Even if I’m only changing trains in Florence, I have to check my bags and make a dash to this nearby most amazing store:

Officina Profumo Farmeceutica di Santa Maria Novella

It was once a 14th century Gothic Church, founded by the Dominican Friars, who were part of that whole medieval bunch of holy men who started gathering Italian flowers and turning them into health and beauty potions. Thanks to those gentlemen, we have one of the most gorgeous shops on earth, that turns a shopping trip into a mystical experience.

It’s one jewel box of a room after another, staffed by chic women who graciously offer you chances to sniff and sample these bewitching creations. It’s also bursting with wonderful souvenirs. I LOVE the potpourri, made with ten different herbs and flowers from the surrounding hills, packaged in velvet pouches—for only 8 euros. Yes, you can now get Santa Maria Novella products on-line and at stores in New York and Beverly Hills, but there is nothing like going to this dreamy source!

AND you are near the Basilica Santa Maria Novella, a vast beauteaous spot filled with frescoes from Renaissance masters.

For lunch? The nearby Trattoria Garga at Via del Moro 48r, is a delicious, artsy hangout, beloved by Florentines and tourists.

Insomma…Just steps away from the Florence train station, you can smell, see, and taste some of Italy’s finest creations.

I saw James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ over Christmas. It’s a remarkable technical achievement, injecting new possibilities for the creation of wholly artificial, wholly convincing dramatic worlds into cinema. In that, it reminded me of Masaccio’s masterpiece ‘The Holy Trinity with the Virgin, St John and Two Donors’, in Florence’s Santa Maria Novella church:

Masaccio - The Holy Trinity with the Virgin, St. John and Two Donors

Masaccio’s work was the first painting to build on Brunelleschi’s understanding of the mathematics of perspective. It demonstrated new possibilities for the two dimensional representation of three dimensional space, creating an image that attempted to directly map, rather than indirectly represent, an imagined space. In that, much like Cameron’s film, it was at once radical, and revolutionary; in fact, it’s generally regarded as one of the key catalysts that triggered the Renaissance.

One of James Cameron's Na'avi

However, ‘The Holy Trinity’ was also a very conservative work. It was commissioned by the very wealthy Domenico Di Lenzi, who kneels at bottom left. He is dressed as a Gonfalonier of Justice, the titular head of the Florentine republic. His wife kneels opposite him; the tomb beneath them is a family tomb.

Domenico di Lenzi

The surging structure of the image – leading the eye up from the tomb and its skeleton, past Domenico and his wife, and towards the Trinity, makes it clear that the way to Christ is through the pillars of Florentine society; its powerful families, its civic functionaries. Earthly political, judicial and financial structures are the first step on the way to divine structures. To question one is – by implication – to question the other. Wealth and power are divine properties, automatically deserved by those who hold them.

Much comment has been made on the supposedly subversive properties of ‘Avatar’. James Cameron’s film has been read as being deeply anti-corporate. Certainly, its narrative – proceeding in crude, black and white terms – shows those beholden to or representing the corporate world as ‘bad’, and those not beholden to or representing the corporate world as ‘good’.

However, when viewed from an economic and technical point of view, it becomes clear that ‘Avatar’ is in fact a ferocious corporate rearguard action, responding to the democratisation of film making and distribution that digital technology enables.

Budgetted at $500,000,000, it is an artefact whose cost is so huge that it – and others like it – can only be commissioned by corporate interests. Technically speaking, its central achievement – the 3D experience – can only be fully experienced in large or IMAX venues. Again, these are exclusively owned and operated by corporate interests.

‘Avatar’ masquerades as a radical critique of corporate power. Technically, it in fact reinforces that corporate power, attempting to reclaim peak cinematic experience (and, by implication, corporate resistance) as something that can only happen as a result of corporate mediation. In that, it is directly equivalent to Masaccio’s masterpiece which – for all its technical brilliance – preaches that the only way to enlightenment is through the state and its pillars. Both works are – in the final analysis – propaganda, surprisingly equivalent in their aims and achievements.

View from Piazzale Michelangelo

I used to think people who took a year or two off from their regular jobs to write a book, were taking things too far. Now I realize that it’s not as easy as it sounds! I started writing about my adventures after I returned to Canada last year and since I had so much free time, it was a breeze. Now that I have given myself a deadline to send to publishers, it’s much more of a challenge to crank out a quality product that  I thought. I plan to write this book in sections : part 1 ( my first trip to Italy working as an au pair), part 2 ( my time back in Canada for 3 months before returning to Europe) and part 3 (my return to Tuscany on a 6 month holiday visa). My last due date was “December 2009″…I am nowhere near finished though so I am giving myself until March 1st 2010. Here is a sample!

INTRO

I was 25. My folks immigrated from Italy to Canada in the 70s and I had never been. While growing up, I always had the assumption I would travel Europe at age 18 since growing up in the early 90s made me think that was a pre-requisite in life. It never happened though. I chose not to travel and not to go to school. Work was in my cards and since my parents owned an Italian restaurant, it was well known where I would be.  But the desire to travel never left me. I would become jealous at hearing people talk about their trips to Italy but I didn’t want to go for just 2 weeks. I wanted to live there. My folks are from the southern region and telling people that I was Italian but didn’t speak the language  was getting more tiring and embarrassing as I got older. . To not feel “Canadian” but not even speak Italian is a crazy thing all in itself! I still don’t know how my 4 sisters and I never picked it up.

Since leaving journalism school in 2006 I never really knew which direction my life was going in. I loved to write but didn’t want to do it this way and I loved the big city but couldn’t afford to live there especially after I quit my job at the organic grocery store ; I hate being told what to do most likely because I have always been the one doing the telling. It goes that way when you grow up in a family restaurant.After moving back to my parent’s city when I was 24,  vowing to stay no more than a year I kept my promise. I had always met interesting customers and passersby but one woman in particular made me make the move.

She and a friend came in for dinner one Saturday night and as usual were the last two people in the house. We got to talking and she has lived in Rome while in her 20s for ten years and I could tell she was in love with the place just by the way she spoke about it. She was now in her 40s, married and a professional and above all, content.
I had met so many women that are that age and resentful towards their career, spouses and children for not full filling their dreams in their youth. I didn’t want to feel this way.

I had worked as a nanny before and figured that was my ticket out of Canada. I joined a website in May 2008 that matched girls with families and had offers to go the UK, Australia, Germany, even just the U.S but my heart strings were pulling for Italy. Not speaking the language was going to be a huge roadblock for me although not as bad as people told me it would be.

It wasn’t until I went to my cousin’s wedding that I really made the conscious decision to get the ball rolling. One of the guests and I were talking and he told me to just go and not waste any more time or make any more excuses. I had met him years ago when he was in his early 20s but we never talked for more than 1 minute at a time. He told me it changed his life and would change mine ; that there was no reason for me not to do it and that I should do whatever possible to make it happen.

