Florence is a walkable city and even that the museums and some churches are very expensive there are many smaller churches and many parks, plazas and neighborhoods that you can visit during your walks.  As there are many markets selling leather products and clothes and souvenirs, as well as fruit and vegetable markets.

Florence has an impressive past, a strong past.

                The Medici's were a powerful family that made Florence a center of culture and through their patronage of the arts it brought to the city painters, sculptors and architects like Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael becoming a beautiful city and the cultural center of Europe and the cradle of New Humanism. Besides it was one of the most important cities politically, economically, and culturally in the world from the 14th century to the 16th century. It is also attribute as being the birth place of the Renaissance.

Cosimo was the first Medici in power, he was succeeded by his son Piero, who was succeeded by his son Lorenzo who was a tyrant. During their reign there were many murders and intrigues.  Most of the Medici’s after Lorenzo rued from behind the scenes making them even more powerful.

Of course I went to see the Medici’s palace, which is very nice, no as grand as the French palaces but still nice. The rooms are adorned by frescos and by many of the tapestries used during this era.

The most famous painting is located in the chapel and depicts the Medici’s with the three wise men. It is a beautiful fresco however you are not allowed to take pictures of it.

All the rooms are very ornate and they are decorated with crystal chandeliers and tapestries.

Now a day the building is use as a municipality where town meetings are conducted.

Genoa is better known as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and also as a city where Rubens, Caravaggio and Van Dyck did most of their work. You can see their work in the churches and palazzos all in the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo style.

Chiesa del Gesu = Church of Jesus is a Jesuit church and  from the outside it does not say much but inside it is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen. It was done by Rubbens. The riches of the Altar, the columns, the floors and all the frescos adorning the walls and ceilings are magnificent. It is done in the Baroco style so it is very busy, nevertheless, it is a work of art.

 

In the church there are many chapels in honor of different personalities and families of the era. All of them are adorned with frescos and marble and gold. I like the one for the Borgia’s because I am watching the series on T.V and I found their story very interesting, besides I like history and when it is presented in an entertaining way it’s even nicer.

Anyway, if you are ever in Italy make sure you go to Genoa and see this magnificent church, the art and the architecture are worth the trip.

The Genoa Cathedral it’s very nice on the outside however the inside did not do if for me. It was empty, not seats, no pews and it just looked like any other church.

After the Church of the Jesuits it will be very hard to find something I like.

Italy is a very religious country and they still observe the church attire with consist of cover shoulders, no short shorts or short skirts. Needless to say they have cover ups for the tourist otherwise they cannot enter the church. They have somebody at the entrance of every church making sure that the tourists are dress appropriately.

Genoa has some medieval gates still standing but not much of the wall remains.