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00:02:00The road we just walked down, ok, so just remember this, right, straight back towards the meeting point, ok.
00:02:09The building next to us, a large cafeteria close to the old town.
00:02:30The building next to us, a large cafeteria close to the old town.
00:03:01The building next to us, a large cafeteria close to the old town.
00:03:15Welcome to Florence, a Renaissance gem in this amazing city.
00:03:21Welcome to Florence, the most beautiful Renaissance city.
00:03:26You know what, this really isn't working. Can we start over again?
00:03:30Starting over early in the morning, that is so much better.
00:03:35Florence is an incredible city, but it can get very, very crowded, so if you don't plan your visit right, you might not enjoy it.
00:03:42I'm going to show you how to have a great time here and avoid the crowds as much as possible.
00:03:48We'll learn about the city's Renaissance history, check out some of my favorite places,
00:03:53try some local Tuscan cuisine, and even have a moment alone with someone very special.
00:03:59Personally, I love Florence. I spent a lot of time here in my 20s when I was studying, and I'm really excited to show you around today.
00:04:11We begin at the Duomo, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the heart of Florence's historic center.
00:04:18It's also free to enter, by the way.
00:04:23So impressive.
00:04:26If you don't mind waiting in line, you can also go up to the top for a great view.
00:04:34The best way to get around the center is to walk.
00:04:37I really recommend you get off the busy streets and explore some of the little side streets.
00:04:42Honestly, you never know what you're going to find.
00:04:44Like, look, we just walked down the street, and here is the house of poet Dante Alighieri.
00:04:49I mean, that's incredible, right?
00:04:51Speaking of famous names, you can't come to Florence without learning about the Medici.
00:04:57The Medici family ruled Florence from the 15th to 18th centuries,
00:05:01and they filled the city with their architectural and artistic commissions.
00:05:06The Medici are closely associated with the Italian Renaissance,
00:05:10the cultural and political rebirth after the Middle Ages
00:05:13that was marked by a rediscovery of classical philosophy, architecture, literature, and art.
00:05:19I meet up with tour guide Fulvio De Bonis in Piazza della Signoria,
00:05:24one of the most famous squares in Italy.
00:05:28Welcome to the center of the political Florentine power.
00:05:32Yeah.
00:05:33You're standing right in the middle.
00:05:35Isn't it amazing?
00:05:36Power center, Renaissance power.
00:05:39Correct.
00:05:40Power center, Renaissance power.
00:05:42Correct.
00:05:43I feel it.
00:05:45Fulvio tells me that the banking industry and wool trade made the city wealthy.
00:05:50The wealthiest of the 1400s.
00:05:52That's why this was the place where the Renaissance started.
00:05:59Next, we head to Piazza della Repubblica.
00:06:02The name of Florence, Florencia, is from Flora, the goddess of abundancy, of fertility.
00:06:09You still see the statue of Flora, this beautiful lady,
00:06:16up above the ancient column, the Granite Column.
00:06:21I ask if there's anything you should not do when in Florence.
00:06:25I wouldn't eat in a fast food.
00:06:28That's what I would do.
00:06:29No McDonald's.
00:06:30No McDonald's.
00:06:32You are in the city of delicious food, incredible pastries.
00:06:38Don't go to fast food.
00:06:39Don't go to fast food.
00:06:41Tip number one, don't go to fast food.
00:06:44And now the city's famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchio.
00:06:48Let's start from the name.
00:06:49Why Old Bridge?
00:06:51Because it was the only bridge that was not knocked down, destroyed, during the Second World War.
00:06:59These days, the bridge is full of jewelry shops,
00:07:02but I learned it was once an area of butchers and tanners
00:07:05until the Medici, not liking the smell, decreed it should be dedicated to goldsmiths.
00:07:11Thank you so much.
00:07:12It was amazing.
00:07:13You're more than welcome.
00:07:15It's time to talk about museums.
00:07:17So we're here at the Uffizi, one of the most famous art museums in the world,
00:07:21with works by Renaissance masters like Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo.
00:07:27And I'm going to give you a tip.
00:07:29Go to the official Uffizi website,
00:07:31book a ticket for a specific day and a specific time,
00:07:35then you'll be able to skip the ticket line and just go straight to the security line.