A week later I received and email from a family in Florence. They wanted me 3  months to  practice English with the kids for 3 hours  mon-sat. They had a housekeeper  so there  was no cleaning or cooking involved. The pay was 50 euro/week  and since I had savings and had no bills to pay, it was good enough.

The most important thing to me was that I was going to Italy ; Tuscany to be exact.My father didn’t want me to go. He thought it would cost too much money and really the family wasn’t paying me enough. My father and I never saw eye to eye on money matters as he was always thinking ahead and I had the ” I could get hit by a car tomorrow and never enjoy my money” theory.

The day before I got on my plane my mom gave me an envelope with a wad of cash and a note that said

” Good lock, Love Dad”

He meant ‘luck’ of course but, English is only his second language.

The money was a nice cherry on the sundae but it really just put me at ease that he finally accepted me doing this. Even though I had always proved to be self sufficient and intelligent, he has 5 daughters and will never stop worrying about us and our decisions.

PART 1 ACT 1 SCENE 1

It was my first flight ever. I was leaving on a 50-seat plane, on a 40-minute flight and could feel my heart in my throat.

“ You’ve got to be joking,” the middle-aged businessman from New York said when I told him I’d never flown before. He saw a colleague and apologized for having to abandon me to join him. My fingernails dug into the empty seat next to me causing the Texan behind me with an actual cowboy hat and boots telling me to “ calm down now, lil’ miss. It’s just some turbulence.”

Luckily for me, I met up with Mr. New York in the Seattle airport and we found our departing planes together.  After 3 hours of wandering the  place alone, I  ran into a couple from Germany as I was taking a photo of the model airplane hanging from the ceiling. The man had been checking me out for the last half hour but that fact somehow didn’t make it into our conversation. We sat and talked for the remaining 3 hours, about work, life, the differences between our countries and their plans to move to America and open a pet shop or veterinarian hospital. As we flew over Denmark I could see the red rooftops and roundabouts, exciting me to no end. Yay, Europe! After landing, I bought a $5 hot dog, took a photo of the Marina statue and got a taste of what life would be like in a non-English speaking country.

I flew into Rome and was picked up by a car from the B & B I had made reservations with. The room was like what you’ve seen the in the movies, with the shutter windows and potted plants. I knew I would fall in love right away. The manager of the place was a  shy student preparing for an exam he had to take in a  few days. He had dark and curly hair that shagged like a surfer’s with a bright smile and seemingly delightful accent…most likely be cause he was the first man in Italy I had met.

He carried my bags through the stone hallway, up 2 flights of stairs to my room.  The space next to mine was occupied by 3 Italian 20 some things who looked pleased to have a real live girl in the house! I called my dad to let him know I arrived in one piece, tested out my hair straightened which shot blue sparks at me  when I plugged it in ( international converter my ass), and had the manager give me the internet key which turned out to be aw12bbh6eb23338zznyf.

The next morning I  had to find a way from the B & B to the train station.

“Well,” said the manager, “you walk this way and go straight, straight, straight. You cross the street and will find people standing like this (he crossed his arms in front of his chest as if to imitate someone waiting) and  then take the bus to the train station.”

It actually terrified me ; the idea that he thought I was capable of finding this bus stop  on my own with my giant suitcase on wheels when all I ever heard about Rome lately was that I’d get robbed there.

“You‘ll be fine!” he must have seen the look on my face.” Tell me how to get there so I know you listened to me.”

“I go straight until I find people standing like this,” I crossed my arms, “then take the bus to the station.”

He hopped on his scooter and rode away with a huge smile. I had secretly hoped he found his way to my room last night but this was a nice alternative, too.

I followed his directions and a man lifted my suitcase onto the bus for me. On the way, we passed pieces of ancient architecture, just sitting on the sides of the streets, draped in greenery. They were sights I had only seen on T.V or in books and enough to start a pitter patter in my chest. If all I would ever see of Rome was the bus ride from Braccio da montone to Termini Station, it still would have made me happy.

The two-hour train ride was so exciting for me. I watched an old man take 30 minutes to eat and orange and started the life where I would no longer be known as Laura but as Lao-rah.

I immediately started looking for the father of the children I was being hired to help with English. I had answered his when should I pick you up text this morning but in all fairness wasn’t sure if I would recognize him from the one photo I had seen. After waiting two hours and dialing several unanswered calls from my mobile, I called my oldest sister Alex, back home.

“So…the father is supposed to pick me up and he hasn’t. It’s been two hours and it’s almost 6pm now.”

“Ok well, go to the tourist information in the train station and find a hostel. If he gets a hold of you later, tell him to meet you tomorrow but don’t hang around the train station waiting for him any longer.”

As I stood in line to get a room for the night, my phone rang.

“Ciao Laura! Where are you?” I heard a voice yell into the phone.

Turned out he had his phone off and while he could send texts to my Canadian phone, he couldn’t receive them. Why it took him until 6pm to call me, I don’t know. I perhaps unfairly yet nearly always accurately tend to base people  on first impressions and this one told me “ we care nothing about the hired help.”

“I’ll pick you up in front of the McDonald’s in ten minutes. I’m driving a gray jeep,” he told me.

The McDonald’s was actually inside the train station so I stayed where I was. As the time passed, so did a million men who could have passed for this guy. My phone rang again.

“Laura! Where are you? I’m in front of the McDonald’s!”

“so am I….”

“I don’t see you! I have a grey jeep!”

I stuck my head outside of the station and the only sign of traffic was the taxis to my right and the city transit to my left. There were of course a million cars in front of the McDonald’s across the street.

“Are you at the McDonald’s across from the station?”

“YES!” he started to sound annoyed so I reminded him that this was literally my first day in the country and he’d have to give me a break. Who the hell needs two McDonald’s within 10 feet of each other anyway?

He came to me, introducing himself while his wife waited in the car. She looked typically Italian and acted typically Italian (snobby). On the way to the house we made small talk about Canada but I didn’t want to talk. I just wanted to look at everyone and everything, like a child going to the carnival for the first time. We came to the house, which was actually one of four, very large, stone glorified 3 story townhouses in a unit.

I met the kids whose first impressions told me they were spoiled. The boy was 11 and much more warm than the girl but at the same time very shy for someone his age, holding on to his dad the whole time. The girl was 9 and worse but I never had an easy time with girls right away anyway. She pouted all through dinner when the attention wasn’t on her and the mother yelled at the son at least 5 or 6 times to tell him to stop talking. They had a housekeeper from Romania whose first impression told me  that she wanted me to go to hell.

