middle of the 1st century BC for veterans of Julius Caesar's campaigns. It is referred to a few years later as Colonia Florentina - the flourishing colony. When Florence begins its territorial expansion, in the 12th century, the town - like many others in northern Italy - is governed as a commune. The Florentines resist princely rule longer than any other commune apart from Venice, not finally succumbing until the Medici are accepted as dukes of Tuscany in the 16th century. During the 13th century bankers from north Italy, collectively known as Lombards, gradually replace the Jews in their traditional role as money-lenders to the rich and powerful. The business skills of the Italians are enhanced by their invention of double-entry book-keeping. Creative accountancy enables them to avoid the Christian sin of usury; interest on a loan is presented in the accounts either as a voluntary gift from the borrower or as a reward for the risk taken. Siena and Lucca, Milan and Genoa all profit from the new trade. But Florence takes the lion's share. Florence is well equipped for international finance, its famous gold coin, the florin. First minted in 1252, the florin is widely recognized and trusted. It is the hard currency of its day. Half a century later great fortunes are again being made by the financiers of the city. Prominent among them in the 15th century are two families, the Pazzi and the Medici. In 1569 the pope creates Cosimo grand duke of Tuscany. During his reign, the region, with Florence as its capital, incorporates the great prize of Siena (from 1557). The grand duchy of Tuscany now takes its place among the great dynasties of Europe. Two women, Catherine and Marie de Medici, play powerful roles on the European stage as queen consorts and regents of France. The inheritance passes down peacefully within the ruling Medici family, to son or brother, until Gian Gastone dies without an heir in 1737. Thereafter the grand duchy becomes attached to the imperial house of Austria (by the treaty of Vienna in 1738). The mid-century brings the successful struggle to be free of Austrian rule and the establishment of the independent kingdom of Italy - of which Florence is the provisional capital, from 1865, until Rome is captured in 1870.
GEOGRAPHY--Florence lies in a basin formed by the hills of Careggi, Fiesole, Settignano, Arcetri, Poggio Imperiale and Bellosguardo (Florence). The Arno River flows through it.
CLIMATE-
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
HIGH 11 12 16 18 24 28 31 31 27 21 15 11
LOW 2 2 5 7 12 15 18 18 14 10 5 3
AREA-102.40Km2
POPULATION- 3, 67,800
CO-ORDINATES-43°47′N 11°15′E
TIME ZONE- UTC+1 Summer UTC+2
AIRPORT-Florence's Amerigo Vespucci international airport (IATA: FLR) has good connections to the centre of the city, which can be reached in about fifteen minutes by taxi or bus. The Ataf-Sita "Vola in Bus" ("Fly by bus") service costs €5.00 one way, and makes the circuit between the airport and the central train station every half an hour from 5:30AM to 8PM, then once an hour afterwards.
SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS AT FLORENCE-
001-SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE (THE DUMO) - The cathedral complex, located in Piazza del Duomo, includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile. Florence's cathedral stands tall over the city with its magnificent Renaissance dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The cathedral named in honour of Santa Maria del Fiore and is a vast Gothic structure built on the site of the 7th century church of Santa Reparata, the remains of which can be seen in the crypt. The cathedral was begun at the end of the 13th century, the first stone was laid on September 9, 1296, the building of this vast project was completed in 140 years and the dome, which dominates the exterior, was added in the 15th century on a design of Filippo Brunelleschi, the work started on the dome in 1420 and was completed in 1436.The cathedral is 153m long, 38m wide and the height of dome is 114.5m from floor. The exterior is covered in a decorative mix of pink, white and green polychrome marble added much later, between 1871 and 1887, in a neo-Gothic style with colourful patterns. The whole façade is dedicated to the Mother of Christ. The exterior walls are faced in alternate vertical and horizontal bands of polychrome marble from Carrara (white), Prato (green), Siena (red), Lavenza and a few other places. These marble bands had to repeat the already existing bands on the walls of the earlier adjacent baptistery the Battistero di San Giovanni and Giotto's Bell Tower. As a result the façade was nicely complements the design of the cathedral's fourteenth-century bell tower. The fresco on the dome's interior, painted between 1572 and 1579 depicts the Last Judgment. Also the marble floor with intricate patterns was re-laid in 16th century in marble tiles. The cathedral was consecrated by Pope Eugene IV on March 25, 1436
i-DUMO- It was built after 100 years of the construction of the main building. Brunelleschi’s dome is the largest masonry dome ever built and it is the coverage of the Cathedral of Florence. It was the first 'octagonal' dome in history to be built without a temporary wooden supporting frame. Brunelleschi's Dome is the tallest building in Florence, over 600 years after it was built. A huge statue of Brunelleschi is now erected outside the Palazzo dei Canonici in the Piazza del Duomo. The outer, much smaller shell supports the roof and protects the inner shell from the elements. Between the two shells is a staircase, which leads visitors to the base of the lantern.
