A Pinay in Europe

Why I fell in love with Florence

- Because of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (1436) or more popularly called the Duomo. It’s so vast! It’s spectacular! A sight to behold! Every square inch of the outer walls is filled with decorative details of Gothic and Renaissance style. Its glorious elegance and beauty transcends through the soul. I felt like I want to cry and shout to the Lord my utmost gratitude for letting me come to Florence and see this outstanding work of man!

- Because it is a city of sculptures and I just love sculptures!

This is the statue of Brunelleschi who designed the magnificent cupola of the Duomo. He invented the linear perspective and was one of the foremost architects and engineers of the Italian Renaissance.

- It is also the city of sculptors! One of its most famous sons, Bartolomeo Ammannati, who created the Fountain of Neptune situated in the Piazza della Signoria will have his works featured in an exhibition at the Bargello National Museum. Definitely not to miss!

- Because it is an open-air museum. You are surrounded by monuments, churches, squares that were built from the middle ages up to the Renaissance era…

- and Gothic style is very much apparent

- Because even modern day things are created to fascinate

…such as these door handles!

I’m not sure if I want to drink from this fountain, but I love that face!

- It’s a city of art in all its forms

- Because this is where I saw the statues of all the Italian geniuses such as Leonard da Vinci, standing outside the Uffizi Gallery

No, he is just mimicking a statue….plus the cigarette!

- Because of the most mindblowing square of all, the Piazza della Signoria, which has all the most famous sculptures in the planet such as this one - The rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna

And this one, a Roman copy of an original Greek work, statue of a man in armor supporting a heroically dying comrade.

Hercules and Cacus by Baccio Bandinelli

And Michelangelo’s David who stands here in all his nude glory

But because of the Church’s censorship on nudity in the 1500s, all works of art showing phalluses and female organs have to be covered, notably by a fig leaf, such as this statue in front of the Palazzo Vecchio at the Piazza della Signoria.