A Month in Bella Italia

[Richprins]

How did that architect sneak a Jewish Star onto a church? Maybe they didn't care that much then?

Interesting stories, Flutts!

Certainly some famous customers in that tomb!

[Flutterby]

Beautiful church

I knew that Michelangelo was buried there, but not the story behind it

I would have thought that the Cathedral in Assisi is bigger, but maybe it is older than San Francisco and thus not a Franciscan church

Florence is no exception from the rest of Italy, too much to look after and thus always conservation issues, even if Florence should not have a money issue. Maybe it is all treasures of the state and it is Rome that decides Bye, bye treasures

We actually thought most of the art and architecture were in very good condition, and we saw restorers at work in a couple of churches.

How did that architect sneak a Jewish Star onto a church? Maybe they didn't care that much then?

Interesting stories, Flutts!

Certainly some famous customers in that tomb!

Whenever we went to a famous landmark or gallery we'd always eavesdrop on the tourist guides ....they are a fountain of knowledge! In the case of the Jewish star, we heard a guide saying that the Jewish community had paid for the facade and that's how they got the Star of David there.

[Lisbeth]

The hexagram, like the shield/Star of David, is used in other religions too Hindu/Shindu and has also been used much further back in time.

We must also remember that Christianity and Judaism have the old testament in common

[Pumbaa]

More than a beautiful church, Flutterby,

and a City I still have to visit one day

[Flutterby]

The hexagram, like the shield/Star of David, is used in other religions too Hindu/Shindu and has also been used much further back in time.

We must also remember that Christianity and Judaism have the old testament in common

More than a beautiful church, Flutterby,

and a City I still have to visit one day

You must go...it's beautiful!

[Flutterby]

After visiting Santa Croce we found the Brat's university, which is literally 2 minutes from Santa Croce. The Santa Croce piazza is now one of his favourite spots...where all the students gather on the steps of the church to take in the sights and sounds.

The unassuming entrance to Florence University of the Arts.

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The back of the university looks over the Arno River. The green foliage covers their balcony where the Brat spends quite a lot of his free time.

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Looking across the Arno River.

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About a 5-10 minute walk away is the Ponte Vecchio. The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River. The bridge spans the Arno at its narrowest point. The bridge first appears in a document of 996. After being destroyed by a flood in 1117 it was reconstructed in stone but swept away again in 1333 save two of its central piers. It was rebuilt in 1345 and the design is attributed to Taddeo Gaddi. The bridge consists of three segmental arches: the main arch has a span of 30 meters and the two side arches each span 27 meters. Unlike all the other bridges in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio was not destroyed by the Germans during their retreat from the the Bristish troops during World War 2. According to many locals and tour guides, this was allegedly because of an express order by Hitler.

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It is noted for still having shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers and leather tanners initially occupied the shops but the Medici Grand Dukes felt that they lowered the tone of this prestigious bridge, and in 1595 a decree was made that excluded butchers from selling their meats, and that only goldsmiths were allowed to occupy the shops (a decree which still applies today. I have never seen so much bling in such a small space!!

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It is said that the economic concept of bankruptcy originated here: when a vendor could not pay his debts, the table on which he sold his wares (the "banco") was physically broken ("rotto") by soldiers, and this practice was called "bancorotto" (broken table). Not having a table anymore, the merchant was not able to sell anything!

The bridge is always a hive of activity. During the day the jewellers are hustling for business and at night, buskers take turns to entertain the crowds.

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Downstream from the Ponte Vecchio is the The Ponte Santa Trìnita. This is the oldest elliptic arch bridge in the world, characterised by three flattened ellipses. The original bridge was constructed by the Florentine architect Bartolomeo Ammannati from 1567 to 1569. In August 1944, the bridge was destroyed by retreating German troops. The bridge was reconstructed in 1958 with original stones raised from the Arno or taken from the same quarry, under the direction of architect Riccardo Gizdulich and engineer Emilio Brizzi.

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[Richprins]

Fascinating sights and history, Flutts!

The Hitler story is complicated - more info here: https://www.thelocal.it/20160525/did-a- ... -war-italy

Ironic the bridge of goldsmiths also started the term "bankrupt"!

[Flutterby]

Thanks for that RP.

[Lisbeth]

Not a bad place to study Very easy to get distracted though For sure it is something that the Brat will never forget

Florence is not only stuffed with Art but also with History. Reading the story of the Medici's is like a novel and even a crime story from time to time.

[Flutterby]

Well, the way this degree is structured he's off varsity more than he's there!