Time to remember some of the charms that Italy, that beautiful country, has to offer. In this text, we travel to Tuscany, more precisely to its 5 cities.
Florence
The center of the European Renaissance. Welcome to Florence, a magical city that should be the first association in memory of Italy. Every street and building hides a rich history filled with famous sculptors, painters, composers and inventors.
Let us recall Santa Maria Novelle, a magnificent Florentine cathedral with a famous Renaissance
Brunelleschi's dome. The specific Gothic facade leaves all lovers of architecture, history, and religion breathless, as well as a complete layman - me.
It is not only what we see in Florence that is important, but also what we hear. A special experience is created by the stories of the tour guides about the various mysteries of the Medici family and the lives of artists who once walked the same streets as the visitors when they tour the city.
Each building simply has a soul and a wonderful story, which I relived after the trip watching the series Da Vinci's Demons enthusiastically shouting "I was there!" every time I would see a location I visited.
San Gimignano
The Italian city of towers and the best ice cream is located about 50 kilometers south of Florence.
Take this “best ice cream” seriously because Dondoli ice cream parlor from San Gimignano was officially declared the best in the world. Great location for a day trip if you are staying in a nearby larger city. This medieval town evokes a strange awe, perhaps because of the towers that will oversee you throughout the tour.
On the square Piazza del Duomo there is the beautiful Palazzo Vecchio del Podesta and the Rognosa tower, which is as high as 51 meters. The towers were a real hit in San Gimignano during the Middle Ages. Noble families ordered the construction of towers in order to show their wealth, and at the beginning of the 14th century, the city was decorated with as many as 72 towers.
Pisa
Had Mussolini’s idea been successfully realized, perhaps the Tower of Pisa would not have been such a popular attraction and famous symbol. Namely, Mussolini considered the Leaning Tower a shameful structure so he ordered the building to be leveled. A hundred holes filled with concrete were drilled in the foundations. The result was a counter effect, the concrete pushing the tower deeper
into the ground and caused an even greater slope. The construction took almost two centuries, and everyone who visited this attraction probably had the feeling that it took so long to try to create the perfect photo of them pushing the tower.
My memory of Pisa is filled with bright colors, the strong whiteness of the cathedral and the tower that collides with the greenery of the huge meadow where the attractions are located. Also, a sea of people in weird poses, everyone wants a perfect and creative photo as a keepsake.
Siena
Another Tuscan city that leaves you breathless with its vibrant energy and beautiful architecture. The main square Piazza del Campo, specific for its strange and curved shell shape, is surrounded by a number of beautiful buildings, but also restaurants and cafes from which visitors enjoy the view of the medieval architecture and speed of this energetic town. An unavoidable building in Siena is the cathedral which absolutely takes your breath away with its beauty and grace. It was built in the 13th century and is the absolute queen of Siena. It is located in Piazza del Duomo where you will always find a bunch of visitors watching this magnificent building from every angle.
I mentioned the magnificent towers in San Gimignano before. Siena also boasts its wonderful guardian of the city, also one of the most famous attractions, and that is Torre Del Mangia. As high as 102 meters, he proudly looks at the city and enjoys the attention of all visitors.
Siena is really the right place for all those who appreciate art and architecture, but also delicious food because Siena does not lack good gastronomic offer.
Lucca
The right place for those who enjoy a good drop of wine because Lucca is known for its top Lucchiesi wines. This is another Tuscan town that has a real vintage flair and everything a historic town should have: city walls and exceptionally well-preserved noble villas. Also, Lucca is nicknamed "the city of 100 churches" because it has a large number of beautiful churches and basilicas.
Napoleon gifted this picturesque city to his sister Elisa Bonaparte and this is just a hint of the rich history that Lucca hides. This is why history and art lovers often visit this city. In any case, whoever is planning a trip to Tuscany, Lucca is located in a quiet valley in the heart of Tuscany and deserves to be on the list of unmissable Tuscan destinations.
///Corsica, the island where Napoleon Bonaparte was born, is a unique blend of France and Italy
In some other circumstances, I would point out too many crowds as a drawback of all these attractions, but even a future trip that will be filled with noise in the main square and tour guides waving flags and trying to gather the group is happy. For those who do not like crowds, but peace and a fairytale-like view - there are Tuscan wine roads. Magical scenes filled with warm sunny colors, hills and cypresses. It’s not like in the movie, but much better!
