Padua, or Padova, is a very old city. It grew from a small fishing village to become one of the main cities of the Veneti region. It is also the motherland for one of the oldest European universities and a huge scientific and cultural centres of the Medieval. Narrow medieval stone-paved streets running from Prato della Valle will help you feel its charming atmosphere.

In his novel «Across the River and Into the Trees» Ernest Hemingway wrote that whenever you cross the bridge or pass the station at Padua, there are ruins all around. That's right, the Second World War has changed Padua's looks and the whole territory from the railway to the city centre is occupied by after-war buildings - such a pity since there was really a lot to look at there. Luckily, the central and the southern parts of the city were untouched by the bombings, that's why Padua - which, unfortunately, is often left aside from the popular travel routes - deserves your attention. Though, its true for the whole Italy, especially for its north - each city has something to show.

One of Padua's advantages is that it is easily accessible by train, bus or car from Venice, Milan, Verona, Bologna and Mantua. The city's main attraction is the Basilica of Saint Anthony, decorated with frescos by Altichiero da Zevio along with the bronze Madonna with Child, and six statues of Saints by Donatello. St Anthony's relics are kept in the richly decorated Treasury Chapel. Another work by Donatello is the equestrian monument of the Condottiero Gattamelata in front of the Basilica.

But those are not its architectiral treasures that you should see in Padua in the first place. First, visit its renowned Pedrocchi Cafè - one of the biggest cafes in the world. Everything is symbolic here: its location close to the second oldest univerisity - the hotbed for free thinking, as usually; its neoclassic style with antique-style porticos; its interior, with Egyptian, Eastern and other halls mixing luxury and naïvety. All in all, it is no wonder why its here that in the 40th of the XIX century the students' riots took place, thanks to which the Austrians were pushed out from the Italian territory. Another war. One of the halls contains a bullet hole, and opposite it there is a quotation from Stendhal's «The Charterhouse of Parma» describing the cafe. The menu contains lots of cocktails made of hot coffee and cold liquers - and you can hardly find a place where they would be prepared and mixed so excuisitely.

Then you can wander around the city, look into the Saint Anthony church, marvel at people's deep belief (there are many thank-you letters lying on the saint's sepulchre), then go to the Eremitani church and the Scrovegni Chapel. Don't forget, this must be the exact order. First, you have to see the beauty of what was the Mantegna frescoes - tiny pieces that survived the bombings. And then, go 200 meters farther to the Chapel where 700 years ago Giotto laid foundation to the Western art. The chapel was financed by the wealthy banker Enrico Scrovegni, to make satisfaction for sins of his father, a money-lender. He commissioned Giotto to decorate the chapel. The artist created 37 frescoes, known for the use of vivid colours.

And, finally, don't miss Palazzo del Bò, which houses the University of Padua. Many famous persons like Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarca and Galileo Galilei worked here.

By: Tatyana Kogut
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Like hardly any other region of Italy, Tuscany unites art, nature and culture. Numerous art treasures, beautiful landscapes and the famous Tuscan cuisine await discovery and make this region of Italy one of the most popular destinations for relaxation seeking tourists and art lovers. Cities such as Florence, San Gimignano and Pisa with their breathtaking Italian Medieval and Renaissance architecture attract travellers interested in European cultural assets and heritage.

Siena is called one of the most beautiful cities of Italy. It is famous for the "Palio", a traditional horse race at the "Piazza del Campo" in the heart of the city which takes place two times a year.

Florence is the capital and fashion metropolis of Tuscany. Tourist should allow extra time if they want to visit all attractions. Besides the known sights such as Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi gallery and Palazzo Pitti Florence also has many museums for the culturally interested traveller.

The Medieval city of Lucca with its long Renaissance city wall invites to strolling through the twisted alleys of the picturesque historical old town and relaxing in one of the numerous cafes, bars or restaurants afterwards.

The small town of Montepulciano served as film location for several celebrated movies such "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Heaven" and "The English Patient". Furthermore, Montepul- ciano is world-renowned for its wine which is produced from the grape sort of the same name. The history of the town reaches back to prehistoric times, but the Etruscans are regarded as the actual founders of the city. In the Middle Age, Montepulciano became the pawn of the city states of Florence and Siena. Finally, Florence annexed not only Montepulciano but also its protecting power Siena. The town has largely preserved its historical city centre and its Medieval character. Most of the houses in the historical old town are built in Italian Renaissance style which is so typical for Tuscany.

