Читать книгу The Way of St Francis. Via di Francesco: From Florence to Assisi and Rome онлайн

43 страница из 63

DISCOVERING FLORENCE

Birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is one of the world’s most beloved cities. In the daytime it is filled with tourists from around the world who want to see Michelangelo’s ‘David’ and marvel at the dome of Brunelleschi. After dark, if you know where to go, Florence buzzes with nightlife. The town is worthy of several days’ discovery, but it’s also possible to enjoy its highlights in a very short time.

The center of Renaissance Florence is the Duomo. Starting from Santa Maria Novella train station, go south, keeping Santa Maria Novella Church on your right. Follow the Via Panzani and turn left on Via dei Cerretani. From here it is just three blocks to the Duomo complex, which includes the San Giovanni Baptistery, Giotto’s Tower (Campanile di Giotto), and the Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore).

Begin at the 14th-century Giotto’s Tower where, in the ground floor gift shop, you can purchase a €10 ticket to visit all three adjacent monuments. Climb the steps to the top of the tower and enjoy the beautiful view as well as the tower’s set of enormous bells – the oldest of which was cast in 1705. Their melodious cacophony is most dramatic just before Sunday’s main mass and can be heard for many miles around.