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LIFE IS A JOURNEY, ARE YOU READY?

AN ITALIAN ROADTRIP : WE DON'T LIKE FLORENCE, SO SHOOT US

We went to Florence. It was a check on our list. We didn't like it. Many people frown when we say this. To each his own, we say. We went to Italy for a relaxing cultural country vacation, not to be in a midst of hoards of people. Florence, like any other Italian cities, is polluted, dirty, vandalized, expensive, crowded with tourists...etc. It was low season but that did not discount the number of people cramping the city. Although it holds some classic art pieces, the hoards ruined the atmosphere of this artful city. Or rather, the city itself became opportunistic due to the hoards.

This is a view of the city of Florence from a car park in the hills.

This was a puke-worthy scene on our way to the city by foot. There were deck chairs and umbrellas, creating a 'beach-like' environment for those Italians who wanted to sun bathe next to the swamp land of River Arno. Welcome to Florence indeed!

We only spent about half a day in Florence. It wasn't charming for us with the hoards of tourists taking pictures of everything a million times. The charm of a road trip is that we could hop into the car and drive away from the crowds and venture the roads less traveled. We would come back to Florence in late autumn or early spring when those hoards are hoarding other parts of the world.

We wanted to see the original of David in the Academia, but the queue was perhaps an hour long? An a nearly 2 hours queue to the Uffizi? And with hoards of people pushing you through once you are in the museum? F*** it. This is the replica in the Signoria district of Florence. Beats the queue. Hoards ruining the atmosphere. Checked, let's get out quick.
The Rape of the Sabine Woman in the same area.

The majestic Neptune and his sirens.

This is our favorite of Perseus. The statue of Perseus by Cellini is located in front of the Loggia dei Lanzi in the Signoria district of Florence Italy. The 1554 statue depicts a decapitation that was intended as a warning to the enemies of Cosimo I. Perseus is holding the head of Medusa. We love this statue because it is so understated, unlike David. Our favorite bit of it is the depiction of the blood from Medusa. It is so vivid.

Pathetic lions in Florence, anyone?

We never thought we would see any lions so lacking in their majesty, but here they are in Florence. Next, lunch.

4 comments:

Sarah said...

Haha! I hear ya...I spent two months in Florence as half of a study abroad trip a year ago. The art is beautiful...but every other Italian city we went to seemed like a much more pleasant, cleaner, and less dangerous place to stay! :)

Fidgety Fingers said...

Hi Sarah, it is indeed true, what you said. The art is no doubt great in Florence. It is the art center of Italy after all. The smaller towns are less polluted, more beautiful and they still have that wonderful Italian air about them unlike Florence which is very much taken over by the touristy, money-making side. Pity.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree too... I was almost pickpocketed three times there... on the same trip!

Fidgety Fingers said...

3 times? No way! You must have big pockets.

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