Located at an altitude of 324 metres above sea level and dominating the Val d'Elsa, the city of San Gimignano has retained its unique Medieval appearance. Most of its architecture dates back to the 13th Century when it was an important trading post along the Via Francigena. Outlining the characteristic skyline of San Gimignano to the present day, the numerous tall towers were a symbol of the merchants´ wealth and testified the city´s prosperity in the Middle Ages. Gothic city gates lead to the historical old town where the visitor finds himself in a labyrinth of streets, twisted alleys, outside staircases, churches, tower houses and villas. The picturesque "Piazza della Cisterna" is a further worthwhile sight of the city. Besides the famous Vernaccia (amber-colored wine from different regions of Italy), the typical Tuscan craftsmanship can also be found in San Gimignano. Travellers shouldn´t miss the oppor-tunity to purchase high-class pottery or leather goods.

Due to its central location, San Gimignano is a good starting point for excursions to destinations in the near surroundings. Siena and Volterra are a 30 minutes drive away, Florenz, Pisa, Montepul-ciano, Montecatini and the sea are an hour´s drive away.

Further Medieval cities such as Massa Marittima and Pitigliano are also worthwhile day trip destinations.

The city of Massa Carrara is famous for its marble. Travellers should visit Cave di Marmor (the caves where marble is excavated) and do a sightseeing tour of the special kind.

By: Markus Mross
To learn more on Tuscany villas, please visit http://www.interdomizil.com/italy-villa ... uscany.htm.

Amid the hardened ash and pumice of a two-thousand year old disaster lies a city so perfectly preserved, it sparks the imagination of even the most indifferent visitor. Pompeii has become more of a living museum than an excavation site since its discovery in the 1700s. Millions flock to the ancient Italian city to explore this pristine time capsule that has taken over 250 years to be slowly and delicately uncovered.

It takes at least one full day to be able to truly take in all of Pompeii’s many intricate discoveries. Walk the stone streets where only the wind and birds now reside, wondering how much more of the town’s secrets await resurrection. Take in the magnificent beauty of elaborate mosaics and colorful frescoes that have weathered such utter circumstances. Marvel at the citizens’ names that will live on forever in the clinging paint on their homes. Imagine the marble splendor of the mighty Temple of Apollo and the other religious icons of the day. Ponder what it would have been like to live in this flourishing city that was at its zenith when Vesuvius began to grumble its ominous warning.

The excavation of Pompeii has been nothing short of astonishing. Such care has been taken since the beginning of its unearthing that we are able to see a clear snapshot of the city on its last fateful day in AD 79. Simple terra cotta containers for oil and wine, giant millstones, iron farm tools, and decorative columns have been protected for 2,000 years in a heavy blanket of ash and serve as witnesses to everyday life. The most shocking is the presence of Vesuvius’ victims. As the digging began, empty cavities were found among the layers of volcanic debris. Archeologists soon realized that each void was actually where a body had long since decomposed. Plaster was poured into the empty spaces to create molds of the bodies, which are chillingly detailed – their writhing agony during a suffocating death, the terror on their faces, even the way their hair was styled that day are frozen forever in the casts. Some were found fleeing for their lives while others were found curled up on floors and beds with their hands covering their faces. One cast depicts a thief with his hand in the purse of a wealthy man who is seemingly unaware of the looting while trying to escape the catastrophe. Another cast portrays a frightened dog fruitlessly fighting against the chain that held him captive. Each plaster mold projects such an intense emotion that visitors are sometimes moved to tears at the profound loss of life that Pompeii exhibits.

Despite its constant reminder of death and destruction, Pompeii proves that life continues to overcome obstacles as the vines and blossoms thrive among the silent ruins. A sleeping Vesuvius remains as a visual remembrance that life is precious and the unexpected could happen at any moment.

By: Vicki Landes
Initially a skeptic, Vicki Landes was not thrilled when her military husband moved her and their new baby to Stuttgart, Germany – in fact, she went kicking and screaming. She quickly took to Europe and ended up living in Germany for a full seven years. During that time, Landes became an avid world traveler and published author. With a current list of 45 countries under her belt, Landes strives to find the overlooked details that make each place distinctive and unique. “Europe for the Senses – A Photographic Journal” is her first book.
Visit her website: http://www.EuropeForTheSenses.com – access information on the book, Landes’ blog, book reviews, press spots, book trailers, links to purchasing options, sign up for Landes’ weekly newsletter, and her online photography galleries!

