Springtime in Florence

Well, it's April in Florence and Spring is already in full swing.  The days are growing longer and warmer while the nights are still cool.  Wherever we walk in Florence, we see lovely flowering plants and trees.  Below are two photos taken near our apartment. 

Piazza d'Azeglio

Along Borgo Pinti

Spring is a great time for dining outside, especially on a warm day with blue skies.  Below is a photo taken after lunch with new friends at a rooftop café near our apartment.

Greg and Susan with Bob and Sue Young of Toronto, at Caffe Verone with the Duomo in the background

Wishing everyone a warm, lovely Springtime.

Fiesole and Monte Ceceri (Part 3 of 3)

The Second Discovery:

After discovering the quarries of Monte Ceceri, we walked to the top of the hill.  The top is about 400 meters high, or more than 1300 feet above sea level.  Monte Ceceri is now covered with trees, but 500 years ago the hill was bare. It would have been a good place to launch a glider.

The legend, which might be true, is that Leonardo da Vinci successfully tested a flying machine there in 1506.  The story is that da Vinci and his assistant Tommaso Masini took the flying machine to the top of Monte Ceceri in a cart.  The flying machine was assembled and then tested with Masini as pilot.  Depending on the source, Masini flew the machine between 1,500 feet and 3,000 feet down the hill, landing near the town of Fiesole below.  Upon landing, Masini broke a leg and some ribs.  The landing spot is commemorated with a plaque on a road later named "Largo Leonardo da Vinci".

If the legend is true, then perhaps da Vinci and his fearless assistant Masini conducted the first successful human flight ever.  Perhaps the test never happened and perhaps someone else long before made the first successful human flight.  Who knows?

Below are some photos of our visit to the top of Monte Ceceri, now known as Piazzale Leonardo.

A map of the top of Monte Ceceri

Having a good time at the top of the hill

A stone marker at the top of Monte Ceceri.  (A rough translation: "The first large bird will carry out the first flight by jumping from the top of Mount Ceceri, filling the universe with amazement and all records of his great fame, giving eternal glory to the places where he was conceived.")

The view today from Piazzale Leonardo, with Florence in the distance.  There were no trees present in 1506, only a sheer cliff over the top of a quarry.

Since little is known about the test (assuming it actually occurred), it remains uncertain which experimental machine was flown that day in 1506.  Below are two of da Vinci's drawings of flying machines.  

"Design for a Flying Machine", a 1488 drawing by Leonardo da Vinci

Drawing by Leonardo da Vinci for a gilder with bat wings

While hiking to the top of the hill, we noticed an engraved stone by the path, pictured below.  The stone commemorates da Vinci's contribution to human flight on Earth and perhaps someday intergalactic travel. 

Thanks for joining our visit to Fiesole and Monte Ceceri.  Wishing you safe travels.

Fiesole and Monte Ceceri (Part 2 of 3)

The First Discovery:

The town of Fiesole sits atop a hill. To the east of the town is another hill called Monte Ceceri.  Monte Ceceri is named for the flocks of swans that once lived there.  Apparently, the swans were called "ceceri" based on the word "cecio meaning chickpea or wart because of the excrescence on their beaks."  Who knew?

We decided to hike up Monte Ceceri.  During our hike, we made a discovery.  Monte Ceceri was once a quarry that supplied stone for the construction of Fiesole more than 2,000 years ago.  The quarry also supplied stone for Medieval and Renaissance Florence. 

The stone quarried from Monte Ceceri is known as "pietra serena"(serene stone or rock) and you can see it all over Florence today. Pietra serena is a gray colored sandstone.  Artists such as Michelangelo, Cellini, Brunelleschi and Cellini used pietra serena.  One example is Brunelleschi's use of pietra serena in the Basilica of San Lorenzo.  He used pietra serena for the church's columns, pictured below.  What is amazing is each column is a single piece of stone, rather than stacked slabs. 

The Basilica of San Lorenzo: The columns along the nave are single pieces of pietra serena quarried atop Monte Ceceri and then carted several miles to Florence.