The house was all tile with no carpet in sight. It was cold and dark with every sound magnified a thousand times. I had to share the basement with the housekeeper who kept our common bathroom immaculate. I often wondered how much she got paid and judging by my own salary that broke down to 2 euro per hour, knew it couldn’t have been much. True, she did a crazy amount more work than I did but she also came from a much poorer country to work for this family 8 years ago and was still insisted upon to eat whatever they couldn’t finish at dinner on top of her own.

I was given the son’s room for the first night because his grandparents were staying over for the weekend and they had mine. Nothing says married couple like two beds pushed together!  I looked out the window and saw tiny terraces adorned with plants on the apartment buildings all around me. It was like pictures. I passed out immediately after dinner and fell in love with the idea of what was to come.

The next day, I decided to go shopping. The market I had heard about especially had me intrigued but after 6 hours of wandering in 4 inch heeled boots like an idiot, I had no luck finding it.

“Never ask Italians directions,” a Canadian on a travel website once warned me.

I pass along that advice today.

“Go straight for 25 minutes,” the father told me. He failed to mention where I would be going straight from. In a neighborhood full of roundabouts, straight is barely an option.

On the fourth day I tried again…and second and third too, but the fourth brought success. I had walked out my door with good intentions but soon after, turned around, went home, crawled into bed, cried and fell asleep. I woke up at 13:00 to Travis’s Sing on MTV. My younger sister Nicole first showed me the song in high school and it made me miss home. It also made me not want to give up; even on a task as small as shopping. I got up and tried again, finding “ the center” within ½ hour. It sounds like a fictional destination or yoga terminology but that’s what the core of Florence is called. I had to walk through my neighbourhood, past several piazzas, under a bridge, across a bridge and through a tunnel until I found the “mercato centrale” signs with arrows pointing me in the right direction. At one point, I stopped a woman on the street who offered to walk me there. Seeing as how neither of us were fluent in the other’s language. It was a silent 10 minute walk with a stranger that I wasn’t  counting on that day.

See sent me off down another cobble stone street, past gardens and crazy drivers towards Via Nazionale ; also know as THE STREET THAT INTERSECTS WITH THE TRAIN STATION. I passed window upon window of cheesy Italian souvenirs and much more appealing, pastries and cheese! It was a tourist trap and I loved it. I took a left turn and came across a side streets with several restaurants and a pillared building adorned with leather coat racks. Something told me this was the San Lorenzo Market! I could only browse the entire thing for less than an hour before I had to be back at the house for the kids but at least now I knew what I’d be doing for the rest of the week.

“Yes!” I beamed at dinner when the father asked if I found the center. Not with any of your help though, you bastards.

The next day I was excited to check out the market again. I walked down the 5 intersecting streets of vendors selling coats, food, clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs. The smell of leather was rampant and I was bombarded with “ciao bella”s. After the first five or so, they become annoying. In the center of the market is the San Lorenzo Church and when the bells rang at noon, my little heartstrings pulled. I turned down the last street and passed a vendor who was in a few words, sexy as hell. I walked past but assumed he didn’t notice me. When I turned around though, I saw him still staring with his blue eyes, beanie and a 5 o’clock shadow with his hands in his pockets. I turned back around and walk away, making sure to take note of the café across the street. It would prove to be the X in my map of shameless flirtation with a foreigner.*

Attention NYC Men! Here is your chance to smell good, learn HOW to smell good, and get free beer and snacks! Tonight Lafco NY/Santa Maria Novella will hold a seminar with free custom shaves by Martial Vivot, while Marina Searsale and Sebastian Alvarez Murena will show off their selection of guy-approved scents. Don’t forget about the Corona and snacks from Falai. Shaving starts at 6pm, lasting until 9pm at 285 Laffayette Street.

-Caitlin

SANTA MARIA NOVELLA : 

Die Kirche, eine der berühmtesten der Stadt, ist ein Meisterwerk der gotischen Architektur. Der Bau begann im Jahre 1278 und wurde, außer der wunderschönen Marmorfassade, die erst von Leon Battista Alberti von 1465 bis 1470 gebaut wurde, 1360 beendet. Auf der rechten Seite befindet sich der Friedhof der adligen florentiner Familien. Das Innere, ein der harmonischsten gotischen Kirchenräume, hat die Form eines lateinischen Kreuzes, ist dreischiffig geteilt und mit vielen Kunstwerken geschmückt. Hauptrundgang: In der rechten Schiffseite befinden sich ein hölzernes Kruzifix von Baccio da Montelupo (1501), Freskengemälde der Schule von Bologna, Fresken von Filippino Lippi (1502) und in der Kapelle der Familie Strozzi ist ein Grab von Benedetto da Maiano zu sehen (1497). Die Apsis ist mit einem hölzernen Chor von Baccio d’ Agnolo, einen ehernen Kruzifix des Giambologna und vor allem mit einigen Fresken von Domenico Ghirlandaio an denen auch Michelangelo als Jüngling gearbeitet hat, beschmückt.

In der linken Schiffseite befinden sich die Kapelle Gondi von Giuliano da Sangallo mit einem berühmten hölzernen Kruzifix von Brunelleschi und die Kapelle Strozzi, welche ganz von Nardo ·di Cione mit Fresken bemalt (1357) und mit einem schönen Altartafelbild von A.Orcagna ausgestattet ist. An der Eingangswand sehen wir links die Dreifaltigkeit (1428)eines der Werke Masaccios, das kurze Zeit vor den Fresken in der Carminekirche gemalt worden ist. Neben den vorletzten Bündelpfeiler befindet sich eine Marmorkanzel von Brunelleschi gezeichnet und von Andrea Cavalcanti, auch Buggiano genannt, ausgeführt(l498). Von der linken Seite der Kirche erreicht man die Sakristei, die von Jacopo Talenti geplant wurde und in der sich einen Terrakottawaschbecken von Giovanni della Robbia (1498)und ein wunderschönes hölzernes Kruzifix vermutlich von Giotto, befinden.

S.MARIA NOVELLA

Speaking of Firenze, is speaking about a present renaissance world. The city itself is just like a monument of art, a fine art… of Michelangelo (the most), the greatest artist as many have said.

Michael's famous David

View from the Duomo's terrace

I have dreamed about Firenze and its beauty, thanks to my friend and national geography magazine I finally got the opportunity to visit this fall season, and are very much glad to be there in my life.

My journey started from Jakarta-Dubai-Paris, and from there, I managed to find a cheap flight to Rome (and spend a couple of days there), took the train to see the Tuscany landscape along the trip, and finally arrived in Firenze.

From Rome Termini

A meter away from the Sunflower Field

Finally Firenze!

Once I got there, I was surprised to see the tourist excitement and crowds, it’s just like in a city (well, it is technically a city), but I thought it’s going to be an “old-style” one.