00:07:41But now a visit to the Galleria dell'Accademia,
00:07:44home to the Statue of David, carved by Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo.
00:07:50To accommodate more visitors, the museum recently extended opening hours
00:07:53and spread out its vast collection, director Cecilia Holberg tells me.
00:07:58Buongiorno.
00:07:59Grazie mille.
00:08:00Thank you so much for having me.
00:08:02The 17-foot-tall David is the collection's highlight.
00:08:06I have to say, it's way more impressive in person than I could have imagined.
00:08:13Michelangelo shows this shepherd, this young shepherd, in an incredible way.
00:08:18He's not aggressive, but he is strong.
00:08:21He is naked, showing his innocence.
00:08:25And they put it in front of the Palazzo Vecchio,
00:08:28which is the political center of the town,
00:08:31and showing the independence of the citizens and the city of Florence.
00:08:38This symbol of Florence is one of the most famous sculptures in the world.
00:08:43And now I have a moment alone with him.
00:08:46I think I'm in love.
00:08:48But now it's time to cross the Arno River to check out my favorite part of the city,
00:08:52the Odra Arno district.
00:09:10This is a march of inventors.
00:09:13This is a march of inventors.
00:09:15About at the same time, it was a party.
00:09:18Wow.
00:09:19So, we have a wider space of this.
00:09:23You see the team in the brown one, the huge tower.
00:09:28It was built in 1299.
00:09:32So you really need a receipt with a great event.
00:09:35A great event.
00:09:43And on the building, the representatives of the most important activities,
00:09:47the movement of Florence and the movement of political feminism,
00:09:50and the movement of feminism,
00:09:52and that sort of work machine.
00:09:54Representatives of the economic activities,
00:09:57and sexism in public.
00:09:59Because it's very severe in public.
00:10:01I mean, activities where all the workers,
00:10:03workers, merchants, bankers, authoritarians, lawmakers, judges.
00:10:08Imagine seven major activities at the end of the conference.
00:10:11But then, you probably know, because now I have to introduce something else,
00:10:14you know, since we are in the conference.
00:10:18Later on, you probably know that in 1400,
00:10:21so to refresh us,
00:10:24they were very smart.
00:10:25I don't know if you've watched it,
00:10:27because I was in the Third Republic before,
00:10:29but the Svedici, if you've heard about them,
00:10:32they started becoming the owners of Florence.
00:10:34But they were very smart.
00:10:36Because they knew that to have power, you don't need to go there.
00:10:39It's enough money to pay in the upper levels of the government.
00:10:42So they went on ruling from the same building you see there,
00:10:45called the Palazzo della Signoria, or Old Palace.
00:10:49But they moved from underground,
00:10:52and they had only support from there.
00:10:54They left here, like in former freedoms,
00:10:56in former republics,
00:10:58but everything was under their control.
00:11:01Then what happened in 1400?
00:11:03That's the revolution.
00:11:08In 1400, everything was very strange.
00:11:11Because Lorenzo de' Medici was a great ruler,
00:11:16and he decided that everything had to be under his control.
00:11:25But after, we can say,
00:11:27another exile,
00:11:29finally they decided to come back,
00:11:31and this time they came back this time.
00:11:33They made an alliance with the emperor,
00:11:35and Austria, just a bit,
00:11:37and they started firing with cannons on our city,
00:11:40on the outer floor,
00:11:41and they took the end of their path.
00:11:44Grand dukes, even princes,
00:11:47because they had power over all Tuscany.
00:11:50And there was a man,
00:11:51after I'm going to show you his portrait,
00:11:53but we have another portrait also there,
00:11:55dressed like a general,
00:11:57over the symbol of de' Medici,
00:11:59you see there is a coat of arms with bones,
00:12:01that is de' Medici's symbol,
00:12:03shield with bubbles,
00:12:05and the man over the top,
00:12:07portrayed as Cosimo I.
00:12:09Imagine that he was elected when he was 17 years old.
00:12:13So they thought he was de' Medici,
00:12:15we can manipulate him,
00:12:17but they did not know it was not possible to manipulate him.
00:12:20When he was elected in 1537,
00:12:23then he got married to the Spanish lady,
00:12:26Elena Tontonedo,
00:12:27he decided to show who was the new power in Florence,
00:12:30him, and not the Republic.