ii-MAIN FAÇADE- The three huge bronze doors date from 1899 to 1903. They are adorned with scenes from the life of the Madonna. On top of the façade is a series of niches with the twelve Apostles and the Madonna with Child (in the middle). Between the rose window and the tympanum, there is a gallery with busts of great Florentine artists.
iii-CAMPNILE (BELL TOWER)-The eighty-five meter high tower was completed in 1359. The colourful facade is clad with green, pink and white Tuscan marble. The tower is accessible to visitors and offers a magnificent view of the city and the cathedral's dome in particular.
i-DUMO- It was built after 100 years of the construction of the main building. Brunelleschi’s dome is the largest masonry dome ever built and it is the coverage of the Cathedral of Florence. It was the first 'octagonal' dome in history to be built without a temporary wooden supporting frame. Brunelleschi's Dome is the tallest building in Florence, over 600 years after it was built. A huge statue of Brunelleschi is now erected outside the Palazzo dei Canonici in the Piazza del Duomo. The outer, much smaller shell supports the roof and protects the inner shell from the elements. Between the two shells is a staircase, which leads visitors to the base of the lantern.
ii-MAIN FAÇADE- The three huge bronze doors date from 1899 to 1903. They are adorned with scenes from the life of the Madonna. On top of the façade is a series of niches with the twelve Apostles and the Madonna with Child (in the middle). Between the rose window and the tympanum, there is a gallery with busts of great Florentine artists.
iii-CAMPNILE (BELL TOWER)-The eighty-five meter high tower was completed in 1359. The colourful facade is clad with green, pink and white Tuscan marble. The tower is accessible to visitors and offers a magnificent view of the city and the cathedral's dome in particular.
002-SAN GIOVANNI BAPISTRY- The Baptistery is one of Florence's oldest buildings and predates the cathedral. The interior dates back to the thirteenth century when the mosaics on the ceiling - depicting stories from the Bible were created. The exterior white and green marble cladding was added around the same time. The doors of baptistery, depicting scenes from the Bible, are considered Ghiberti's best work and have been described by Michelangelo as the Gates of Paradise. The panels have long been replaced by replicas, the originals are now on display at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
003-PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA- The Piazza della Signoria was created in the 13th century and became Florence's most important square and has been the centre of political life in Florence since the 14th century. It is surrounded by other important buildings as the Loggia della Signoria and the Palazzo degli Uffizi on the south side, the sixteenth century Palazzo degli Uguccioni on the north side and the Palazzo del Tribunale di Mercanzia (about 1359) on the east side. The square is almost an open air sculpture museum with plenty of statues that remind visitors of Florence's glorious past. The most famous statue at the square is Michelangelo's David, one of the masterpieces of Renaissance sculpture. The statue was created in 1504 for the city of Florence and placed in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. In 1873 the statue was replaced by a replica, the original is now in the Galleria dell'Accademia. When he created his David, Michelangelo was not even thirty. Michelangelo took three years to finish his David. A giant almost four and a half meters high and the only large nude sculpted after ancient times, as no-one had previously dared to challenge the Greek and Roman masterpieces. In 1533 another statue was added to the square, Hercules, created by Baccio Bandinelli. The equestrian statue of Cosimo I de' Medici, who brought the Medici family back to power in 1537, was commissioned by his son Ferdinando and created by Giambologna. It was installed at the Piazza della Signoria in 1594.
004-LOGGIA DEI LANZI- Loggia dei Lanzi, an open gallery originally built in 1376 to provide protection against natural elements during public meetings and events. Its curved arches foretell Renaissance classicism. In 1583 the roof of the loggia was converted into a terrace connected to the Uffizi Palace, which allowed the Medici to observe events and ceremonies held at the Piazza della Signoria from above. The statue of Perseo holding Medusa's head, by Cellini (1554), is a stark reminder of what happened to those who crossed the Medici, and along with Giambologna's Rape of the Sabines, are two of many beautiful sculptures found under the arches of the Loggia dei Lanzi. Right behind the Loggia dei Lanzi is the Galleria degli Uffizi, also known as the Uffizi Gallery, Italy's top art museum.
005-FOUNTAIN OF NEPTUNE- The Neptune Fountain was built between 1563 and 1575 and symbolizes Florence as a naval power. The design of Bartolomeo Ammannati shows the Roman god of the sea surrounded by sea nymphs. Fountain was commissioned on the occasion of the wedding of Francesco I de' Medici with grand duchess Johanna of Austria in 1565. The fountain of Neptune is the first public fountain in Florence.The Neptune figure was meant to be an allusion to the dominion of the Florentines over the sea. The figure stands on a high pedestal in the middle of an octagonal fountain with his horses. The pedestal in the middle is decorated with the mythical chained figures of Scylla and Charybdis. The statue of Neptune is a copy made in the nineteenth century, while the original is in the National Museum.
