This is a miscellaneous collection of interesting or intriguing subjects that we came across while staying in Florence. Note: the Italian Alphabet does not have the letters J, K, W, X, Y
Animation
Bikes
Cell Phones
Driving
Ecclesiastical Nudity
Festival
Good Nazi
Hard Rock Cafe
Italian Empire
Lost
Madonna and Orgies
No Photos
Obstructions
Police
Questionable
Romance
Science
Tourist Office
Underwater
Vendors
Zzzzzzz!
Animation
One of the most interesting views of Florence is that provided by an excellent animation of the city in the 1470's. It gives a real feel for the city as it was then and allows one to see the continuity through to present times.
Bikes
Bikes and motorbikes are more useful than a car in Florence because of restrictive parking and narrow streets. However, it seems that you need to be creative with your parking, whether you own an antique shop...
...or a barber shop!
However, someone may have second thoughts about where they put their bike.
Cell Phones
Cell phones seem to be universal, even if you are driving a horse-drawn carriage.
Driving
Driving in Florence is at the very least an interesting experience, sometimes an impossible one.
Ecclesiastical Nudity
It seems that the church in sixteenth century Florence did not have the same hang-ups about sex and nudity as the present Papacy.
Festival
Billed as the coolest Summer Party!
Good Nazi
Gerhard Wolf was the German Consul in Florence for most of the Second World War and the City of Florence honored him with a plaque on the Ponte Vecchio, not only for saving the Ponte Vecchio (possibly most important for the Florentines), but also for saving the lives of many Jews and political prisoners during the Nazi Occupation of Italy.
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Hard Rock Cafe
is this the only tasteful Hard Rock Cafe?
Italian Empire
Inscribed on a school in Florence - Faith in the Imperial Destiny of their Fatherland was heroically sealed by the generous sacrifice in Ethiopia of their youth....!!!
Lost?
In the refectory of Santa Maria Novella, there is a strage juxtaposition of a Bacchanalian orgy...
...and a classical Madonna and Child surrounded by Dominican saints (Santa Maria Novella was the Dominican church rivalling Santa Croce, the Franciscan one across town - perhaps like Liverpool and Everton, Glasgow Rangers and Celtic or A.C. Milano and Internazionale Milano).
They are together on the same wall.....
... because the madonna was covered over when the orgy was painted and so survived to emerge unscathed.
There is absolutely no consistency in rules about photography in museums, churches or even Tourist Offices (see below!). Some allow photos, others forbid the use of flash; some forbid movie cameras (does that include iPads?), other prohibit all cameras. Usually there is a nearly invisible or even no sign at all saying what the rules are. Our policy was to use our cameras until told not to - usually very politely with a wag of a finger or a whispered request.
The photo below is a legal photo of David taken from outside the Accademia, which forbids the use of cameras inside the museum.
Florence is plagued by a plethora of churches. In most cities the churches have space around them to preserve their dignity. This is certainly not always the case in Florence, where if the churches are in the way and cannot be demolished, you just incorporate them into your building.
Stylish.....
.... not so stylish!
Science
The Universe got horribly complicated in the sixteenth with telescopes discovering new planets and stars especially when one was obliged to believe that the Earth was the center of the Universe. This is a magnificent view of the Universe in the Galileo Museum (well worth a visit).
Tourist Office
Yes - this really is an official city tourist office! Beats those of most cities.
Underwater Rugby
This is a game that defies the imagination. Unfortunately, we did not see the poster until after the game!
Vendors
Have you ever wondered how those omnipresent sellers of postcards and other tourist trinkets got their stalls home at night? - Probably not at the top of your need-to-know list!
The answer is that they have an electric winch with a handheld remote to pull their stall into their van.
Zzzzzzz!
Before going to sleep, I must mention a wonderful craftsman/artist that we were so happy to find. He truly confirms our faith in Florentine craftsmanship. His name is Paolo Carandini and he works with great creativity on parchment and leather and he also a very pleasant gentleman.
