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Shore Excursion Review: The Splendor of Florence
Livorno, Italy
April 21, 2010
By Lisa Plotnick
To cruisers, Livorno is viewed as the gateway to Florence, the capital of Tuscany,
located approximately 60 miles away. As is typical of our touring habits while on
a cruise, we sought a cruise line tour that would acquaint us with this major, historic
city. Our choices included guided or non-
Aside from the bus ride, this was a sightseeing tour that was mainly on foot, and
lasted 10 hours (including the 90-
Two important notes: Our tour took place during the month of April when relatively cool temperatures prevailed; this walk would be tougher in summer as the average high temperature for July and August is 88F/31C. Additionally, the tour is advertised as having 3 miles of walking and your feet will feel it at the end of the day, so comfortable walking shoes are a must.
Now, let’s go on the tour.
Our first stop was an overlook at Michelangelo Park, across the Arno River from the old city. Don’t expect a lot of greenery and seating—this is a large concrete area that is more “parking” than “park.” Yet, it has some wonderful attributes, including amazing views of Florence. Our guide pointed out various points of interest along the panorama, and showed us the general path we would be taking on the subsequent walking tour. I thought this a wonderful way to become acquainted with the layout of the city, and it added to the anticipation of our journey.
The Duomo Ponte Vecchio
Aside from a beautiful view of Florence, Michelangelo Park also offers a nice collection of statues depicting the artist’s work. The focal point is a bronze replica of David atop a towering pedestal that also includes replicas of Michelangelo’s Medici chapel sculptures Dusk and Dawn (Tomb of Lorenzo) and the Day and Night (Tomb of Giuliano). I was not as familiar with these last pieces, so I was glad that they were low enough to be studied, as the replicas were very detailed.
Yet, nothing could have prepared us for the original David. Now housed within the
Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, this famous work of Michelangelo is impressive
and imposing up close. Our guide provided explanation as we looked at the statue
from various angles, interpreting the oversized hands (strength), feet (grounding),
and head (intellect). Even our 16-
I immediately decided that a future visit to Florence would include several hours at the Galleria dell’Accademia, as I thumbed through a book I had purchased upon entering. Yet, our tour, as scheduled, spent only enough time here to see David. And, that was fine for this first visit, as there was so much more of Florence awaiting.
We started at the Piazza del Duomo, Florence’s religious center. While I don’t know a lot about architecture, I am an avid admirer and enjoy the creativity and meaning that goes into it. This was most notable around the Duomo (Cathedral), as viewed in the photo below. The main complex consists of three buildings—from left to right in the below photograph, the Baptistery of St. John, Santa Maria del Fiore (featuring a stunning, large dome), and Giotto’s Campanile (tower). All were built between the 11th and 15th centuries—the façade of Santa Maria del Fiore was redone in the 19th century. The detail was incredible. (This was also the most crowded area of our tour.)
Our next stop was Piazza della Repubblica, the site of Florence’s original city center
that was rebuilt in the late 19th century. (The inscription on the arch is translated
as “the ancient centre of the city, restored from age-
Next, we walked to the expansive Piazza della Signoria, the civic center of Florence. A highlight is its collection of statues, including Perseus with the Head of Medusa, the Medici Lions, the restored Menelaus Supporting the Body of Patroclus, and a copy of David.
Nearby was the Ponte Vecchio, a charming bridge that has been home to shops since its completion in the 1300s. We had seen this bridge earlier from Michelangelo Park, yet being there provided a different perspective. What seemed quiet and quaint from a distance was bustling with activity up close.
From there, it was a return to Piazza del Duomo where we enjoyed a three-
Our final stop was Santa Croce, featuring an extensive tour of the Gothic-
Above: Neil in front of Santa Croce church
Below: Crypt of Galileo Galilei
An hour-
Our feet still hurting even after the long break we had given ourselves, we joined
our tour group for the walk back to the bus. On the hour-
Closing Thoughts
Although we opted for an organized shore excursion, Florence may be done on your
own, if you are into doing your tours independently. I do not know the details, yet
you may take a train from the port in Livorno to Florence, which takes approximately
one-
Yet, for a first-
Livorno (Florence), Italy
The Splendor of Florence