ITALY

ITALY




My brother lived in Italy for four years before coming back to the United States.
Two sisters and a brother visited him during his stay in that lovely country.
Most of the pictures shown in this blog were from his camera when he was showing the siblings around. That's what you call budget travel. Saved on hotel accommodation.

The places visited are the following:

* Milan (Milano, Lombardia): 3,839,216
* Rome (Roma, Lazio}: 3,807,992
* Naples (Napoli, Campania): 3,092,859
* Turin (Torino, Piemonte): 2,236,941
* Palermo (Palermo, Sicilia): 1,239,272


Information about ITALY

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Capital Rome
Largest city Rome
Official language(s) Italian
Government Republic
Area
Total 301,230 km² (71st)
Population
- 2006 est. 58,594,273 (22nd)


Italy, officially the Italian Republic (Italian: Italia, IPA: [i'ta:lja] or Repubblica Italiana, IPA: [re'pub:lika ita'lja:na]), is a Southern European country. It comprises the Italian peninsula, the Po River valley, and two large islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia, and shares its northern alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. The country also shares a sea border with Croatia, and France. The independent countries of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within Italian territory. It is shaped like a boot, and for this reason it is commonly called lo stivale (Italian for the boot).

FLORENCE AND TUSCANY

FLORENCE AND TUSCANY

Florence is a major Italian city which is a cosmopolitan and wealthy metropolis while Tuscany is a region whose cultural and social traditions are still preserved and observed despite the changing face of its towns and countryside.

If you find Florentines to be proud according to Dante, the great poet, it is because Florence nurtured the Renaissance that produced, Machiavelli,Galileo, Da Vinci and Michaelangelo.



images from my brother's photo gallery

Machiavelli, the statesman was moved to observe that Florentines' main preoccupation was to dress splendidly and obtain a ctrafty shrewdness in discourse.

Although Milan has the big fashion shows and big stars in fashion, there are also Florentine fashion celebrities in the likes of GUCCI and PUCCI. Florence is also the headquarter of the shoe magnate Salvatorre Ferragamo.



For information about hotels, transportation, shopping, click here.

The CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE

The CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE




The cathedral is one of the most distinctive landmarks of Italy. In 13th century, Florence 's burgeoning status as a wealthy and important city prompted the Ruling Council to issue an edict demanding for a cathedral of the most "exalted and the most prodigal magnificence, in order that the industry and power of men may never creeate anything that is more vast and beautiful.

The foundation was laid in 1296 and was given the name Santa Maria del Fiore, the title that linked the Virgin to the Florence's flower. The people still called it Santa Reparata until a decree in 1401 was passed prohibiting the use of such name.

Due to the death of the original architect, Arnolfo de Cambio, the project faltered until 1331 when Florence's first bishop and saint was moved to the cathedral and construction started again with another group of architects.

The building of the cathedral took many centuries, project by project, handled by different architects, mostly finaced from the colleections of estate taxes and fines for drunkeness.

Information about the DUOMO:
Hours and Days: OPen everyday except Sunday morning and first Saturday of the month.
Fee: Church is free but Santa Reparata and Dome are not.
Buses: 1,6,14,17,23

PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA

PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA



The piazza is the home of Palazzo Vecchio and the setting for festivals such as Liberation celebration.

Its origin is not clear except that it was confiscated from Uberti Family in 1268, developed on a piece-meal basis until 1385 when it received the first layer of protective paving. It suffered alteration in 1560 when Cosimo I made extravagant changes to the
Uffizi.

MICHAELANGELO's DAVID

Michaelangelo's DAVID in PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA



The most eye-catching features of the piazza aside from the palazzo are the statues. One of them is DAVID by Michaelangelo as distingushed from that of Donatello.

This is a copy of the original Michaelangelo's David which is exhibited in the Galleria dell'Academia. It replaced the original which stood in the Piazza della Signoria for over 350 years until moved in 1873.

The original DAVID was commissioned by the Florence Cathedral Vestry Board to be placed as a decoration in the Cathedral. Michaelangelo sculpted the statue which measured 517 from marble between 1501 and 1504.

The sculpture portrays the form of the future of Israel and its perfect modelling, the calm and determined strength of the expression and its imposing size have made it one of the best works of art in the world.

You can visit the original at the Accademia Gallery.

Information about the Accademia:

Hours and Days: Tuesday to Saturday 8:30 am-6:50 pm
Sundays and public holidays 8:30 am-1:50 pm

travel and places,David,Florence

Palazzo Vecchio

PALAZZO VECCHIO



It has dominated Piaza della Signoria for centuries , with the work having started in 1299. It housed the PRIORI or the city's ruling council. In 1540 however, it became home to Cosimo I before he moved to Palazzo Pitti after nine years of stay.
Today, the palazzo is still the seat of the city government although its interior is open to the public except Sunday afternoon and all Thursdays.

travel and places,Palazzo Vecchio,Florence

MURAL

MURAL IN THE PALAZZO VECCHIO


The wall paintings in the palazzo depict various Florentine military triumphs.