006- THE PALAZZO VECCHIO MUSEUM AND TOWER - The Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence. Palazzo Vecchio is the main symbol of civil power for the city of Florence. Construction on the solid fortress began in 1299 above the ruins of the destroyed Uberti Ghibelline towers. From the very beginning, the main section of Palazzo Vecchio was destined to host the city council which was composed of chief members the Guilds of Florence (the Priori) who governed the Republic of Florence. Palazzo Vecchio offers Roman ruins, a Medieval fortress and amazing Renaissance chambers and paintings. The Salone dei Cinquecento (Hall of the Five Hundred) was built from 1494. The Hall is the largest and most important room in terms of artistic and historical value inside the palace. This impressive hall has a length of 54 meters, a width of 23 and a height of 18 meters. Paneled ceilings and large wall frescoes, golden decorations and sculptures.The building is magnificent, in a characteristic Tuscan gothic style, the façade is so elegant, made of solid rustic stonework, with its battlement supported by small arches and corbels. The tower is placed in an asymmetrical position because Arnolfo di Cambio incorporated the ancient tower of the Foraboschi family. The tower is named Tower of Arnolfo. The cubical building is built in solid rusticated stonework, with two rows of two-lighted Gothic windows, each with a trefoil arch. Palazzo Vecchio is now a museum, it remains the symbol of local government: since 1872 it has housed the office of the mayor of Florence, and it is the seat of the City Council. Michelangelo's David also stood at the entrance from its completion in 1504 to 1873, when it was moved to the Accademia Gallery.
007-PALAZZO PITTI (Pitti Palace)- The Palazzo Pitti also called the Pitti Palace, is a vast Renaissance palace in Florence. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. It was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, and an ambitious Florentine banker. The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It grew as a great treasure house as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewellery and luxurious possessions. In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon, and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. The palace and its contents were donated to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1919, and its doors were opened to the public as one of Florence's largest art galleries. The palace is home to eight separate museums, Galleria Palatina (Palatine Gallery, probably the most important one), begun by Cosimo de’ Medici the second in 1620; Gallery of Modern Art, Costume Gallery, Museo degli argenti (Silver Museum), Porcelain Museum, Boboli Garden.
008-UFFIZI GALLERY- Building of the palace was begun by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 for Cosimo I de' Medici as the offices for the Florentine magistrates—hence the name "uffizi" ("offices"). The Palazzo degli Uffizi brought together under one roof the administrative offices, the Tribunal and the state archive. After the house of Medici was extinguished, it formed one of the first modern museums. The gallery had been open to visitors and in 1765 it was officially opened to the public. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most famous museums in the world given the rich amount of unique artworks and masterpieces conserved within its walls, the majority from the Renaissance period. Uffizi Gallery hosts works of art by great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello.
009-BOBILO GARDEN- The powerful Medici family created the Boboli Garden in the 16th century behind the Pitti Palace. The beautiful and varied Italianesque garden is home to a large number of statues and fountains. The estate was obtained by the Medici family in 1549.He lay out the expansive garden on the sloping terrain behind the palace. The result was an elegant Italian Renaissance garden with geometric patterns. The domain was expanded several times over the years and many statues and fountains were added to the garden, which opened to the public in 1776. Parts of the garden are laid out formally with geometric patterns while others are more natural. The primary axis, rises on Boboli Hill from a deep amphitheatre. The design of the garden was used as a basis for all the royal gardens in Europe, including Versailles, while the park itself was immediately enriched with many Mannerist inventions by Buontalenti. Entering the park from the Piazza dei Pitti, one'll come across the Bacchus Fountain, one of the park's most singular fountains. It depicts Pietro Barbino - the court jester of duke Cosimo I - as the Roman god of wine. To the left of the park's entrance is an artificial grotto, known as the Grotto Grande. The grotto, which was built between 1583 and 1588 consists of three connected chambers which contain a number of sculptures. The amphitheatre of the Boboli Garden is located right behind the Pitti Palace. This was originally the location of the quarry which supplied stones for the construction of the palace. Just north of the Grotto Grande lies a terraced garden leading to the Kaffeehaus, an elegant pavilion in Rococo style that was built here in 1775.
010-GALLERIA DEL’S ACCADEMIA- The Galleria dell' Accademia di Firenze, or "Gallery of the Academy of Florence", is an art museum in Florence .Cosimo I de' Medici, grand duke of Tuscany, founded Europe's first art academy in 1563. Michelangelo Buonarroti was one of the first teachers in the academy, which was called Accademia delle Arti del Disegno. Duke of Tusany Leopold founded the Galleria dell' Accademia, a museum located adjacent to the academy. The most important masterpiece in the Galleria dell' Accademia is Michelangelo's statue of David, possibly the world's most famous statue. The statue, 17ft tall. The statue, which was created by Michelangelo in 1501-1504 from a single block of marble. Another famous work by Michelangelo in the Galleria is the group of four unfinished marble statues of slaves. On the second floor is an impressive collection of religious paintings from the 13th through the 16th century.