As soon as I got out from the train station, I started to get more and more stunned as I walked my feet farther. There was no ordinary building, everything looks beautiful and pretty, and artsy and crazy x)

Extra-ordinary door

When I got into my first B&B, it’s everything that I have expected and I have ever dreamed! A Tuscanian House, with the family, greet, warmth, and interior design x) I always say that I have an eye with architecture and beautiful things, and those are just as perfect as I wanted it to be.

love at the first sight

My Tuscany Room

My first evening, I spent it by walking along the Arno River toward the famous Ponte Vecchio. The view was gorgeous as the sunset was arrived. I couldn’t help but wonder, if only I can hold hands and walking side by side along the river with someone that I love, it will be perfect!

Walking towards..

The next morning, I spent my days exploring the city, of course to the most important thing of the city’s trademark: the Duomo or as well as known Santa Maria del Fiore, The Neo-Gothic church, which its marble fascade by Giotto (architect).

Simply... nice..

I walked myself to the terrace of the Cathedral, to the top of the dome, and was fascinated by its surrounding breath-taking view. I felt like I’m on the top of the world. Only this time better, with the addition of breathless condition because of the hundreds of narrow steps to get there.

Having satisfied with my moments of self-resurrection, I continued my exploration to the other churches of the town, and believe me, it’s all over the place!

Santa Maria del Fiore

Santa Maria Novella

The Gothic Basilica of Santa Croce

After 2 days full of museums, and (to be honest with you) ran out of money paying those entrance fee (yes, nothing’s hardly free), I started to look for something “outdoor”. I actually crossed out some of my ‘place to go” list and I made a new decision there to visit these outdoor places:

Giardino di Boboli (Boboli Garden)

View from Piazzale Michelangelo

Since Firenze is a small city, everything was walk-able distance for me.  That’s why I stayed in B&B: other than it’s better and suitable for my budget, it also gave me opportunity to experience/more exploration (although it’s a bit off from the city).

My last day in Firenze, I decided to stay in the ‘real’ hotel, and it’s nothing close to compare with my previous B&B experiences. Sure thing it had the hotel facilities, but who care anyway since we are going out the whole day?

Boring old hotel room

Overall, I highly recommended Firenze for those who love art, especially Michelangelo fanatic fans you belong there! Other than those sculptures, Firenze has a lot to show from the music, paintings, even poems museum.

In the middle of the road

The place is also good for shopping. From the local market to high end retail, they have them all. Their specialties are in leather product and gold (esp on the Ponte Vecchio, they are all gold jewelry store).

Bridge of Gold

For your stomach, don’t just feed them with regular Italian food! Go for authentic Tuscany food, it’s fresh and very much delicious! On top of that, gelateria is everywhere! Those gelato are my biggest temptation there, more than I could handle =P I ate gelato everyday when the portion was 4times bigger than our Indonesian’s regular size. It’s good, really great though!

zuppa

Traditional Tuscany Trattoria

Baccala Alla livornese

Temptation!

everyday ice cream =D

Italian or I should say, Firenze local people are quite friendly. Compared with the metropolitan Europe Country, they are certainly warmer and friendly. Although not so many of them speak English, but they are trying to understand and speak back to you…

And again, here are the basic survival words that you need:

Hello: Buongiorno!

Bye: ciao!

Excuse me: mi scusi

Sorry: Prego

Exit: uscita

How are you: come va?

Thank you: grazie

Merenda

Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

Mi chiamo Melisa

Come va?

Me piace viaggriae, fare dello sport, fare passeggiate.

Colazione

And for the things that I now know how to say, because I used it every day:

Brioche (croissant)

Colazione (breakfast)

Pranzo (lunch)

Merenda (snack time)

Cena (dinner)

Uno (1)

Due (2)

Gelati (ice cream)

Dolci (cake/dessert)

Minestra (soup)

Pane (bread)

Libreria (bookshop)

Biblioteca (library)

Vino (wine)

For the food thing, I just want to say that those Italian breads are way more yummy than any other bread in the world. I couldn’t stop eating the bread over there

Haha.. Ok, stop wondering about the bread anymore, you are full anyway!

Happy Exploring!

Hopped on to the Eurail to Florence from Rome and stayed at Hotel Domus Florentiae. I made a few hotel reservations via venere.com and they’re reliable. The hotel is actually very near Santa Maria Novella (SMN) station but somehow, I walked about in circles as I tried to follow the directions provided by the hotel and it took me awhile to find it, tucked away inconspicuously.

Hotel Domus Florentiae

Lovely way to start the day

Bed and breakfast cost me 113.28 EUR for 2 nights. Apart from a very dark corridor that smelled a little funky and a slightly mouldy mirror, this is a very quaint hotel with clean sheets, decent breakfast and free wifi. There was a vintage wardrobe that came with an antique key that I really liked, and a balcony. I have a thing for balconies because I don’t have one at home (and also because you can smoke there).

Spizzico and Chinese takeout

I couldn’t resist getting some Chinese takeout after 5 days of cold cuts, croissants, pizzas and pasta. If you’re wondering – yes, Spizzico is good and I haven’t had a pizza in Italy that’s not delicious, and no, I didn’t finish everything for dinner. I probably reached the hotel around 7pm, twittered and checked my mail on my trusty iPod Touch, polished off the Chinese takeout and half a pizza, watched some MTV and news in Italian, went to bed, woke up in the wee hours and finished the other half of the pizza. Yes, it was cold. No, I didn’t have a microwave or oven to heat it up. Went back to sleep.

Morning. Hopped on the Eurail again, Firenze SMN to Pisa Centrale. Leaning tower, checked.

Leaning tower of Pisa

Things got more interesting from there on. There was a strike or something on my way back to the Pisa Centrale. I think some of the locals felt irritated when our bus got caught in the traffic but I thought it was rather exciting because we don’t have strikes or riots in Singapore.

While waiting for the train back to Florence, Yukari approached me to help take a photo of her and we became friends on the train. She thought I was Japanese which was quite funny that she couldn’t tell that I’m not. We communicated with what little Japanese I spoke and with the help of her translator. Yukari was on a working holiday in Paris and came to Italy for a short holiday. She was living in a hostel where she got to know Ryota and Kojima. Ryota was a fugu chef who came to learn Tuscan cuisine and Kojima was on his grad trip.

Yukari and Ryota at Michelangelo

Carousel

We walked around till late and I had my first good meal at a restaurant with my new friends. Not sure if it was a Christmas market but there were people dining at this carousel-like structure and there were booths selling wooden toys, fresh herbs and candies. It was about midnight when they walked me back to my hotel and I realised it wasn’t so scary to walk about at night after all.

Santa Maria Novella is a church in Florence, Italy, situated just across the main railway station which shares its name. Chronologically, it is the first great basilica in Florence, and is the city’s principal Dominican church.

