On my Europe trip with my mom, our next stop was Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. The city sits in a basin that looks like a flower, which is said to be the origin of its name, often linked to the word “flower.” Because it’s in a basin, it gets extremely hot, much like Daegu in Korea. It hit 45°C in June, and Florence was truly scorching.
This is the view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, with the Duomo in the distance.
Here’s the David statue at Piazzale Michelangelo. The whole city is like a museum of the Renaissance, so there’s so much to see.
You can’t sightsee on an empty stomach, so we had a quick meal before exploring.
Florence, where the Renaissance blossomed, is tied to Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Galileo, and it’s famous for the Medici family, who once held enormous wealth.
The Medici built their fortune in banking, and because their name means “doctors,” they’re often linked to pharmacies. They were the family that made the Renaissance flourish, supporting artists like Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.
Florence’s lanes are lined with buildings packed closely together.
Wander through the lanes and you’ll reach the Duomo, the most famous sight in Florence. It took 140 years to build, and if you climb its many steps, you’re rewarded with a wonderful view of the city.
Since I was with my mom, we skipped the climb. When I climbed it ten years earlier in my twenties, even I found it tough.
Next was Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria. You won’t find many modern buildings in Italy, but the historic architecture feels new every time.
It felt strange to think that these well-preserved buildings date from around the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods in Korean history.