011-PONTE VECCHIO (OLD BRIDGE) - The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is a medieval bridge spanning the river Arno in Florence. It is one of the few remaining bridges with houses built upon. The Vasari corridor that runs over the houses connects the Uffizi with the Pitti Palace on the other side of the river. The Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence. Houses were built on the bridge, a common practice in large European cities during the Middle Ages. Today the houses are used as shops selling a wide assortment of jewellery, ranging from affordable modern jewels to pricey antiques. The bridge spans the Arno at its narrowest point where it is believed that a bridge was first built in Roman times. The bridge was last reconstructed in 1345.The bridge consists of three arches of with the main arch of 30m span and two side arches of 27m span.
012-VASARI’S ELEVATED CORRIDOR- In 1565, the Duke of Florence Cosimo I de' Medici decided to build a corridor to connect the Uffizi with the Pitti Palace across the Arno River, so that he would not need to walk across the always crowded bridge while commuting between his residences. The corridor, locally known as the Corridoio Vasariano after its creator Giorgio Vasari, was built in 1565 on top of the shops on the bridge.
013-PIAZZA DELLA REPUBLICA-The Piazza della Repubblica was created at the end of the 19th century as part of an ambitious project to redevelop the historic centre of Florence. It’s most impressive sight is the Arcone, a triumphal arch. During the Roman Era - when the city was known as Florentia - the Roman Forum, the city's commercial and political heart, was located here. Later, during the Middle Ages, the area was home to the city's food market. A market hall, the Mercato Vecchio (Old Market), was built here in the 14th century. The most prominently visible structure at the square is the triumphal arch, known as the Arcone. It was erected in 1895 as part of the redevelopment plans. An inscription on the arch alludes to the demolition of the historic buildings, it says 'the old city was put out of its misery and brought back to life'. The only remnant of the past here is the Colonna dell' Abbondanza (Column of Abundance). Today piazza della Repubblica is alive with historical literary-cafès where scholar, artists (like the members of futurism) and men of culture meet each other: Caffè Gilli, Paszkowski, Caffè Giubbe Rosse, and Caffè Gambrinus.
014-PIAZZA SANTA CROCE-Piazza Santa Croce is one of the main squares of the historic centre of Florence, Italy. It is located near Piazza della Signoria and the National Central Library, and takes its name from the Basilica of Santa Croce that overlooks the square. Aside from the basilica, several important palazzos are on the square. Palazzo Cocchi-Serristori on the opposite end from the basilica. In front of the Palazzo there is a baroque fountain originally attributed to Pietro Maria Bardi, constructed in 1673
015-THE BASILICA OF SANTA CROCE-The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels. The construction of the current church, to replace an older building, was begun on 12 May 1294, it was consecrated in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini.
016-PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO-Piazzale Michelangelo offers panoramic views of Florence and the Arno valley and is a popular spot with locals and tourists. It was built in 1869 and designed by architect Giuseppe Poggi on a hill just south of the historic centre, during the redevelopment of the left bank of the Arno . At that time, Florence was the capital of Italy and the whole city was involved in an urban renewal. The square, dedicated to the great Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo. At the centre of the square stands a replica of his most famous statue, the David. The bronze statue is set on a large pedestal, decorated with replicas of allegorical statues depicting day, night, twilight and dawn.
017-DOME SQUARE- One of the busiest areas of Florence is Piazza del Duomo, a large city square located on the south side of Florence's famous Duomo cathedral. Many tourist attractions are located near Piazza del Duomo. The Dome Public square is easy to reach on foot in few minutes from the main railway station of Santa Maria Novella.
018-BASILICA OF SAN LORENZO- The Basilica di San Lorenzo (Basilica of St Lawrence) is one of the largest churches of Florence, Italy, situated at the centre of the city’s main market. The Basilica di San Lorenzo was the Parish church of the Medici Family. Members of this wealthy and powerful family were entombed here. Its current appearance goes back to 1419, when Giovanni de' Medici (Cosimo the Elder) commissioned Brunelleschi with a reconstruction of the church.
DAY TOUR FROM FLORENCE-
TOUR OF SIENA & PISA -The Best of Tuscany One Day Tour from Florence- Visit charming Siena, and Tuscan lunch at Chianti wine, visit the picturesque town of San Gimignano and admire the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa. Duration is 12 hours.