The church, the adjoining cloister, and chapterhouse contain a store of art treasures and funerary monuments. Especially famous are frescoes by masters of Gothic and early Renaissance. They were financed through the generosity of the most important Florentine families, who ensured themselves of funerary chapels on consecrated ground.

History

This church was called Novella (New) because it was built on the site of the 9th-century oratory of Santa Maria delle Vigne. When the site was assigned to Dominican Order in 1221, they decided to build a new church and an adjoining cloister. The church was designed by two Dominican friars, Fra Sisto Fiorentino and Fra Ristoro da Campi. Building began in the mid-13th century (about 1246), and was finished about 1360 under the supervision of Friar Iacopo Talenti with the completion of the Romanesque-Gothic bell tower and sacristy. At that time, only the lower part of the Tuscan gothic facade was finished. The three portals are spanned by round arches, while the rest of the lower part of the facade is spanned by blind arches, separated by pilasters, with below Gothic pointed arches, striped in green and white, capping noblemen’s tombs. This same design continues in the adjoining wall around the old churchyard. The church was consecrated in 1420.

On a commission from Giovanni di Paolo Rucellai, a local textile merchant, Leone Battista Alberti designed the upper part of the inlaid black and white marble facade of the church (1456-1470). He was already famous as the architect of the Tempio Malatestiano in Rimini, but even more for his seminal treatise on architecture De Re Aedificatoria, based on the book De Architectura of the classical Roman writer Vitruvius. Alberti had also design the facade for the Rucellai Palace in Florence.

Alberti attempted to bring the ideals of humanist architecture, proportion and classically-inspired detailing, to bear on the design while also creating harmony with the already existing medieval part of the facade. His contribution consists of a broad frieze decorated with squares and everything above it, including the four white-green pilasters and a round window, crowned by a pediment with the Dominican solar emblem, and flanked on both sides by enormous S-curved volutes. The four columns with Corinthian capitals on the lower part of the facade were also added. The pediment and the frieze are clearly inspired by the antiquity, but the S-curved scrolls in the upper part are new and without precedent in antiquity. The scrolls (or variations of them), found in churches all over Italy, all find their origin here in the design of this church.

The frieze below the pediment carries the name of the patron : IOHAN(N)ES ORICELLARIUS PAU(LI) F(ILIUS) AN(NO) SAL(UTIS) MCCCCLXX (Giovanni Rucellai son of Paolo in the blessed year 1470).

Interior

The vast interior is based on a basilica plan, designed as a Latin cross and is divided into a nave, two aisles with stained-glass windows and a short transept. The large nave is 100 metres long and gives an impression of austerity. There is a trompe l’oeil-effect by which this nave towards the apse seems longer than its actual length. The slender compound piers between the nave and the aisles are ever closer when you go deeper into the nave. The ceiling in the vault consists pointed arches with the four diagonal buttresses in black and white.

The interior also contains corinthian columns that were inspired by the Classical era of Greek and Roman times.

The stained-glass windows date from the 14th and 15th century, such as 15th century Madonna and Child and St. John and St. Philip (designed by Filippino Lippi), both in the Filippo Strozzi Chapel. Some stained glass windows have been damaged in the course of centuries and had to be replaced. The one on the facade, a depiction of the Coronation of Mary dates from the 14th century, based on a design of Andrea Bonaiuti.

The pulpit, commissioned by the Rucellai family in 1443, was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and executed by his adopted child Andrea Calvalcanti. This pulpit has a particular historical significance, because from this pulpit the first attack came on Galileo Galilei, leading eventually to his indictment.

The Holy Trinity, situated almost halfway in the left aisle, is a pioneering early renaissance work of Masaccio, showing his new ideas about perspective and mathematical proportions. Its meaning for the art of painting can easily be compared by the importance of Brunelleschi for architecture and Donatello for sculpture. The patrons are the kneeling figures of the judge and his wife, members of the Lenzi family. The cadaver tomb below carries the epigram: “I was once what you are, and what I am you will become”.

Of particular note in the right aisle is the Tomba della Beata Villana, a monument by Bernardo Rossellino in 1451. In the same aisle, you can find the tombs of the Bishop of Fiesole by Tino di Camaino and another one by Nino Pisano.

Filippo Strozzi Chapel

The Filippo Strozzi Chapel is situated on the right side of the main altar. The Strozzi Chapel was the place were the first tale of the Decamerone by Giovanni Boccaccio began, when seven ladies decided to leave the town, and flee from the Black Plague to the countryside. The series of frescoes from Filippino Lippi depict the life of Philip the Apostle and James the Apostle. They were completed in 1502. On the right wall is the fresco St Philip Driving the Dragon from the Temple of Hieropolis and in the lunette above it, the Crucifixion of St Philip. On the left wall is the fresco St John the Evangelist Resuscitating Druisana and in the lunette above it The Torture of St John the Evangelist. Adam, Noah, Abraham and Jacob are represented on the ribbed vault. Behind the altar is the tomb of Filippo Strozzi with a sculpture by Benedetto da Maiano (1441).

The bronze crucifix on the main altar is by Giambologna (16th century). The choir (or the Cappella Tornabuoni) contains another series of famous frescoes, by Domenico Ghirlandaio and his apprentice the young Michelangelo (1485-1490). They represent themes from the life of the Virgin and John the Baptist, situated in Florence of the late 15th century. Several members of important Florentine families were portrayed on these frescoes. The vaults are covered with paintings of the Evangelists. On the back wall are the paintings Saint Dominic burns the Heretical Books and Saint Peter’s Martyrdom, the Annunciation, and Saint John goes into the Desert.

Gondi Chapel

This chapel, designed by Giuliano da Sangallo, is situated on the left side of the main altar and dates from the end of the 13th century. Here, on the back wall, is the famous wooden Crucifix by Brunelleschi, one of his very few sculptures. The legend goes that he was so disgusted by the “primitive” Crucifix of Donatello in the Santa Croce church, that he made this one. The vault contains fragments of frescoes by 13th-century Greek painters. The polychrome marble decoration was applied by Giuliano da Sangallo (ca.1503). The stained-glass window is recent and dates from the 20th century.

Cappella Strozzi di Mantova

The Cappella Strozzi di Mantova is situated at the end of the left transept. The frescoes were commissioned by Tommaso Strozzi, an ancestor of Filippo Strozzi, to Nardo di Cione (1350-1357). The frescoes are inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy: Last Judgment (on the back wall; including a portrait of Dante), Hell (on the right wall) and paradise (on the left wall). The main altarpiece of The Redeemer with the Madonna and Saints was done by his brother Andrea di Cione, better kwown as Orcagna. The large stained-glass window on the back was made from a cartoon by the brothers Andrea and Nardo di Cione.