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If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the island of Sicily, a region of southern Italy. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. And parts of Sicily haven’t yet been discovered by tourists. This article presents western Sicily. A companion article presents eastern Sicily. Another companion article presents Sicily’s capital, Palermo.

We’ll start our western Sicilian tour in Monteale on the Tyrrhenian Sea just west of the capital of Palermo. We’ll work our way east and south to the city of Marsala on the Mediterranean Sea, and then work our way southeast along the Mediterranean Sea to Agrigneto.

Monteale is a city of about thirty thousand inhabitants a few miles southwest of Sicily’s capital Palermo. It is best known for its Duomo (Cathedral), like so many other Sicilian churches, a product of the Norman conquest. This Cathedral was built between 1174 and 1185. According to many the Monteale Duomo is the finest example of Norman architecture in all of Sicily, and believe me there are a lot of competitors.

Would you believe that the interior of this magnificent building contains well over an acre of gold mosaics? Everywhere you look there is plenty to see, for example, the bronze doors contain over forty biblical scenes, while the north door has over forty panels of evangelists and saints. Make sure to visit the nearby cloister surrounded by beautifully decorated glass mosaics. Finish your tour on the belvedere with its magnificent view of the Conca d’Oro (Golden Conch) Valley.

The town of Erice, population under thirty thousand, is about a half mile above sea level. You’ll love its two castles, Pepoli Castle dating from Saracen (Arabic) times and Venus Castle dating from Norman times, built on what some say was the most famous Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Venus. The city contains the remains of walls from the days of the Phoenicians and the little known Elymians, perhaps descendants of the Trojans. Erice is a center for scientific conferences. Capo San Vito is a cape about twenty five miles (forty kilometers) northeast of Erice. It claims to have the most beautiful beach in all of Italy. Every September it holds a five-day international competition for couscous, a North African semolina-based dish.

The abandoned city of Segesta, about an hour’s drive southwest of Sicily’s capital Palermo, is home to one of the best-preserved Greek Temples, built by Elymians under Greek rule around 430 B.C. Legend has it that they built the temple to impress the Athenians of their wealth in order to enlist Athen’ss against a nearby city supported by Siracuse. Once Athen’s envoys Segesta left work on the temple stopped. The temple remains incomplete, but magnificent. Segesta also boasts the ruins of a Greek amphitheater that presents classic Greek theater (in Italian), a Norman castle, and a small church.

The city of Marsala, population approximately eighty thousand, was the major Carthaginian base in Sicily during its wars against Greece and Rome. The city name comes from Arabic for great port or Ali’s port. Marsala played an important role in Italian history as the landing point of Italian national hero Garibaldi’s one thousand red shirt combatants who fought for the reunification of Italy.

Today Marsala brings to mind the wine much loved by the British (and others) for well over two hundred years. Should you visit this city make sure to see the Museo Archeologico Baglio Anselmi (Baglio Anselmi Archeological Museum) with its warship and artifacts believed to date from the First Punic War in 241 B.C. You may also want to make reservations to visit the Donnafugata Winery in downtown Marsala. Yes, they do give samples. We have now reached the western tip of the island and are heading south and east.

Selinunte was the site of a Greek colony founded in the Seventh Century B. C. This colony prospered for hundreds of years until destroyed by the Carthaginians in 409 B. C. Thousands of its inhabitants were slaughtered and most who weren’t killed were enslaved. The city’s seven temples were destroyed; only one has been restored but the ancient market has been excavated.

We end our tour of western Sicily at Agrigento, historic city and site of Valle dei Templi (Valley of the Temples) arguably the finest Greek ruins outside of Greece. The classic Greek poet Pindar called it “the most beautiful city built by mortal men.” Prepare your trip carefully, summers in this part of the world are very, very hot, and while you don’t want to get sick, you don’t want to rush through the site which contains several buildings worth visiting.

Each temple in the Valle dei Templi is unique. We’ll look briefly at five of them, going from west to east. The Tempio di Castore e Polluce (Temple of Castor and Pollux) is a bit of a mess. It was reconstructed well over one hundred years ago by people who didn’t know what they were doing. They slapped together elements from diverse ruins on the site. The Tempio di Giove (Temple of Jupiter) was never completed. At more than 330 feet (about 130 meters) long it was one of the largest Greek temples ever built. The Tempio di Ercole (Temple of Hercules) is the oldest of these temples. It was partially reconstructed over eighty years ago. The Tempio della Concordia (Temple of Concord) is said to be the best-preserved Greek temple on earth. It was converted into a Christian church in the Sixth Century and restored in the Eighteenth Century. Everything is still there except for the roof and the treasury. Not surprisingly, you are not allowed inside but you can appreciate it from a reasonable distance. The Tempio di Giunone (Temple of Juno) has an exceptional view of the valley below. You can still see traces of a fire that occurred more than twenty-four hundred years ago.

