Florence: a clash between the Renaissance and Urban Intensity. David vs Goliath.
The Medici family funded the Renaissance, meaning the works of Michaelangelo's David, sculptures of humans instead of religious monuments, and a clear movement away from Religious art to humanist art. If you're going to travel all this way - a few minutes of research will be well worth your time. But upon arriving here, a reality set in. A clash of urban city life - train loads of people in the thousands, smoke, exhaust, cigarettes, vendor shops, tourist attractions and traps, contrasted with the beautiful and stuck in time Sculptures and Duomos. The art and history stand, almost helplessly, to the natural degradation that comes from a relentless and brutal humdrum of 'the city'.
Pay attention to David's right hand, overdone and oversculpted to represent the details and brilliance of creation bestowed upon us by the hand of god. (Something like that)
If David is a symbol for humanity, and Goliath is Chaos - I see it as city of Florence, fighting the chaos that is modern day urbanism and sprawling populations and above my pay grade city struggles.
It finally makes Italy seem more authentic, in a beautiful striking way. Where Venice seemed like a dream (too good to be true, where only the wealty can partake), Florence has a mix of real people, striving, back breaking to make their lives that much better.
Outside this beautiful sculpture is the all to real metropolitan. Complete with street vendors and seemingly tourist traps.
The streets are uneven, cigratte butts, graffiti. It's New York. It's LA, it's Bejiing. It's a metropolis. You can't hide the hustle of life. I feel at ease. I feel like I may wander into the wrong alleyway. There's excitement and life. There's flight of fight. I can't decide.
Because at the same time, you can get real, authentic soul filling foods for only 20 euros, just outside Michaelangelo's David. That only happens when you have a 'Chinatown' or an influx of authentic Chinese families moving to Florence to share their foods. And I love this
Because at the same time, you can get real, authentic soul filling foods for only 20 euros, just outside Michelangelo's David. That only happens when you have a 'Chinatown' or an influx of authentic Chinese families moving to Florence to share their foods. And I love this
And the cathedral absolutely towers above you, right down the street from the cheap authentic Chinese food (we could've had great Kebab, a 99cent store, hamburgers, pizza). Look at the extreme detail, luckily from my ultra zoom oldie DSLR. Totally worth it to bring.
Spot the details - the ultrawide photo is above - the zoomed in nearly 100x witht the DSLR captures the astounding brilliance. The Medici family spared no expense.
The incredible detail would take you a lifetime to explore. And we haven't even gone inside. Down the street again, past some uneven cobblestones that sprained my ankles - the Medici households. And from what I learned, competing families of wealth to the Medici's simply couldn't.
The courtyard of the Medici Family. What do you do with all this room? Still actively used by the Italian President/Prime Minister for official business.
Incredible detail and closeups of just one of the rooms.
The Medici's funded the Renaissance, Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Human art, sculptures and more. And Italy through Florence became the power of the world. So what now?
The best sandwiches in Florence. Cold Cuts, great cheese, crunchy bread. Cheap sandwiches outside the richest family of Italy.
And back to the grandeur essence of basilicas/churches and Squares. Cheap eats and trying to find non tourist trap eats versus real markets versus vendors, versus history versus modern life versus suffering versus flourishing in Florence.
David conquered Goliath. I hope Florence Italy finds it's identity in the chaos of history versus NOW.