PISA -Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno also on the junction of two rivers, the Arno and the Serchio. Pisa is approximately 10 km. from the Tyrrhenian Sea and a few kilometres from the Natural Park of San Rossore. Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower. Total population of city of Pisa is 85,000 and the area is 185km2. Pisa was the birthplace of physicist Galileo Galilei. The half hour walk from the Campo dei Miracoli to the train station runs through a pedestrian street with many interesting sights, shops, and restaurants. Pisa was a Maritime Republic (XI-XV), and sailors travelled around the Arab world and remained smitten by all the beautiful things they saw. (Florence to Pisa=84km)
PISA SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS-
TOUR OF SIENA & PISA -The Best of Tuscany One Day Tour from Florence- Visit charming Siena, and Tuscan lunch at Chianti wine, visit the picturesque town of San Gimignano and admire the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa. Duration is 12 hours.
PISA -Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno also on the junction of two rivers, the Arno and the Serchio. Pisa is approximately 10 km. from the Tyrrhenian Sea and a few kilometres from the Natural Park of San Rossore. Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower. Total population of city of Pisa is 85,000 and the area is 185km2. Pisa was the birthplace of physicist Galileo Galilei. The half hour walk from the Campo dei Miracoli to the train station runs through a pedestrian street with many interesting sights, shops, and restaurants. Pisa was a Maritime Republic (XI-XV), and sailors travelled around the Arab world and remained smitten by all the beautiful things they saw. (Florence to Pisa=84km)
PISA SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS-
001-SQUARE OF MIRACLES (PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI) - The "Piazza dei Miracoli" are, the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Bell or Leaning Tower and the Monumental Churchyard. A combination of works of architecture and sculpture which rise stately and austere and full of charm, placed around a wide tender green lawn surrounded by a wide wall. It is combination of works of architecture and sculpture with full of charm, placed around a wide green lawn. The square is not located in the centre of the city as you might imagine but to the north-west of the fortified wall, almost out of the town, there probably wasn’t enough space to use at the time the project got underway so this is the site decided upon. The three structures found in the piazza have been considered central to religious life, symbolizing the main stages of a human’s life, the Baptistry represents birth, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta life and the graveyard, of course, alludes to death. Leaning Tower of Pisa is actually considered a part of the cathedral since it is really its bell tower.
i-The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre pendente di Pisa) - The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the piazza's crowning glory and is a freestanding bell tower. It fame is owed to its inclination, caused by the shifting ground in the subsoil. Although only a third as high as the Washington Monument, it was a miracle of medieval engineering, probably the tallest bell towers in Europe. It is situated behind the Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisa's Cathedral Square after the Cathedral and the Baptistry .This very famous work is of Romanesque style, was started in the year 1174. Cylindrical in shape it is supplied whit six open galleries. The construction of this imposing mass was started in the year 1174 by Bonanno Pisano. When the tower had reached its third storey the works ceased (1178) because it had started sinking into the ground due to soft soil in the foundation. The tower remained thus for 90 years. It was completed by Giovanni di Simone, Tommano Simone (son of Andreo Pisano) in 1272 and the seventh floor was completed in 1319, and the bell chamber was added in 1372. There are seven bells, one for each note of the musical major scale. The tower is 186ft high. With 207 columns ranged around eight stories including for chamber for bells. Bottom story has 15 marble arches and rest six story contains 30 marble arches around the tower and the final story for bell chamber has 30 arches. The top of the Leaning Tower can be reached by mounting the 294 steps which rise in the form of a spiral on the inner side of the tower walls. The top of the leaning tower of Pisa is about 13 feet off the vertical. The tower was closed from 1990 to 2001 because of instability but is once again open today to visitors.
ii-The Cathedral(Piazza del Duomo )- The cathedral symbolizes the maximum expression of Pisan Romanesque influenced. This grandiose masterpiece of Romanesque - Pisa Style was started in the year 1063 by the great architect Buschetto and shows in its brightness, the influence of various styles and cultures. Byzantine but mostly Islamic components which testify of the power of the Maritime Republic of Pisa at that time. During the trips in North Africa and Middle East, Pisan sailors could admire the characteristics of the different worlds they visited and were deeply influenced by them. It is therefore, the first work undertaken in the spot that became later the "Piazza dei Miracoli". It was possible because of the enormous wealth amassed by the powerful Sea Republic which at that time Pisa was, particularly after a successful excursion on Palermo. The Cathedral was consecrated in the year 1118, even though still incomplete, by Pope Gelasio II. The Cathedral is about 100mts long and 54 meters high. The façade is 35.40 mts. wide and 34.20 mts. high. The façade of The Cathedral is articulated in five orders of arches, the interior of which has seven arches; the two lateral gates, and one central gate, are separated by columns and pilasters. Above the doors there are four rows of open galleries with, on top, statues of Madonna with Child and, on the corners, the Four evangelists. The interior is faced with black and white marble and has a gilded ceiling and a frescoed dome. Galileo is believed to have formulated his theory about the movement of a pendulum by watching the swinging of the incense lamp (not the present one) hanging from the ceiling of the nave. That lamp, smaller and simpler than the present one, it is now kept in the Camposanto, in the Aulla chapel. The elaborately carved pulpit (1302–1310), which also survived the fire, was made by Giovanni Pisano and is one the masterworks of medieval sculpture.