Across from the Temple of Castor and Pollux are several small temples that you may want to see as well. The Hellenistic and Roman Quarter consists of four really old streets with mosaic pavements and some Roman house foundations. Right nearby is the Museo Archeologica Regionale (Regional Archeological Museum) with lots of antiquities.

What about food? Sicily’s great food goes back as far as its beautiful buildings and ruins. Every conquest, and there were several, brought new foods to this island. Sometimes new foods such as tomatoes made their way peacefully to Sicilian tables. While it hasn’t exactly taken over, organic food has made major inroads in Sicily. Of all the Italian regions only the neighboring island of Sardinia produces more organic food. Certified Sicilian food products include olives, olive oil, cheese, tomatoes, oranges, table grapes (I prefer them fermented), and pears.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Macco (Fava Bean puree). Then try Involtini alla Siciliana (Meat Roulade stuffed with Salami and Cheese). For dessert indulge yourself with Sgrappino (Whipped Lemon Sherbert with Spumante). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We’ll conclude with a quick look at Sicilian wine. Sicily is number one among Italy’s twenty regions when it comes to the acreage devoted to wine grapes and to the total annual wine production. And an independent Sicily would be the world’s seventh largest wine producer. You may be surprised to learn that only slightly more than fifty percent of Sicilian wine is red. Sicily produces nineteen DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. Only about 2% of Sicilian wine carries this sometimes prestigious classification. But there are many Sicilian wines without the DOC classification, sometimes by choice.

By: Levi Reiss
Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine French or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His major wine website is http://www.theworldwidewine.com and his major article website is travelitalytravel.com.

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If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Marche region of central Italy. Depending on your interests, it is an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. And the Marche region hasn’t yet been discovered by tourists. There’s a tradeoff; you won’t have to fight the crowds to see what you want to see. On the other hand, you’ll have a hard time finding fancy hotels. And the roads are not always the best, not much of a surprise when you consider the region’s hilly terrain. We’ll start our tour of this region in the north and work our way south.

The little town of Urbino is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once a great center of learning. The University has about twenty thousand students, considerably more than Urbino’s resident population of approximately fifteen thousand. How do you say town and gown in Italian?

Given that the great Renaissance painter Raphael was an Urbino native, it’s not very surprising that this town is home to the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche (National Gallery of The Marche) located in the Palazzo Ducale (Duke’s Palace). Would you believe that this beautiful Renaissance building doesn’t contain much of his work? On the other hand, you can find Titian’s Resurrection and Last Supper there. The Casa Natale di Raffaello (Birthplace of Raphael) includes a Madonna fresco that is definitely associated with Raphael. But experts aren’t sure if he painted it himself or if his father painted it and Raphael and his mother served as models. The city also contains several Renaissance churches worth visiting.

Ancona is a port city that was largely destroyed during World War II. But there still are some sights worth seeing including alleys, streets, and city squares. The Duomo di San Ciriaco (Saint Ciriaco Cathedral) was built during the Twelfth Century over a Greek Temple. The Romanesque Santa Maria della Piazza also dates from the Twelfth Century but includes mosaics from a Fifth Century church that it replaced. All these structures are modern compared to the Second Century Arco di Triano (Trajan’s Arch) which announced to all and sundry that they were approaching Rome’s most important port on the Adriatic Sea.

Loreto on the Adriatic Sea is home to a popular shrine, the Santuario della Santa Casa (House of the Virgin Mary) which some say was transported from the city of Nazareth in 1295 to keep it out the hands of the Muslim invaders. The peak pilgrimage periods are Easter week and the Feast of the Holy House on December 10th.

