Florence, Italy

I wanted to go to Florence because it was supposed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the capital of Italian Renaissance. Little did I know how crowded it can be. Florence is one of the most popular destinations in Italy, so that means it’s flooded with tourists. I don’t know about you, but I prefer less beaten paths. It’s easily understood that because of the thousands of tourists, I didn’t like Florence very much.

The Basilica Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo di Firenze) is the main sight in Florence. It’s impressive because it’s huge and the facade is rich in details and decorations. I couldn’t admire it in peace because it was surrounded by hundreds of people and illegal sellers. In contrast, the interior of the church is plain and simple.

We also visited Boboli Gardens for the ridiculous price of 10 Euros, including also a hat and ceramic exhibition. Maybe I would have liked the garden more if it were sunny and the entrance wouldn’t cost so much for what it had to offer.

There is also Ponte Vecchio over Arno River (a brownish-greenish river, uglier than the river Thames). The bridge was packed with tourists. Why is it so popular? It has little houses built on its walls.

The history and beauty of Florence is fading under the bustle of today. The city is tourist trap and overpriced. I did not fell in love with Florence.

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 De ce am vizitat Florenta? Pentru ca se spune ca e unul din cele mai frumoase orase din lume si pentru ca nu mi-am imaginat ca poate fi atat de aglomerat. Florenta e unul din cele mai populare orase din Italia, drept pentru care e si foarte vizitat de turisti. Nu stiu voi cum sunteti, dar eu prefer cararile mai putin batatorite. E lesne de inteles ca din cauza miilor de turisti, Florenta nu mi-a placut foarte mult.

Catedrala Santa Maria del Fiore este simbolul orasului Florenta si este impresionanta prin marimea si detaliile exterioare, dar nu am putut-o admira in pace pentru ca era inconjurata de sute de oameni si vanzatori ambulanti. In interior e un contrast enorm cu exteriorul, in sensul ca este foarte simpla, fara detaliile, ornamentele si picturile prezente in alte catedrale  de acest fel.

In afara de catedrala am mai vizitat Gradina Boboli pentru ridicolul pret de 10 euro, in acest pret intrand la pachet si o expozitie de palarii si ceramica. Poate gradina mi-ar fi placut mai mult daca era soare si daca nu costa atat de mult pentru ceea ce ofera.

Am  trecut si pe la Ponte Vecchio (Podul Vechi) peste raul Arno (un rau verde maro, mai dezgustator ca Tamisa din Londra). Podul era arhiplin si toata lumea se poza cu el. De ce e asa faimos? Are casute construite pe peretii sai.

Istoria orasului Florenta piere sub vacarmul si aglomeratia din ziua de azi. A devenit o capcana turistica cu preturi umflate artificial.  Nu m-am indragostit de Florence.

Boboli Garden

Santa Maria del Fiore Basilica

Peonies in Boboli Garden / Bujori in Gradina Boboli

Piazza della Signoria and Neptune Statue / Piazza primariei si statuia lui Neptun

Have you been to Florence? How did you like it?