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If there is anyone still following my blog hope you are enjoying the sights. I have decided to write briefly now because there is so much to see now we are in Florence. However we had a wonderful three days in the area called Cinque Terre, five villages built on the side of the cliffs and terraced to provide agriculture and viticulture for the peasant population over the past thousand years. Tourism provides most of their income though we discovered wonderful liqueur they make called Limincino or limoncello which Judy and I enjoyed so much that our concierge gave us the bottle to finish. We will imbibe later.
I admit that Sunday was hard going walking for six hours between Levanto, Monterosso and Vernuzza. There were many many steps up and down, but beautiful vistas. We got the train back to Levanto where our accomodation was second to none, We had three amazing meals over three nights; pizza at a bar then local wine and seafood in two separate restaurants that were recommended by Fredrico.It was very wet on Monday and the authoriies closed the trails we had walked. The stones were slippery when wet. So we explored the other towns; Riomaggiore and Manarola by train along with thousands of others. Even though we were caught in a torrential squall at Manarola and got drenched in our lower bodies, the katmandu umbrellas worked well and we found the most amazing hot chocolate with cream (panna) that warmed us from the inside out. I think it important at this stage to mention the italian men. Contrary to the stereotypical stories you hear, they have been respectful, friendly and warm towards us. Especially the waiters. The cynics would say they just want to be tipped well but no, we have enjoyed the connections, on a purely platonic level I might add. Judy has had four men flirt with her and received one marriage proposal, alas, he was already married. I on the other hand ave had only one such suggestion from a young twenty something male who had the rugged god-like features of a Michaelangelo sculpture. He offered to cone to NZ and cook me the local pasta dish with pesto. It was sooo delicious, made with fresh pasta. mmm. The food and wine are definitely some of the highlights we will take with us. And Debbie!!!! I have bought a recipe book of the seafood dishes that Cinque Terre is famous for so we can cook up a storm together with that book when I get back.
I have to say too I am enjoying the quiet solitude of the many churches we visit. Each one has a masterpiece or three of paintings that date back to the Renaissance. In one such church at Riomaggiore I heard the voice of God and it was so special. I will be writing about it over the next few days, as I process the love of God my heavenly Father and the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the awareness of Jesus who is my constant companion, three in one, Emmanuel. It is a very personal revelation so if you want to read about it please email me and I will send you a copy.
For now, it is Florence and we will go shortly to explore a city that dates back to pre Christian times;when it was a colony of Rome. Then in the second century AD Lorenzo and the Palestinian Christians came and built churches here. The hotel has blessed us with a folder with Florence's history overviewed and I am working my way through the depressed days of the Byzantine period when trade was stunted to its revival in the Carolingian period when it became a county of the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th Century. It flourished under the administration ogf a guy called Hugo, Marquis of Tuscany who built many buildings along the river Arno after leaving Lucca. It seems the Middle ages were frought with battles between the Popes and the ruling emperors which meant the need for lots of defence of walls etc. Trade and the rise in wealth of the Florentine populace as well as aligning with numerous other Tuscan towns led to the city walls being widened and the city of Florence grew bigger so that by the end of the 13th Century there were 48 churches with 36 parishes within the city walls.
The thirteenth century saw Florence as a prosperous principlal centre of Tuscany boasting about 30,000 inhabitnts including immigrants from surrounding areas. The Guilds composed of artisans and tradespeople prospered and buidings dating from the 14th Century such as the Wool Guild are still able to be seen today. What followed was a peaceful time in Florentine History. Four bridges served the city well until they were destroyed in the disastrous flood of 1333.
Towards the end of the 13th Century, a contrast between the middle and lower classes (populo minuto) and the wealthy merchants were accentuated. The merchants had more power. The others wanted democracy. A push to improve equality an fairness failed. There was then a long time of battles won and defeats resulting in tyranny from Lords of other republics like Verona. The plague in 1348 along with famine and the constant threat of wars took its toll. Building took on a slower pace but the four bridges were rebuilt. Town planning which incorporated Piazzas and broader streets have paved the way for the modern Florence we see. At the end of the 14th Century a small number of merchants governed Florence for forty years. (Popolo grasso). The Medici power rose with the continued dissatisfaction of the lower classes and with the influence of Greek and Roman philosophy and humanism, man's belief in his power over nature brought rise to the Renaissance. Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance for the culture in literature, architecture , art and science that sprang forth from this time between 1420 and 1440. Filippe Brunelleschi and other exponents of the renaisaance like Donatello, Masaccio, Lippe,Ghirlandaio, Botticelli are but a few. I look forward to seeing their work over the next few days. In the 16th Century the Medici lost their power briefly to Girolamo Savonarola but they later got it back by burning him as a heretic on May 23 1498 on the order of Pope Alexander V1. As a symbol of Florentine freedom, Michaelangelo was commissioned to create David and it was displayed in front of Palazzo della Signoria for all to see. It now resides at the Academie a few minutes away. We are about to see if we can get in without too much of a queue. Also need some lunch or perhaps dinner? Feeling hungry. If you have made it to the end of the history lesson, well done! You are probably the only one!
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Suzanne miles Yes a lot of reading Jan but great. You have covered so much ground. Have a wine for me.