Della Pura Chapel

The Della Pura Chapel is situated north of the old cemetery. It dates from 1474 and was constructed with Renaissance columns. It was restored in 1841 by Baccani. On the left side there is a lunette with a 14th century fresco Madonna and Child and St. Catherine. There is a wooden crucifix by Baccio da Montelupo (1501) on the front altar.

Rucellai Chapel

The Rucellai Chapel, at the end of the right aisle, dates from the 1300s. It houses, besides the tomb of Paolo Rucellai (15th century) and the marble statue of the Madonna and the Child by Nino Pisano, several art treasures such as remains of frescoes by the Maestro di Santa Cecilia (end 13th – beginning 14th century). The panel on the left wall, the Martyrdom of Saint Catherine, was painted by Giuliano Bugiardini (with possibly assistance by Michelangelo). The bronze tomb, in the centre of the floor, was made by Ghiberti in 1425.

Bardi Chapel

The Bardi Chapel, the second chapel on the right of the apse, was founded by Riccardo Bardi and dates from early 14th century. The high-relief on a pillar on the right depicts Saint Gregory blessing Riccardo Bardi. The walls show us some early 1300s frescoes attributed to Spinello Aretino. The Madonna del Rosario on the altar is by Giorgio Vasari (1568).

Sacristy

The sacristy, at the end of the left aisle, was built as the Chapel of the Annunciation by the Cavalcanti family in 1380. Now it houses again, after a period of fourtain years of cleaning and renovation, the enormous painted Crucifix with the Madonna and John the Evangelist, an early work by Giotto. He had rediscovered the ideal proportions for the human body, as established by the Roman architect Vitruvius (1st century AD, see also : Vitruvian Man). The sacristy is also embellished by a glazed terra cotta and a marble font, masterpieces by Giovanni della Robbia (1498). The cupboards were designed by Bernardo Buontalenti in 1593. The paintings on the wall are ascribed to Giorgio Vasari and some other comtemporary Florentine painters. The large Gothic window with three mullions at the back wall dates from 1386 and was based on cartoons by Niccolò di Pietro Gerini.

The Spanish Chapel

The Spanish Chapel (or Cappellone degli Spagnoli) is the former chapterhouse of the monastery. It is situated at the north side of the green Cloister (Chiostro Verde). It was commissioned by Buonamico (Mico) Guidalotti as his funerary chapel. Construction started c. 1343 and was finished in 1355. The Guidalotti chapel was later called “Spanish Chapel”, because Cosimo I assigned it to Eleonora of Toledo and her Spanish retinue. The Spanish Chapel contains a smaller Chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament. The Spanish Chapel was decorated from 1365 to 1367 by Andrea Bonaiuti also known as Andrea da Firenze. The large fresco on the right wall depicts the Allegory of the Active and Triumphant Church and of the Dominican order. It is especially interesting because in the background it shows a large pink building that may provide some insight into the original designs for the Duomo of Florence by Arnolfo di Cambio (before Brunelleschi’s dome was built), although this interpretation is fantastical as the Duomo was never intended to be pink, nor to have the belltower at its back side. This fresco also contains portraits of pope Benedict IX, cardinal Friar Niccolò Albertini, count Guido di Poppi, Arnolfo di Cambio and the poet Petrarca. The frescoes on the other walls represent scenes from the lives of Christ and Saint Peter on the entry wall (mostly ruined due to the later installation of a choir), The Triumph of Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Allegory of Christian Learning on the left wall, and the large “Crucifixion with the Way to Calvalry and the Descent into Limbo” on the archway of the altar wall. The four-part vault contains scenes of Christ’s resurrection, the navicella, the ascension, and Pentecost. The five-panelled Gothic polyptych that was probably originally made for the chapel’s altar, depicting the Madonna Enthroned With and Child and Four Saints by Bernardo Daddi dates from 1344 and is currently on display in a small museum area accessed through glass doors from the far end of the cloister. Together, the complex iconography of the ceiling vault, walls, and altar combine to communicate the message of Dominicans as guides to salvation.

Architecture

Giorgio Vasari was the architect, commissioned in 1567 by Grand Duke Cosimo I, for the first remodelling of the church, which included removing its original rood screen and loft, and adding six chapels between the columns. An armillary sphere (on the left) and a gnomon (on the right) were added to the end blind arches of the lower façade by Ignazio Danti, astronomer of Cosimo I, in 1572. The second remodelling was designed by Enrico Romoli, and was carried out between 1858 and 1860.

Piazza Santa Maria Novella

The square in front the church was used by Cosimo I for the yearly chariot race (Palio dei Cocchi). This custom existed between 1563 and late in the 19th century. The two obelisks marked the start and the finish of the race. They were set up to imitate an antique Roman circus. The obelisks rest on bronze tortoises, made in 1608 by the sculptor Giambologna.

By: Wikipedia

The hotel receptionist was very patient with us while trying to help us get to Florence. Of course, we wanted the best deal and one we could enjoy too. We were not thinking about flying up there as there is not much fun, you might arrive quicker and I only say might as getting out of Rome is really a tough task, then follow a map in order to get there and then finding your way in Florence. We were not really ready for the driving experience so we asked her to help us get there either by bus or train. We love enjoying our journeys but now it was up to the receptionist to make the best out of it. She explained that the fastest and more enjoyable way to get to Florence was by train, it would only take us a couple of hours and we would arrive directly to Santa Maria Novella. We quickly looked for our hotel address in Florence only to find out that the hotel was very close to that train station. We were so happy and relieved. Once she finished helping us booking our train tickets we went out and got her a bouquet of flowers, she was thrilled! We had breakfast that morning and left to the train station. Our train was ready to leave; we got our luggage in and sat in the train ready to enjoy the ride and looking forward to our next destination, Florence.

Santa Maria Skin care

PASTA DI MANDORLE  is the best hand cream . Made from sweet almond oil,magic cream for my extremely dry hands! I love the smell of the bar soap and body milk ,moisturizing result is excellent too.

Excellent shopping bag ,very spacious & durable.

Goro’s silver conchos and silver bell from G1950. I like the sound of the bell.

Ieri sera, mentre fumavo il mio sigaro mi è presa la strana voglia di un bel té caldo, al che mi sono detto perché non testarli assieme, siccome fumavo un l’Antico Toscano ho deciso di optare per un té al Gelsomino di Santa Maria Novella.Versato nella tazza la nota dolce e floreale è subito avvertibile al naso, l’essenza del gelsomino è presente in testa, mentre la nota finale è leggermente vuota e senza punte.In combinazione con l’Antico Toscano  si evidenzia una segno acidulo in testa, mentre si attenua notevolmente il sentore del gelsomino; il té acquista una persistenza amara finale con evidenza particolare sulla lingua. Particolarmente piacevole la nota agrumata con un’impressione fra il sidro e il fiore d’arancio, con accenti di lievito che richiamano i sapori delle lambic belghe, aroma che non era quasi percepibile prima del connubio con l’Antico. Il té al Gelsomino comporta anche una notevole apertura del palato che va a contrastare l’astringenza del sigaro. La nota dolce tende ad attenuare la sapidità del sigaro senza però eliminare dal retro della bocca il piacevole sentore di legno odoroso del toscano che vira, grazie al té, quasi verso il sandalo.