00:12:31So he kicked out the Republic from the building,
00:12:33and he went there with his wife.
00:12:35So that one became their second provisional council,
00:12:38before they had another one in the northern part of the city.
00:12:41And then he completed the conquest of Tuscany,
00:12:43so he built this building,
00:12:45this is the famous Uffizi Gallery,
00:12:47where there are paintings by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Caravaggio,
00:12:51Botticelli, these icons of the Renaissance.
00:12:55But at the beginning, Uffizi had offices,
00:12:58this one was the headquarter of that man,
00:13:00when he had power over all Tuscany,
00:13:02because he wanted to have offices on the ground floor,
00:13:04archives on the first floor.
00:13:06But the top floor wasn't reachable to anybody,
00:13:08I'm going to show you,
00:13:10and we've seen that when we were under the arcane,
00:13:13facing the river, we had something over our heads,
00:13:17over the arches,
00:13:19there was something passing,
00:13:21it is, and then you take a look again,
00:13:23in your free time,
00:13:25at the top of this level there is a passageway,
00:13:28a private corridor,
00:13:30running over our heads, crossing the river,
00:13:33passing over the bridge,
00:13:35and arriving to another residence,
00:13:37that they bought for the southern bank of the river,
00:13:39especially this one,
00:13:42so that you could move in a very safe way
00:13:44from the second house to the final one,
00:13:46Grigia,
00:13:47they made an overhead private corridor,
00:13:49one kilometer long,
00:13:50and they could not,
00:13:51they had not to walk in the city streets,
00:13:53because they knew that someone would try to kill them.
00:13:561565, a private corridor.
00:14:00Now, staying in the shade,
00:14:02as much as possible,
00:14:04and still hot,
00:14:06and then we have some scaffolding,
00:14:12so we cross, but I wanted to give you
00:14:14the view of this courtyard,
00:14:16also because, if you look, there are many statues,
00:14:18statues by many artists,
00:14:21so that's why,
00:14:28so you can see that these are
00:14:30great personalities,
00:14:32on the statue,
00:14:35Michelangelo, then, he's behind scaffoldings,
00:14:38these are distant scaffoldings,
00:14:40so complicated in space,
00:14:42but here in Flores we have the tombs
00:14:44of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei,
00:14:47Machiavelli,
00:14:48so, for example, every portrait
00:14:50we have in Flores of Michelangelo.
00:15:01So this building,
00:15:03I don't know where we are walking now,
00:15:09but somebody lived in this building,
00:15:13it was only offices, archives,
00:15:15and a private court,
00:15:17so it was a strong sign of power
00:15:19of that man, when he conquered
00:15:21North Africa, because he wanted to gather
00:15:23very close to his house,
00:15:25all magistrates,
00:15:27to keep everything under control.
00:15:31But, now, when we enter
00:15:33in this square,
00:15:35it's called Piazza della Signoria,
00:15:37because it takes the name
00:15:39from the old building,
00:15:41you don't think of the past, you know,
00:15:45the way I see it,
00:15:47you see a block here,
00:15:49because it is a very wide square,
00:15:51created on purpose,
00:15:53to keep under control all the area,
00:15:55very close to the government,
00:15:57to survive,
00:15:59so it was kind of
00:16:01trying to maintain
00:16:03the integrity of the city,
00:16:05to keep everything under control.
00:16:07And there, you can see
00:16:09the beginning of the
00:16:11private quarter,
00:16:13with the apartments,
00:16:15the apartments,
00:16:17and this is the beginning
00:16:19of the historical part.
00:16:30They lived here,
00:16:32they had three houses,
00:16:34one, I will show you,
00:16:36was after the war,
00:16:38this one,
00:16:40the second one,
00:16:42but before it was the seat of the Crown,
00:16:44in 1289, I don't remember,
00:16:46and then, with his wife,
00:16:48they moved,
00:16:50not anymore,
00:16:52because the family
00:16:54died out in 1737,
00:16:56they had not anymore children,
00:16:59so it was an easy way to disappear.
00:17:01They left the government
00:17:03to another dynasty,
00:17:05which was the imperial dynasty,
00:17:07on behalf of the royal family.
00:17:09Now, I would like to stop here,
00:17:11a little bit, behind the walls,
00:17:13to have,
00:17:15to enjoy a good perspective
00:17:17on David, because
00:17:19this is where he is staying.
