envies
wishlist
رغبـاتنـــا
escapade à Florence I getaway in Florence I
رحلـــة اىل فلـورنـ�س
1
2
3
The Duomo district
1.2. Les étals du Mercato
Central (marché central) I
The stalls of Mercato Centrale
(central market) I
فضاءات العرض يف السوق
املـركــزيI
3. Façade du baptistère Santa
Maria del Fiore I Santa Maria
del Fiore’s baptistery facade I
واجهة بيت عامدة سانتا ماريا
I ديل فيوري
One must be a bit of a Stoic to visit the Uffizi Gallery.
The ticket should be booked in advance, because very
few tourists have been able to access the Gallery
without queuing for at least an hour. However, the
patience is rewarded with the discovery of treasures.
The Uffizi Gallery is considered as one of the most
ancient and most beautiful museums in the world.
The Birth of Venus and the Primavera by Botticelli,
the Tonto Doni by Michelangelo, the Madonna of the
Goldfinch by Raphael, the Annunciation and the
Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci, the
Venus of Urbino by Titian, the Bacchus and the
Medusa by Caravaggio accounts for only a very
small portion of the museum’s wealth. It is said that
one needs half a day to visit all the galleries and fully
appreciate the paintings. However, some rooms are
closed to the public, due to renovations. The surface
area of the site should double in 2015 and finally
preserve the priceless treasures that are left unseen.
During my visit, I take a break at the cafeteria and
buy myself a panini that I enjoy on the terrace. The
view on the Plazza della Signoria is gorgeous, I
admire Michelangelo’s David, the fountain of
Neptune and a little further the Logia dei Lanzi.
It is exactly 1h57 when I get out the Uffizi Gallery,
completely moved by so much beauty. I go meet my
friend at the Palazzo Vecchio which, fortunately for me,
is right in front of the museum. The sun delicately
warms up the atmosphere, it is time for me to realize an
old wish : enjoy a real “Italian ice cream”. In order to do
so, we go to the galeteria Grom, where they only work
with seasonal fresh fruits and high-quality ingredients.
The San Niccolo district
La Gazelle 56 I
80
On the way, my friend tells me about the Palazzo
Vecchio history. It was both the Medicis residence
and the symbol of political power in Florence. Inside,
there is a real marvel : the Salone dei Cinquecento.
The name comes from Savonarola, who wanted the
500 members of the “Consiglio dei Cinquecento” to
fit in the room. The ceiling is adorned with frescoes
painted by the two greatest masters of the time,
Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
I barely have time to regret that I didn’t visit the
famous Palazzo Vecchio that we arrive at the foot of
the remparts, on the Oltrarno side.
San Niccolo neighborhood feels like countryside, in
the heart of the city. It’s a haven where Florence’s
bucolic atmosphere have been preserved. We
wander, walking up the streets along the high walls
of the city, then we arrive at the “Giordano del Rose”.
The Garden of Roses contains a magnificent rose
garden, as its name implies. It was created by Emilio
Pucci and a few sculptures by the Belgian artist
Jean-Michel Folon are scattered throughout the
surrounding park. For a while, we enjoy this peaceful
atmosphere, the sun slowly setting.
Then, we reach the Michelangelo esplanade through
the Franciscans’s old Way of the Cross and we climb
the hill to discover the Chiesa San Miniato al Monte,
a jewel of medieval art. Its façade, inlayed with
Carrara marble and green marble from Prato, reveals
the virtuosity of Florentine work. The interior is also
interesting and deserves a short visit.
Finally, we arrive just in time on the “Piazzale
Michelangelo” to admire the sunset. The esplanade,
loved by painters and photographers, offers a
panoramic view of the city. Florence suddenly seems
very small, in the distance I recognize the Ponte
Vecchio and the Duomo.
Before leaving Florence, my friend insists that I taste
one last Italian specialty : the aperitivo. Sitting at the
literary café El Murate, the main contemporary art
center of the city, we discover that its history is
singular : El Murate used to be a prison. This fact
does not prevent us from having a wonderful
evening, enjoying many typical dishes after drinking
our first glass of wine.
That concludes my first trip to Florence, cradle of the
Renaissance. I promise myself that I will soon come
back to visit the famous Palazzo Vecchio. I