Gold star one : A day out in Florence

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Florence was beautiful without tourists and it was really nice to be able to pick out the florentines as they were the only visible group of people in Florence, as there were no tourists. I could also admire the buildings and take clearer photos than I had been able to over the last 3 years, before the general lockdown came into force and flights from Asia and the US arriving into Italy were banned, which saw a huge drop in tourism to Florence.

I arrived in Santa Maria Novella station, walked past the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, then towards Piazza del Duomo, then towards Piazza Della Signoria and on to Ponte Vecchio, where I took several photos of the river Arno.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is probably the church I passed by most frequently when I lived in Tuscany, usually on the way to my Italian class, but I've still never been inside.

It was founded by the monks of the Dominican Order in the first half of the thirteenth century, becoming one of the most important points of religious and artistic interest in Italy.

The celebrity of Santa Maria Novella during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period attracted important artists such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli and Vasari (just to name a few), who created beautiful artworks inside the complex (https://www.smn.it/en/)

References :

https://www.smn.it/en/

Relevant Topics:

■life under the Dominican order
■life of Monks
■Whitby
■Middle Ages and religion
■Renaissance and religion
■13th and 14th century
■Giotto
■Brunelleschi
■Masaccio
■Michelangelo
■Ghirlandaio
■Botticelli
■Vasari

Other Related Topics

■Fonte di Piazza
■Bartolomeo Ammannati
■Neptune
■tritons
■Cosimo dei Medici
■Medicis
■Giambologna
■River Arno
■kayaking
■Ponte Vecchio
■Michelangelo's David
■David and Goliath
■Baccio Bandinelli
■Palazzo Vecchio
■Il Duomo
■Piazza del Duomo
■tourism in Tuscany
■effects of the pandemic on tourism
■Uffizi gallery
■Loggia della Signoria

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Photos

Fonte di Piazza and Neptune
This is the work of Bartolomeo Ammannati and his assistants. It is also known as the "Biancone" . The white marble figure of the god of the sea stands in the center of the large pool. The chariot is pulled by 4 sea horses and is surrounded by other statues including three young tritons who huddle around the giant. This statue is located in Piazza Della Signoria.
REFERENCES
Le statue di Piazza Signoria (1) · Firenze Notizie
http://notizie.comuni-italiani.it/foto/31263

Cosimo dei Medici
This equestrian monument is of Cosimo dei Medici, and is the work of Giambologna. It is located in Piazza Della Signoria.

River Arno
With a kayaker on the river

Ponte Vecchio from a distance
Ponte Vecchio is a bridge with 3 arches and 2 wide arcades on each side. It was built over the River Arno, in 1345, to be used as a defence system. It now houses ''botteghe'' or shops.

Copy of Michelangelo's David (left) and Hercules and Cacus (right)
Copy of "Michelangelo's David"
The original 'David' is in the Accademia Gallery. The sculpture was made by Michelangelo around 1500. It represents the people (symbolized by David) who, with the help of God, defeated the tyrant (Goliath).
"Hercules and Cacus"
This was made by Baccio Bandinelli
Both statues are located in front of Palazzo Vecchio.

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
Photo taken from outside Santa Maria Novella train station

Florence without tourists
This is one of the major shopping streets linking Piazza del duomo and Santa Maria Novella train station

Duomo - Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
Located on Piazza del Duomo

Duomo - Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
Located on Piazza del Duomo

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
Located on Piazza di Santa Maria Novella

Loggia della Signoria
Located on a corner of the Piazza della Signoria, adjoining the Uffizi gallery