00:17:23We don't pay anything,
00:17:25we have also a bit of a
00:17:28The real one is
00:17:30behind the Duomo,
00:17:32not far from the First Medici Palace.
00:17:37It is another museum
00:17:39where you should book in advance.
00:17:41Anyway,
00:17:43who knows, you know, you can try.
00:17:45No, but not so difficult like
00:17:47Leonardo,
00:17:49anyway you should check.
00:17:53Anyway, I will tell you, but you should go there,
00:17:55otherwise you look on internet,
00:17:57because,
00:17:59now when we pass there,
00:18:01it is also like a document.
00:18:03Anyway, you know,
00:18:05this one is a statue
00:18:07copy of David, because the original David
00:18:09was not anymore statue of an heir,
00:18:11but he was here, for example,
00:18:13in this point, you know,
00:18:15for more than 300 years.
00:18:17Michelangelo made David
00:18:19for our tradition.
00:18:25So this is the reason why it was more here,
00:18:27David, not only because it was
00:18:29a masterpiece of sculpture,
00:18:31but because in this time the Duomeric
00:18:33were kicked out, if you remember,
00:18:35after the 19th century,
00:18:37when Dorito died,
00:18:39before his third, when he founded
00:18:41Florence with my father.
00:18:43So David was kicked out of Duomeric.
00:18:49Because no one is proud,
00:18:51strong, happy,
00:18:53then we know that
00:18:55here, somewhere far,
00:18:57because they never demolished the city of the Republic,
00:18:59they never bought David,
00:19:01but they started having other children.
00:19:03If you look right hand side,
00:19:05Hercules,
00:19:07you will see with the club in his hands,
00:19:09you know, this is the original David.
00:19:11But, wait a minute,
00:19:13David is never here, right?
00:19:17That's because
00:19:19when his wife came in here,
00:19:21she died.
00:19:35Also because
00:19:37these little alleyways are very nice
00:19:39to arrive
00:19:41to the Duomo.
00:19:43In my opinion,
00:19:45this is the best way,
00:19:47not to go to the Duomo,
00:19:49because it's a surprise.
00:19:57One is David,
00:19:59who was here for more than 300 years,
00:20:01who was sheltered inside the museum only.
00:20:05The little lion with the symbol of Florence,
00:20:07David.
00:20:19The Grand Duke
00:20:21came here with his wife,
00:20:23to make a boat
00:20:25for the other father.
00:20:27This one is Giambologna,
00:20:29it's a beautiful statue,
00:20:31because he was not anymore 17 years old.
00:20:33It's the gift of his second son,
00:20:35because
00:20:37he did not portray himself
00:20:39in his square,
00:20:41he made the statue,
00:20:43but he used
00:20:45other ways
00:20:47to show his power,
00:20:49not directly,
00:20:51because he was very smart.
00:20:53If you look,
00:20:55they didn't change anything outside,
00:20:57but you can imagine
00:20:59that this building,
00:21:01even if it was enlarged a lot,
00:21:03even the final part was made by him
00:21:05when he came in Livia with his wife,
00:21:07because the first part of the building,
00:21:09which was already existing,
00:21:11was too small.
00:21:13But the final one,
00:21:15which is here at this point,
00:21:17improved.
00:21:19But his wife was also happy to live here,
00:21:21because it was a marshland.
00:21:23There were no open spaces,
00:21:25no gardens,
00:21:27there was malaria, illnesses.
00:21:29We can say people died
00:21:31of endemic illnesses here.
00:21:33So she bought
00:21:35for the prison with her own dowry
00:21:37for the southern bank.
00:21:39She was very rich.
00:21:41It was a political wedding
00:21:43and it was also a great agreement.
00:21:45It was also love.
00:21:51But anyway,
00:21:53they did not survive.
00:21:55She died of malaria.
00:21:57They had 11 children.
00:21:59You can imagine
00:22:01how was the situation for normal people.
00:22:03If they died alone,
00:22:05you know,
00:22:07you can imagine the others.
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00:23:05If you don't know who he was, I tell you.
00:23:07But moreover, because that is an even better and less crowded, in my opinion, direction to enjoy our cathedral.
00:23:19We take another side street that we left shortly.