iii-Bapistry- Bapistry is located in front of the cathedral façade. The construction of this great building began in the year 1153 under the guide of the architect Diotisalvi. Hence it was the second monument to rise in the square. The works lapsed with interruptions due to different causes. At the end of the 14th century the work was completed in 1363.The Baptistry has a circular base, three stories high and from the third order rises the dome. The height of this imposing monument is 55 mts, with a diameter of 35.50 mts and 107mts circumference. It is the largest Bapistry in Italy. The lower section is in the Romanesque style, with rounded arches, while the upper sections are in the Gothic style, with pointed arches. The Baptistry is constructed of marble. It has four gates, the principal of which opens towards the façade of the Cathedral. In spite of its gigantic mass, its aspect is refined by a multiple series of ornaments in Gothic style.
iv- Monumental Cemetery (Camposanto Monumentale) - The graveyard is an ancient monumental cemetery set on the north side of the Square of Miracles and is a walled cemetery and believed the most beautiful in the world. Begun in 1277 by the architect Giovanni de Simone, it is a rectangular structure with an inner cloister with Gothic arcades. As ancient tradition would have it, the graveyard was built on dirt carried back from the Holy Land, in particular from the place where Jesus was crucified. The outer wall is composed of 43 blind arches. There are two doorways. Most of the tombs are under the arcades, although a few are on the central lawn. The inner court is surrounded by elaborate round arches. Here you can admire a lot of artworks including, the Pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, the Lamp by Galileo Galilei, frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli and Buonamico Buffalmacco with the famous Triumph of Death, a tabernacle by the Della Robbia and many more.
v-Sinopias Museum (Ospedale Nuovo di Santo Spirito) -It is located on the southeast corner of the square. Built in 1257 by Giovanni di Simone over a pre-existing smaller hospital, the function of this hospital was to help pilgrims, poor, sick people, and abandoned children by providing a shelter. Today, the building is no longer entirely a hospital. Since 1976, the middle part of the building contains the Sinopias Museum, where original drawings of the Campo Santo frescoes are kept.
002- KNIGHT’S SQUARE (Piaza dei Cavalieri) -In Roman and medieval days, the Knights’ Square was Pisa’s central city square, a place for meetings and discussion. The piazza was lavishly remodelled by the famous architect Vasari in the 16th century, creating a landmark example of spacious Renaissance town planning. The grand space is gracefully lined with palatial palazzos and the church of the Knights of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri. The church was also designed by Vasari, and named for the religious and military order founded by Cosimo de’ Medici .A statue of Cosimo de’ Medici stands in front of the Palazzo dei Cavalieri, which features detailed monochromatic etchings on its facade known as sgraffiti, also contributed by Vasari.The Knights’ Square is in Pisa’s university quarter on the edge of the medieval city center. It lies a short walk south of the Piazza dei Miracoli.
003- PALACE OF CARAVAN (Palazzo della Carovana) - The Palace of the Caravan is located in Piazza dei Cavalieri in Pisa. The present structure was designed by Giorgio Vasari, who thought of incorporating the ancient structure of the Palace of the Elders in the new building, making everything from homogeneous architectural point of view thanks to the new façade. The building acquitted mainly to its function as a place of study and College, a function that has been reacquired by the palace when Napoleon decided to open a branch in Rome, the University of Paris. Since 1864 it houses the Scuola Normale of Pisa. Located at Knight’s Square.
004- PALAZZO DELL'OROLOGIO (Clock Palace) - The Palazzo dell'Orologio, an age-old hospital of the Order of Knights of St. Stephen, whose construction incorporated two pre-existing towers. One of these was where Count Ugolino and his sons were left to die of hunger following their suspected treason, as recalled by Dante Alighieri in his Inferno. Located at Knight’s Square
005- ST. STEPHAN CHURCH (Chiesa di Santo Stefano) - The Church of Saint Stephen of the Knights, a building designed by Giorgio Vasari, with a splendid marble facade. The interior of the church is covered by an impressive ceiling in engraved and gold painted wood. The church also hosts trophies of flags and parts of ships taken from the Turks during sea patrols carried out by the Knights. Located at Knight’s Square.
SIENA-Siena is a city in Tuscany region and capital of Siena province. It is a hill town with elevation of 322m.Population is 53,000 and area is 118km2. Siena is famous for its art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio a horse race held twice a year. Siena prospered as a trading post and the constant streams of pilgrims passing to and from Rome provided a valuable source of income. The Siena has jungle of high towers, it is said that one could count more than 100 of them in the city, which noble families competed against each other to build and that gave Siena that particular vertical tension, still visible today.