Ascoli Piceno is a valley town of about fifty thousand people. It’s great for pedestrians because cars are forbidden in a large part of the city center. You’ll want to see the Piazza del Populo (Square of the People) and the Thirteenth Century Palazzo dei Capitani del Populo (Palace of the People’s Captains) that now serves as a Town Hall. and Gothic church San Franceso (Saint Francis). There are several other historic churches. Try to get to Ascoli Piceno for the first Sunday in August. That’s the day the local residents celebrate the city’s patron saint, Saint Emidio, with a parade of over 900 people dressed in Renaissance costume. After the parade there’s a jousting tournament, Giastra della Quintana, in which six richly costumed knights, representing the city’s six neighborhoods, compete one after the other facing the effigy of a Moor warrior.

What about food? The Marches has many regional specialties, for example Prosciutto di Carpegna, a ham produced near the border of Tuscany, and Vitellone Bianco dell’Appennino Centrale (White Veal of the Central Appenines). The Adriatic coast brings its bounty. One local brodetto (fish soup) calls for thirteen kinds of fish and seafood.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Minestra (Chickpea Soup with Pork Ribs and grated Pecorino Cheese). Then try Quaglie in Tegame (Braised Quails with White Wine and Salt Pork). For dessert indulge yourself with Fristenga (Cake with Figs, Raisins, and Walnuts). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We’ll conclude with a quick look at Marche wine. The Marche ranks 12th among the 20 Italian regions for acreage devoted to wine grapes and 10th for total annual wine production. When you read between the lines these numbers indicate that the Marche’s wine output per acre is heavier than the Italian average, not a promising sign for fine wine. Somewhat more than a third of the local wine is red and almost twenty percent of Marche wine is classified as DOC or DOCG wine, described below. The Marche produces thirteen DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. It is the home of two DOCG (the G stands for Guarantita) red wines, the Montepulciano-Sangiovese based Rosso Conero Riserva and the Vernaccia di Serrapetrona based on a local grape. Don’t confuse the red Vernaccia wine with the white Verdicchio wine.

By: Levi Reiss
Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His major wine website is http://www.theworldwidewine.com and his major article website is travelitalytravel.com.

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Firenze, as the Italians call it, is one of those A-list travel destinations with an embarrassment of riches for the eager tourist to explore. Florence has an abundance of elegant piazzas and charming restaurants, trendy pubs, neighborhood bars and cafes just waiting to revive the weary traveler. You'll find stylish gathering places dotted all over the city, chic Florentine shopping, boutique hotels, and a profusion of lively hot spots whose existence was never dreamed of by the famous deMedicis. But wonderful as the twenty-first century is, the reason most travelers come to Florence is for Florence’s number one attraction… the art. More than 60% of the world’s great works of art are in Italy, and of those, more than half (as estimated by UNESCO) are in Florence. You're in for a real treat.

Your first stop on any tour of Florence is likely to be the Piazza della Signoria, right in the heart of the historic center of town. Surrounded by some of the city's most venerable old buildings including the 14th century Palazzo Vecchio and the 16th century Palazzo Uffizi, the Piazza della Signoria was and still is the cornerstone of Renaissance Florence. It's a kind of al fresco art gallery... you can stroll around Neptune's Fountain, marvel at Cosimo de'Medici mounted on horseback, see a copy of Michelangelo's David and a copy of Donatello's Marzocco... the heraldic Florentine Lion, (the originals of both are now housed in the Galleria dell’Accademia and the Bargello Museum, respectively.)

In the Loggia della Signoria you will find Benvenuto Celini's Perseus With The Head of Medusa, and Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Women.

Galleria dell’Accademia

Founded as Florence's, and possibly Europe's, first art school, (the Accademia di belle Arti, or Academy of Fine Arts) in 1563, the Accademia's holdings consist of mostly religious paintings by Florentine artists from mid-13th to late 16th centuries. The collection includes some wonderful late-gothic polyptychs, the work of 19th-century sculptors Lorenzo Bartolini and Luigi Pampaloni, plus a section of Russian icons. More recently the Gallery has added a fascinating collection of historical musical instruments from the Cherubini Conservatory.

Though the Accademia, like all Florentine galleries, is home to a large collection of spectacular art and sculpture, inevitably, the piece which every visitor comes to see, the top of every tourist's must-see list, the piece which resonates, whose image will linger in your mind's eye long after you have returned home from vacation...

Michelangelo's David

You see him from a distance, eighteen feet tall, mounted on a pedestal above the heads of the crowd, glowing, pristine marble illuminated by a skylight in the vaulting above. He takes your breath away... first the size and scope of him, which no one expects, then the sheer, aching beauty of him, the exquisite, pulsing detail. He represents humanity breaking free of oppression, but the perfection of his form is beyond human.

