The Monumental Arch of Palmyra Relocated to Florence

Far from Florence is the ancient city of Palmyra, located in modern day Syria. 

During Palmyra's Roman era in the late 2nd century, large public buildings were erected, including a very large arch built to commemorate a Roman military victory.  The arch, now known as the Monumental Arch of Palmyra, measured about 50 feet tall. 

Over time, the buildings were abandoned and they deteriorated. 

The arch was partially in ruins in the 19th century but it was restored in the 1930's when Palmyra became a sightseeing destination due to its ancient culture and ruins. 

The Monumental Arch of Palmyra in 2010

In 2015, the arch was dynamited and collapsed as a result.  It currently lies in ruins.

During late March 2017, the culture ministers of the G7 convened a Culture Summit in Florence.  In connection with the Summit, a replica of the Monumental Arch of Palmyra was erected in one of Florence's main squares.  The replica is large but not full-sized--about 1/4 of the original arch's size.   

The replica was erected to focus attention on the need for protecting and restoring the world's cultural heritage, whether in Florence, Syria or elsewhere.  The replica is "a symbol of the rebirth and reconstruction of humanity’s cultural heritage, continually at risk from the dangers of humankind and nature."

The Piazza della Signoria , with a replica of the now destroyed Monuental Arch of Palmyra (as seen from the top of the Palazzo Vecchio)

Replica of the Monumental Arch of Palmyra in the Piazza della Signoria, also known as the Triumphal Arch of Palmyra

Replica of the Monumental Arch of Palmyra, also known as the Triumphal Arch of Palmyra

Although the actual arch in Palmyra was knocked down, the stones of the arch are still there.  So, some day, once the fighting in Syria subsides, the Monumental Arch of Palmyra will be reconstructed one more time.  Let's hope that day arrives soon.

Museums: Palazzo Medici Riccardi (Part 2 of 2)

The tour continues.

The Palazzo has a lovely garden with lemon trees and statues. 

A walkway in the garden is decorated with a key signifying the Pope.  Some of the Medici who lived at the Palazzo became Popes--Pope Leo X (1513-1521) and Pope Clement VII (1523–1534).

The Palazzo is also home to the Museum of Ancient Marbles.   A later resident of the Palazzo was an avid collector of Greek and Roman statues and a large number are on display in the museum.

The Palazzo recently hosted a temporary exhibition about the restoration of artwork damaged during the 1966 flood n Florence:  La Belleza Salvata (or Beauty Saved).  We were amazed by the miraculous restoration of some of the paintings and other works exhibited there. 

Susan pointing out where our apartment is situated in Florence.  The building was in a zone with flooding but not the worst flooding.

Below is a photo of a painting before restoration.

Here is the same painting after restoration.

We enjoyed touring the Palazzo Medici Riccardi.  We hope you did too.

P.S.  We previously visited the Palazzo during the holidays.  Below is a photo of showing the Palazzo's main courtyard and some lovely sights.  

Museums: Palazzo Medici Riccardi (Part 1 of 2)

One of the many museums in Florence is the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, not far from our apartment. 

The Palazzo is the former residence of the heads of the Medici family.  The Palazzo was commissioned by Cosimo the Elder and completed in 1460 following a design by Michelozzo do Bartolomeo.  The building is considered by some to be the first Renaissance building in Florence. 

The Palazzo is very large and today houses multiple collections of art and historical artifacts and building itself is a work of art. (Parts of the building are used for governmental meetings and offices--not a bad place to work).

One of the treasures of the Palazzo is the Magi Chapel, a small chapel beautifully decorated with frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli.  The frescoes depict the visitors on the road to Bethlehem.  (In fact, many of the faces in the frescoes are portraits of the Medici and other powerful people of the 1400's and the setting is the countryside of Tuscany.) 

Fresco depicting the Procession of the Magi by Benozzo Gozzoli (1459) (in the Magi Chapel, Palazzo Medici Riccardi)

Fresco depicting the Procession of the Magi by Benozzo Gozzoli (1459) (in the Magi Chapel, Palazzo Medici Riccardi)

Fresco depicting the Procession of the Magi by Benozzo Gozzoli (1459) (in the Magi Chapel, Palazzo Medici Riccardi)

Altar in the Magi Chapel (Palazzo Medici Riccardi), with a replica of the Adoration in the Forest by Filippo Lippi (1459)

Throughout the Palazzo, we saw lovely decoration and architecture and works of art.  Below are some examples.

A chandelier made with Murano crystal

Cosimo III, one of the seven Medici who were Grand Dukes of Tuscany

Below is a sceptre of the Grand Dukes.  The top of the sceptre is a fleur-de-lis made of glass.  The red fleur-de-lis, or giglio in Italian, is the symbol of Florence.  The sceptre appears in the portraits of the Grand Dukes (above and below). 

Gian Gastone, the seventh and last Medici to be a Grand Duke of Tuscany (he died with no heirs)

Tapestry depicting Herod ordering the imprisonment and beheading of St. John the Baptist (from the 17th century)

A wall-mounted hourglass.  The holder can be rotated to start the hourglass. 

Next Up:  More of the Palazzo

Giardino delle Rose

Following a recent visit to the Piazzale Michelangelo, we made a return visit to the nearby Giardino delle Rose (Rose Garden).  You might remember the earlier visit from the November 1 blog post.  Although it was November, the garden was filled with sculpture and beautiful flora.

As you can guess, the garden is transformed now that Spring has arrived.  Another arrival is Sally visiting from Florida.  Below is a photographic tour of the garden in full bloom.

Sally in the Giardina delle Rose

A lovely flower among the lovely flowers in the garden

Beautiful sights in the foreground and background