Peitra serena was even used to construct the early 16th century building where we live in Florence.  Check out the photo below.

A pietra serena column supporting the central stairway in Via Laura #20 (Florence)

Monte Ceceri was home to many quarries located all over the hill, as many as 19.  The quarries included a school for training stonemasons, a workshop and usually a storeroom for keeping tools and provisions (such as wine).  As a result of the activity over the centuries, Monte Ceceri was barren--no trees or other flora.  A century ago, quarrying ended, a forest was planted and Monte Ceceri is again a green oasis overlooking nearby Fiesole and Florence. 

Here are some photos from our visit. 

A map of trails and other features of Monte Ceceri

A site of one of the many former quarries on Monte Ceceri

A drystone storehouse near a quarry on Monte Ceceri

A description of one quarry on Monte Ceceri

A description of one quarry on Monte Ceceri

Next Up: The second discovery.

P.S.  From our apartment, we can see Monte Ceceri.  Monte Ceceri is the green hill in the right third of the photo below.

Fiesole and Monte Ceceri (Part 1 of 3) DRAFT

A recent adventure found us in nearby Fiesole, the ancient hilltown overlooking Florence.  We explored the town more this time than we have in the past.  Plus, we discovered two historical sites, a quarry and a hilltop.   Here are some photos from our exploration and discoveries.

Fiesole:

The main square of the town is dominated by the church's bell tower, pictured below.  The tower is so prominent and well-positioned that we can see it from our apartment in Florence.

The main square also features a statue, pictured below. The statue commemorates the October 26, 1860 meeting in southern Italy of two greats of modern Italian history--Italian patriot and military leader Giuseppe Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel II soon-to-be King of Italy. The meeting occurred during the long campaign to unify Italy.  (Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel II might be considered the equivalent of Washington and Lincoln in the U.S.)

All over town we noticed street art.  It turns out that the art is sponsored by the town and each painting represents a nearby building or street scene.  Below is a representative pair---a photo of a street scene and its corresponding painting.

Fiesole sits atop a long ridge.  To the south is Florence.  To the north is a green valley with hills beyond, a lovely view that is pictured below.

Next Up: An unexpected discovery.

Dawn in Florence

Florence is home to many beautiful paintings, many of which were actually painted here. 

We suspect that inspiration for some of the paintings came from Florence  itself--the people and buildings of Florence, not to mention Florence's countryside.

A recent morning revealed another source of inspiration.  Dawn in Florence can fill the sky with amazing colors.  Below are a couple of photos taken from our apartment window.  Enjoy.

Wishing everyone a beautiful day.

Movin' on Up!--Construction Update #7

If you followed this blog during Year 1, then you recall several posts about the tower being constructed across the street from our apartment on East 59th Street in Manhattan.

In the last update, the building was above ground, with the second floor poured.  Check out the photo below from August 2016. 

200 East 59th Street (August 29, 2016) 

Since we left NYC last year, construction has sped along.  The tower now stands well over 200' as it soars upward to nearly 500' tall.  Below is a photo of the tower taken in mid-February this year, followed by a rendering of the completed tower.

200 East 59th Street (mid-February, 2017)

200 East 59th Street (rendering of completed tower)

Susan is wondering about living in NYC again during the 10 Year Plan.  Perhaps at 200 East 59th?  Or will it be time to move on up to the West Side? 

Royal Visit to Florence

Yesterday, we were in the right place at the right time.

Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrived yesterday in Florence from Romania. They are spending 4 days in Florence and will also be visiting Rome to see Papa Franceso (aka Pope Francis).

Charles and Camilla toured the city yesterday while photographers snapped many scenic photos.  One photo appears below.

While we were out walking, we turned a corner and came upon the royal entourage walking down one of the main streets.  We stood back as the group passed.  The Prince was greeting onlookers and even shaking hands.  Susan put out her hand and the Prince shook it.  Susan was so pleased.  A photo of the handshake appears. below.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visiting Florence, with the Ponte Vecchio in the background