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Days
12 & 13
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Entering
the Tuscan valley there are marble quarries to
be seen from the coach. Stone is a stable and
reasonably abundant resource for the Italians
and when mortared with concrete can last a millennium.
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The
Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella is a Catholic
Church despite the architects own religious symbolism. It's square is home to many shops Just down the
block is the leather factory where the tour learned
how to tan and press leather. The guide showed how
to tell between real and fake leather with a 'smoke'
test. Though back on the streets, no vendor would
allow it.
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The
Ponte Vechio was just around the corner from the Medici
Palace, or the Palazzo Ricccardi. The two contrasted
each other in weighted appearance, but not craft. The palace, built by Michelozzo for the Medici family,
seemed heavy and cold. The Vechio on the other hand,
was warm, light and airy, with people and paupers. Each had their charm, despite their differences.
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Santa
Maria del Fiore, known as the Durmo,was a collaboration
of many artists and architects in the thirteenth century. As seen from the group photo on the title page, the
cathedral rises above the city to show its extravagant
marble exterior. The interior on the other hand was
rather dark and plain. Brunelleschi's double shelled
dome takes most of the focal point, both inside and
out. .
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A
Tuscan dinner started with both peach and glacier schnapps. WEEW. Then accordions, violins and more wine followed. The tables were set next to the dance floor which doubled
as intermission between courses. This was a rather loud
and cheerful evening which only served as a warm up
for Italian Disco dancing later on that night. WEEW-
those Italian men sure are relentless.
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On
our way out of Florence, we stopped off at Pisa to
see the leaning tower. The cathedral of Santa Maria
Maggiore, who's campanile has sunk on soggy foundations,
rarely receives it's deserved attention. It, along
with its attending buildings , boasts beautiful stone
works and should be explored further since the tower
itself can not be entered.
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