(Florence To Siena=86km)
SIENA SIGHTSEEING & ATTRACTIONS-
(Florence To Siena=86km)
SIENA SIGHTSEEING & ATTRACTIONS-
001-SIENA CATHEDRAL (DUOMO) - Duomo Siena is located at Piazza del Campo. Built between 1215 and 1263 on the site of an earlier structure, the cathedral is in the form of a Latin cross with a slight projecting dome and bell tower. The façade of Siena Cathedral is one of the most fascinating in all of Italy and certainly one of the most impressive features in Siena. The exterior and interiors are decorated in white and greenish-black marble in alternating stripes, black and white being the symbolic colours of Siena. It is a great Gothic building filled with treasures by Pisano, Donatello and Michelangelo as well as frescoes by Pinturicchio. The Duomo's unique black-and-white striped campanile dates from 1313, but reflects the Romanesque style. The tall, square bell tower has increasing numbers of round-headed arcades with each level and culminates in a pyramid-shaped roof.
i-The Pavement- The most impressive and beautiful of the treasures the cathedral holds are on the floor, where the pavement is decorated with the art of mosaics (using various techniques) to create storytelling masterpieces. The floor consists of 56 panels in different sizes that covers the whole of the inside of the Duomo like an enormous carpet, there are depictions of Biblical scenes in prevalence. In the Duomo's centre, the only floor panel that is usually visible is in the left transet which is Matteo di Giovanni's fantastic 1481 Massacre of the Innocents. The oldest designs are those in the centre near the entrance - the Wheel of Fortune and the Sienese Wolf Surrounded by Symbols of Allied Cities, which dates back to 1369. The panels in the nave and aisles are usually on display (although roped off for protection) but those in the transepts and apse are kept under protective cover, except from August 23 to October 3 during the Palio.
ii- Piccolomini Library- Adjoining the Cathedral is the Piccolomini Library, housing precious illuminated choir books and frescoes. The library was commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini, Archbishop of Siena (later Pope Pius III), to honor the memory and book collection of his maternal uncle Enea (Aeneas) Piccolomini, who became Pope Pius II. The walls of the library are beautifully decorated with ten frescoes by Pinturicchio (1502-07) depicting the eventful life of Pope Pius II. Each scene is labeled with a Latin inscription, taken from the pope's biography. They depict ten remarkable events from the secular and religious career of pope Pius II, first as a high prelate, then bishop, a cardinal and ultimately pope. The impressive vault (Ceiling) of the library, also painted by Pinturicchio (1502). The three large squares in the centre depict the Rape of P
iii-Pulpit- It is certainly the most important work held in the Duomo and considered to be a milestone in the history of art. The pulpit is characterized by an astonishing decorative richness, there are 400 figures of humans and animals. The pulpit is made of Carrara marble and was sculpted between the end of 1265 and November 1268 by Nicola Pisano and several other artists. The whole message of the pulpit is concerned with the doctrine of Salvation and the Last Judgment. In the top level seven scenes narrate the Life of Christ.
iv-Museum of the opera del Dumo- The main attraction is the big altar piece with the Maestà della Madonna was finished in 1311 and taken in procession around the streets of Siena ending at the cathedral with a large celebration. Painted on both sides, together with a coronation step, on the front the Madonna on the throne with Child on her lap is depicted, surrounded by a host of Angels and Prophets, while at the back, Passion is represented in 14 sections.
iv-Museum of the opera del Dumo- The main attraction is the big altar piece with the Maestà della Madonna was finished in 1311 and taken in procession around the streets of Siena ending at the cathedral with a large celebration. Painted on both sides, together with a coronation step, on the front the Madonna on the throne with Child on her lap is depicted, surrounded by a host of Angels and Prophets, while at the back, Passion is represented in 14 sections.
002-PIAZZA DEL CAMPO - The history of Siena has been made on the Piazza del Campo. Here the Sienese organized their spectacular and terrible 'games', the Palio, where they celebrated and played games of risk .The market also used to take place here. Piazza del Campo has witnessed the passage of memorable characters in the history of Siena. The paving is made of red bricks arranged in fishbone style, divided into a sunburst pattern by nine strips of travertine (in memory of the Government of the Nine, who ruled over the city from 1292 to 1355). The white marble stands out on the paving, it is the masterpiece of 1419 .There is also the Palazzo Comunale (town hall), unusually built on the lowest part of the square, and also the tall, slender Torre del Mangia that stands out against the sky (it reaches 102 meters including the lightning conductor). At the base of the Palazzo is the Chapel of the Virgin, or Chapel of the Square, constructed and voted for by the Sienese, after the end of the terrible plague of 1348. And surrounding the chapel are the elegant façades of the Palazzi Signorili, belonging to the wealthiest of families.The Sansedoni, the Piccolomini, and the Saracini. The piazza took shape at the end of the 1200s, on a space that was for a long time used for fairs and markets and was situated at a crossroad of important streets. When it was built, it managed to hold the entire population of Siena, who gathered here to attend events, tournaments, and buffalo and bull races. Piazza del Campo has hosted almost all the important events in the history of the city, from the time of the Republic up until the Medici period, during which Siena come under the control of Firenze di Cosimo I de'Medici. Today it also plays host to the most talked-about popular festival, famous throughout the world. The Palio of Siena. This event which takes place twice a year, on the 2nd July and on the 16th August, is not a folkloric custom, the nostalgic recalling of the glorious past of the city. Rather it is an essential reoccurring event in the life of the community that animates the heart of Siena, all 17 districts and fills the square, balconies and windows with crowds, in an explosion of authentic passion.