La degustazione risultata certamente piacevole non andando a scaldare troppo la bocca e lasciando  in bocca un agile incontro fra acido e basico in modo da ottenere una bocca “pulita” ma non azzerata.

Lavoro a Firenze Nova, in zona c’è la stazione di Firenze Rifredi. Dato che ieri era sciopero dell’Ataf, la compagnia di autobus urbani, per arrivare in centro ho pensato di prendere un treno. Ho digitato www.trenitalia.it per trovare l’orario del treno da prendere e il browser si è rediretto verso www.ferroviedellostato.it. Ho inserito Firenze Rifredi come partenza e Firenze come arrivo (in fondo Santa Maria Novella è la stazione centrale), lasciando data e ora come da inserimento automatico. Proseguendo, la risposta del sistema è stata: “nessuna soluzione trovata”.

Ho provato, allora, ad inserire come stazione di arrivo Firenze Santa Maria Novella.

Appena ho avviato la ricerca, il sistema mi ha riportato l’errore “Stazione di arrivo: nessuna stazione corrisponde ai criteri di ricerca impostati.”

Ho provato con Firenze smn… stesso risultato.

Allora ho cambiato strategia e, tornato nella homepage di Trenitalia/Ferrovie dello Stato, ho cliccato sul servizio ViaggiaTreno, che permette di vedere l’andamento dei treni, stazione per stazione, con il binario di arrivo e il ritardo eventualmente accumulato. L’idea era di navigare la cartina fino a capire le stazioni di Firenze. Risultato, Firenze S.M.N.

Ho ripetuto la ricerca sul sito di Trenitalia inserendo come stazione di destinazione “Firenze S.M.N.” e finalmente ho trovato i treni che mi servivano:

Un aiuto sarebbe stato gradito. Invece di riportare un errore per non aver trovato la stazione, sarebbe stato molto più utile vedere la lista delle stazioni di Firenze da cui poter scegliere. E comunque inserendo “Firenze Santa Maria Novella” è impensabile che non riesca a trovare la stazione.

Molte e svariate arti, che contribuiscono a render felice la vita, furono dai nostri antenati indagate con grande accuratezza ed impegno, e tramandate a noi. E benché tutte quasi a gara dimostrino di perseguire lo stesso fine, di giovare quanto più possibile all’umanità, non di meno risulta esservi in ciascuna di esse una caratteristica intrinseca e naturale, tale da indicare come propria una finalità particolare e diversa dalle altre. Talune arti infatti sono coltivate per la loro necessità; altre si raccomandano per i vantaggi che presentano; altre ancora si apprezzano soltanto perché riguardano argomenti piacevoli a conoscersi. Non occorre specificare di quali arti si tratti, perché sono note; ma se si tengono presenti le più importanti, non se ne troverà una sola che non si rivolga a certi suoi particolari scopi, escludendone tutti gli altri. O se pure qualcuna se ne trovasse, tale da non potersene in alcun modo far senza, e tale al tempo stesso da conciliare la convenienza pratica con la gradevolezza e il decoro, a mio giudizio in questa categoria è da includere l’architettura; giacché essa – se si medita attentamente in proposito – è quanto mai vantaggiosa alla comunità come al privato, particolarmente gradita all’uomo in genere e certamente tra le prime per importanza.

Ma, prima di procedere oltre, credo utile chiarire che cosa, secondo me, si debba intendere per architetto. Giacché non prenderò certo in considerazione un carpentiere, per paragonarlo ai più qualificati esponenti delle altre discipline: il lavoro del carpentiere infatti non è che strumentale rispetto a quello dell’architetto. Architetto chiamerò colui che con metodo sicuro e perfetto sappia progettare razionalmente e realizzare praticamente, attraverso lo spostamento dei pesi e mediante la riunione e la congiunzione dei corpi, opere che nel modo migliore si adattino ai più importanti bisogni dell’uomo. A tale fine gli è necessaria la padronanza delle più alte discipline. […]

È stato affermato da alcuni che furono l’acqua o il fuoco le cause originarie onde gli uomini si riunirono in comunità; ma noi, considerando quanto un tetto e delle pareti siano convenienti, anzi indispensabili, ci convinceremo che queste ultime cause ebbero indubbiamente maggiore efficacia a riunire e mantenere insieme degli esseri umani.

Leon Battista Alberti, De re aedificatoria

Outra coisa interessante é o fresco de Masaccio, a Trinidade. Tambem o túmulo de marmoré feita por Brunelleschi, o Claustro Verde com frescos de Paolo Ucello e a capella do espanhol com frescos de Andrea Bounaiuto. Realmente tudo em Florença tem a ver com cultura, história e arte. Sai de Santa María Novella e já era hora do almoço, entrei nas ruas mais longe do centro e encontrei um restaurante pequininho parecido com o que tinha conhecido em Roma. Sentei e pedi o cardápio, tinha uma pasta com frutos do mar que vinha junto com uma garrafinha de vinho e achei com um preço bom. A pasta era ótima e o vinho era meio ruim. Hahahaha. Acabei pedindo agua em vez de vinho, o garçom virou para mim e falou “pasta é com vinho” falei tudo bem mas eu quería agua. Mocinho grosso, heim! Ele resmungou alguma coisa, entrou no restaurante e voltou com um copo de agua…. nossa esqueci,tenho um jantar hoje a noite!!!

Quando foi meia noite falei boa noite para Giusepe e fui dormir.   No día seguinte acordei cedo e fui tomar café da manhã, quando cheguei no restaurante Giusepe tava lá, ele sentou comigo e agradeceu a companhia de ontem a noite. Chegou o café, a fruta e os croisants com geleia, agradeci o extra croisant , dei tchau para Giusepe e fui para Santa María Novella que era dos lugares que estavam faltando na minha viagem. Santa María Novella é um predio de marmore verde e branco que foi construido no século XV e acabado por León Bautista Alberti. O lugar tem os frescos mais importantes de Domenico Ghirlandaio que é um dos grandes artistas de Florença. No cemiterio do lado podemos encontrar o túmulo de Ghirlandio. Outros artistas e arquitetos para ver na igreja são Brunelleschi com um crucifixo que encontra-se  na capela Gondi.  A la izquierda del presbiterio está la capilla Gondi, con un crucifijo famoso, debido a Brunelleschi. Do outro lado entrei na capela de Filippo Strozzi com ums frescos de Filippino Lippi, diferentes aos outros mas muito interessantes.

