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| As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence, or in Italian, Firenze, preserves some of the greatest art from the Western world. Yet, if you expect an idyllic excursion through a city living in the past, you're in for a shock. |
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Florence bustles. It bustles today much as it
did during the centuries that its currency was that of
Europe, its Medici bank that of the popes, and its
merchants the wealthiest capitalists. Its rusticated
stone buildings may contain the art of Michelangelo,
Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci—all of whom were
working here around 1501—but these Renaissance
facades define streets congested with modern
activities. As one of the most powerful states in
Europe, Renaissance Florence had a population of
100,000. Today the city counts nearly one-half
million.
It's very possible to find Florence, and its attendant crowds, summer heat, and pollution, a bit overwhelming. Add to this the stupefaction of so much history and art, and it's possible to leave the city unsatisfied and disappointed. Don't try to see everything in just a couple days. Set yourself an easy schedule, with café breaks and walks along the Arno. Or take a jaunt out to a Tuscan hill town when you realize that you just can't bear to see another Raphael. | |
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