003-FONTE GAIA-The Fonte Gaia ("Fountain of Joy") was built in 1419 as an endpoint of the system of conduits bringing water to the city's centre, replacing an earlier fountain. The present fountain, a centre of attraction for the many tourists, is in the shape of a rectangular basin that is adorned on three sides with many bas-reliefs with the Madonna surrounded by the Classical and the Christian Virtues.
004-PALAZZO PUBBLICO -Known also as Palazzo Comunale, Siena’s Palazzo Pubblico is considered one of the finest examples of gothic secular architecture. Building was completed at the beginning of the 1300s, to house the Government of the Nine, the Palazzo Comunale (the Town Hall) of Siena sits on the Piazza del Campo. It has an elegant plain façade with little decoration, and expands horizontally. On this façade, one distinctive feature stands out the white strip of clear marble on the ground floor. The architectural rhythm on the façade is created by the consistent alternating of big trifore (three-arched) and bifora (two-arched) windows, and also by the delicate design of the architectural frames that refine the appearance of the building. On the first floor of the Palace is seated the Museum. The Sala del Mappamondo (the World Map Room), used to be the headquarters of the Council of the Republic. Adjacent ot the Sala del Mappamondo is the Room of the Government of the Nine, called the Sala della Pace.
005-TORRE DEL MANGIA- The tower was built between 1325 and 1348, as a clear symbol of the civic community. It was constructed by two brothers, Francesco and Muccio di Rinaldo. Tower which to this day remains an arrestingly beautiful combination of height and elegant slightness of design. The very high Torre del Mangia (102 meters including the lightning conductor), owes its name to its first owner, Giovanni di Balduccio, called 'il mangiaguadagni'. It is said that coins of good wishes have been buried in its foundations, as was the custom in Medieval Europe, and that under every corner stones with Latin and Hebrew letters have been placed, in order to ward off the danger of storms.The present bell, called the 'Sunto', weighs 6764 kilos, and was put in place at the top of the bell chamber in 1666. The top of the tower, which is 88 meters high and can be reached by mounting exactly 400 steps, commands magnificent views over the city and the surrounding countryside
006- PIAZZA SALIMBENI - The square is the result of heavy restoration carried out at the end of the 800s that altered its general image building on and adding new structures, in the neo-gothic style of the time. At the back of the square, essentially extracted from the garden of the adjacent Palazzo Spannocchi, the ninth century façade of the Salimberi Fortress stands out. It is one of the most imposing, complex and strengthened fortresses of medieval Siena and the home of the great Salimbeni family until they were hunted from Siena and their possessions confiscated (in 1419).The fortress then passed to the Council and finally, in 1866, it was sold to Monte dei Paschi. At the centre of the square is the monument to Sallustio Bandini, built in 1880. Today the whole square, reorganized by a recent restoration (1963-72), houses various buildings from the thirteenth century, towers, a fortress, the Fondaco of the Salimbeni, and the small palace of Ranieri Salimbeni. The fortress hosts a notable collection of works of art. In addition to the Archivio Storico, the collection is a precious witness to the economic history of Siena.
007-PALAZZO SALIMBENI -Palazzo Salimbeni is a historic building in the centre of Siena , headquarters of the bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena. That is still active, the Banca Monte Dei Paschi that was founded in 1472. The statue in the middle of the piazza depicts Sallustio Bandini.
008-MONTE DEI PASCHI DI SIENA- Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena is the oldest surviving bank in the world and Italy's third largest bank. Founded in 1472 by the magistrate of the city state of Siena. With the unification of Italy, the bank expanded its business throughout Italy, initiating new activities, including mortgage loans, the first experience in Italy.
009-PALIO DI SIENA-The Palio di Siena is a traditional medieval horse race run around the Piazza del Campo on 2 July and 16 August. Contrade-they are city neighbourhood’s battalions for the city defence. Palio-a trophy bearing an image of the Blessed Vigin Marry. During each Palio period the city is flooded with lamps and flags of Contrade colours. There are seventeen Contrade but only ten are allowed at a time.