Sopra: la facciata di Santa Maria Novella a Firenze di Leon Battista Alberti

The benefits of using a badger hair brush to apply shaving cream before a shave far exceed the obvious old-school cool appeal.  The badger hair actually helps raise the hair on your face while evenly spreading the shaving cream for a smooth, close shave.

This shaving set from Santa Maria Novella, which includes the brush, razor with changeable blades and a silver dish holder, is sleek and beautiful–making it as much of a grooming necessity as it is a bathroom statement.

$250 at LAFCO.

In order to enjoy Portofino to its fullest, plan on spending at least two days there. Once you decide on the best time to go, you can purchase a train ticket at Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. A ticket costs approximately €30 round-trip. Unfortunately, you must switch trains at least once along the way because there are no trains which go directly to Portofino. Luckily, it is not necessary to repurchase a ticket each time you board a new train. All together, the train ride can last between three to four hours depending on how many times you switch trains. While on the train, be sure to glance out the window and admire the beautiful Italian countryside. As you appraoch the shore, there will be short breaks through the tunnels in the mountains where you can see breathtaking views of the beach from above. When you finally arrive, you will be getting off at Santa Margherita which is literally a five to ten minute car drive from Portofino.There are so many wonderful places to stay directly outside of Portofino in the Santa Margherita area. An incredible five star hotel called Grand Hotel Miramare has been named as one of the leading hotels of the world. The location is perfect and the staff treats you like royalty. Sadly, nothing in life is free and staying here will cost you a pretty penny. The cost of a room is €320 per night for two adults. This price includes a breakfast buffett, access to beach (with chair, umbrella, and towel), air conditioning, hairdryer, minibar, and satellite television.

Another more affordable place to stay is the four star Best Western Regina Elena also in Santa Margherita. The cost of the room is approximately €200 per night for two adults. This price includes a breakfast buffett, air conditioning, hairdryer, minibar, and television. However, if you want to soak up the sun it will cost an additional €12 for the day which includes a beach chair, umbrella, and towel.

If laying out in the sun does not appeal to you, Portofino and Santa Margherita has some great shopping! There are countless boutiques with tons of hip clothing and shoes. For more of the designer shopper, there are stores such Gucci, D&G, and Tod’s.

For all of you seafood lovers, the Portofino/Santa Margherita area has incredible restaurants! The best way to find fresh fish is to travel to the seashore. If you are looking for friendly faces and quality seafood, try Trattoria del Pescatore where fish is their specialty! From clams to mussels and shrimp to prawns, freshness comes first! After a delicious meal, cool off with mouth-watering gelato which can be found everywhere in town. If you find gelato too rich, try something a little lighter called granita which is a mixture of fruit, sugar, and ice.

Overall, Portofino/Santa Margherita is a magical place to visit and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing escape from the stresses of everyday life.

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This is the neighborhood of the central railway station, the congressional palace, and the main international expositions and fairs…

That’s why here you’ll find the highest concentration of traffic, tourists, businessmen, immigrants, residents, taxis, tourist buses, fast food and pubs (Fiddler’s Elbow, The Chequers, The Dublin, The Joshua Tree, Stregatto, Trip Per Tre, Birreria Centrale) in the entire city center.

If you decide to stay here keep in mind that the district is very busy, chaotic and dirtier than the rest the city. However staying here has several advantages:

a) you are close to the station but, at the same time, in the heart of the city, only a 5-10 minute walk from all the main city monuments, churches and museums

b) here you’ll find the highest concentration of hotels (many of them very cheap!), B&Bs, and hostels in the city

 c) here there’s plenty of cheap fast food, take-away pizza, excellent pubs and good quality/budget price clothing

 d) it’s right next to the San Lorenzo market, the biggest and most colorful street market in the city.

Santa Maria Novella (like every other city district) is characterized by a beautiful central piazza dominated by the wonderful church of Santa Maria Novella, masterpiece of Italian Gothic medieval architecture.

This church is the first artistic masterpiece that tourists arriving in Florence by train can see and it is definitely a worthy ‘welcome to the city‘ for every traveller.

In the evening the square is full of tourists, students and immigrants. In the vicinity can be found the city’s best pubs: Fiddler’s Elbow, The Chequers, The Dublin, The Joshua Tree Pub.

Pisa, the Square of Miracles!

I can say that it is the most beautiful square in the world!

Actually Pisa is not in our original plan during the trip to Italy. At 1^st I thought it’s very far from Florence as I saw it on the map. But when we arrived in Florence, Leonardo told us it’s just an hour away from Florence by train! So, we decided to go without any hesitation!

The train from Florence, Santa Maria Novella to Pisa took about one and a half hour! It costs about 5.60 Euro per way. Don’t forget to verify your ticket before you board on the train! And the train was as nice as other major intercity trains as well!

Most of the travelers took a day trip to Pisa. But if you have extra time during your journey, why not spend a night there and you will experience something unexpected while exploring the city and waiting for the sunset! It is amazing watching sunset along the Arno Riverbanks!      

Pisa, the name of the city is undoubtedly very ancient: thru the millennia, right from the period of its foundation by Ibero-Ligurians, it remained unchanged, whereas another Pisa in the Mediterranean later changed its name to Olympia. Famous for its bell tower and known as Europe’s most ancient maritime city! A place you must not miss while traveling Italy!

3.60Euro will be enough for you to get on the bus from Pisa Centrale to Piazza dei Miracoli.

Gate of Santa Maria, The Baptistery, cathedral and not to miss the Leaning Tower making it the most miracle square in the world, attracting millions of tourists per year!

The magic gate of Santa Maria suddenly reveals to us, beyond the medieval walls, the green garden, where the marble architecture of Piazza dei Miracoli superbly raised! They stand there, as if they were suspended an ideal, poetical dimension out of time and the city area.

Here is, on the deep green of the meadow, the cylindrical and massive structure of the Baptistery, and that white jewel of balance, the marble Cathedral and the Leaning Tower, slender in its round dance loggias and arches.

 The square is superbly beautiful! For those who plan to have their honeymoon in Italy, Pisa is a very sweet and memorable place for you guys to make the wedding photos.

Please take note that posing for the picture is very important! If you don’t know or don’t have any idea of posing, please learn before you go! You are standing in the most beautiful square in the world! Try to imagine if your pose does not match the world class standard?

Picnic here with the amazing view? Yes! I think you can do it although there’s a signboard warning the tourists not to step on the grass, but most of the travelers seemed to just ignore it.

Tourists:” We are not walking, but we’re sitting, standing, posing! ;P”

And for those who wish to buy cheap souvenirs for their relatives and friends, the souvenir shops along the street offer you very nice and cheap price!