Michelangelo was 29 years old when he created David from a single block of marble, a miraculous, inspired work of art in every sense of the word. To even begin to fathom how such a feat was possible, you have to back track into the Hall of The Prisoners, so called. They are a series of Michelangelo's unfinished figures which seem to be unfolding out of their marble blocks with a desire to be free, clearly showing the master's eye for the natural form, and his chisel at work.

The Duomo

The other landmark sight which leaps off the page of every Florence tour guide because of its brilliant and unique colors, is Florence's Basilica Santa Maria del Fiori, known simply as the Duomo for its magnificent dome. There's a sense of complete familiarity when you see it in person, so distinctive is the facade of pink, green and white marble.

Designed and begun by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296, work on the landmark cathedral by the best Florentine artists and craftsmen continued for over 150 years. It was finished, minus the cupola, around 1367, but it was not until 1415 that master architect Filippo Brunelleschi won a public competition for the assignment to complete the dome by coming up with the bold and innovative design which would allow the massive cupola to be built without underlying framework, a technique known in antiquity to the Greeks and Romans but which had been lost during the dark ages.

The Baptistry

Opposite the cathedral stands the Baptistry. Once the site of a Roman temple and one of the oldest buildings in Florence, it is an octagonal structure built between the fifth and twelfth centuries. Dedicated to San Giovanni di Batista, it's most famous features are its bronze doors.

Ghiberti’s Doors

The city of Florence awarded the commission for the creation of the Baptistry doors to Lorenzo Ghiberti, in a public competition in 1401, and he subsequently worked on the ten panels and their carved surrounds for twenty seven years. Sculpted in bas relief they depict scenes from the old testament and were so exquisitely executed they were dubbed the 'Gates of Paradise' by Michelangelo. The panels that you actually see in the Baptistry doors today are reproductions. The originals have been restored and are housed in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.

Medici Chapel

Called the New Sacristy, this chapel is the final resting place for the tombs of two of Florence's Medici rulers. It was designed by Michelangelo as a funeral chapel and memorial for Lorenzo de'Medici, son of Lorenzo the Magnificent, and Giuliano, his grandson.

The sarcophagii are draped by the exquisite reclining forms of Dawn & Dusk, and Day & Night, allegorical figures for the passing of time, rendered in Michelangelo's characteristic, larger-than-life, heroic style. An idealized statue of each of the two Florentine Dukes sits framed in an alcove above each tomb. Lorenzo represents thoughtful, contemplative man, while Giuliano with his soldier's baton across his knee, is active, dynamic man... contrasting aspects of the human soul in Michelangelo's lexicon.

Michelangelo spent fifteen years creating the chapel and its sculptures, and ultimately left them unfinished as he was called to Rome to begin work on the Sistine Chapel's Last Judgement. There was never a suggestion that they be completed by anyone else as the emotional impact of every piece is fully realized, and would not be improved upon were they finished.

The Uffizi

Florence's most famous art gallery, the Galleria degli Uffizi situated in the Palazzo Uffizi, literally, the Palace Offices contains the world's largest collection of Italian and Florentine art. This was the de'Medici family's private art collection which was bequeathed to Florence in 1737 on condition that it never leave the city. The extraordinary opulence and scope of the collection is testament to the wealth and sheer reach of the de'Medicis. This is a place to see treasures... there are two-thousand-year-old sculptures here. You will find early works by Fra Filippo Lippi, Cimabue, Giotto, and Masaccio.

Central to the collection are the Botticelli Rooms. You will also find Leonardo's Annunziazione, and Michelangelo's Holy Family. There are literally rooms full of Raphaels, of Titians, of Veroneses, Tintorettos, Caravaggios, and Canalettos.

Plenty of non-Italians are well represented in the Uffizi too: Rubens and Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Breughel the Elder, Durer and Goya.

Take deep breaths, you're in pretty heady company. In today’s terms these were mega-stars. Pace yourself. It is possible to feel overwhelmed in the presence of this abundance of exceptional talent. Just try to maintain your decorum. Don't gush.

When you visit Florence give the Uffizi Galleries as much time as you possibly can. It will not be nearly enough.

Copyright ©2007 Sue Rauch

By: Sue Rauch
Sue Rauch is a freelance writer who runs GrabYourPassport.com a travel information site dispensing wit and wisdom in its city guides for wanderers, gadabouts and those of us curious enough to want to know the rest of the story.

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