00:23:26So Dante, he is now, I don't know from which countries are you from, but Dante, he is like our chef here.
00:23:34Because he is considered really the father of the modern Italy.
00:23:40The beginning of 1300, you know, this poem, called the Divine Comedy, which was a journey in afterlife, you know, through Hell, through God, through Heaven.
00:23:51So it was a spiritual journey, but also a critical work against the society of his age, you know.
00:23:58There is growing interest, economical interest, you know.
00:24:01In fact, at the end, he was even, for political reasons, exiled from Rome.
00:24:06He died in Northern Italy, in Ravenna.
00:24:09So we lost here, for example, the father of our modern language.
00:24:15So the other great masters in Rome, since you asked me before, they are buried in Florence.
00:24:21Michelangelo, because he was in Florence.
00:24:25Then he died in Rome, but his family was here.
00:24:29So they saw his body and they brought him back here.
00:24:32So we have the tomb of Michelangelo for this reason, but he was in Florence.
00:24:37And Machiavelli was also in Florence.
00:24:55These were the buildings he had in his tomb.
00:24:59They were built only in the sense that in Florence we had a lot of medieval towers.
00:25:04So these buildings are dated in between the year 1000 and the month from the beginning of the century.
00:25:10We had a lot of them.
00:25:12The beginning towers had a building, such as this one.
00:25:17Could there be a big tower?
00:25:37Refreshing.
00:25:47Beautiful.
00:25:50Very good.
00:26:14That's it.
00:26:20All right.
00:26:29Don't you worry.
00:26:49This is a cemetery for the tormentors.
00:26:54The river is on the south.
00:26:57Right hand side is east.
00:27:00Right hand side is west.
00:27:03The church you see in front of us is the Duomo.
00:27:06It's the most important church in Venice.
00:27:09And when it was started, it was 26.
00:27:19Beautiful.
00:27:46It's massive.
00:27:49Come here.
00:27:58Let's make the sign clear.
00:28:01Yeah, yeah.
00:28:05Oh, what's that?
00:28:07Yeah, it's over there.
00:28:18The church has bigger names.
00:28:21And you can imagine that there is a big difference here.
00:28:25Because now I tell you why.
00:28:27No, you didn't tell me how long it would be.
00:28:29What do you think?
00:28:31I don't know.
00:28:33I don't know.
00:28:57You can see, no?
00:28:59We need 200 years.
00:29:01It was built in 1471 with the Gide globe and the cross.
00:29:04You see over there.
00:29:06So we can guess why 200 years.
00:29:08First of all because all the marble, you see here, comes from Carrara.
00:29:12Have you been to Pisa?
00:29:14No.
00:29:15No, I think the time you need by bus.
00:29:17Not to go to Pisa.
00:29:19I think in the 1200s, 1300s, you know, to bring blocks of marble down here.
00:29:24They need it here, you know, to bring to Carrara.
00:29:28And then also because nobody lived for 200 years.
00:29:31So the first architect who started building this church,
00:29:34an older one, but much smaller.
00:29:36And if you remember, our city became a metropolis because of the production of steel, you know.
00:29:40We had double residential land of 100,000 inhabitants a year.
00:29:50Anyway, the first architect died, Arnulfo, when his project arrived.
00:29:54Still, you see there.
00:29:56Because if you look, even if everything seems to be beautiful,
00:29:59like beautiful colors of marble,
00:30:01but there is a difference in between the first architect and the second.
00:30:05And you see that there we have more smaller windows,
00:30:08closer one to the other,
00:30:10but you still have only one big window, largest fence, you know.
00:30:14Because the first architect died.
00:30:17They called someone else, and this someone else was a painter called Giotto,
00:30:23who was also an architect, but who was more interested in planning the tower.
00:30:27He used to plan the tower.
00:30:31The tower is 85 meters.
00:32:53The tower is 85 meters.
00:32:55The tower is 85 meters.
00:32:57The tower is 85 meters.
00:32:59The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:01The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:03The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:05The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:07The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:09The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:11The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:13The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:15The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:17The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:19The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:21The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:23The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:25The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:27The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:29The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:31The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:33The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:35The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:37The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:39The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:41The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:43The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:45The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:47The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:49The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:51The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:53The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:55The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:57The tower is 85 meters.
00:33:59The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:01The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:03The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:05The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:07The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:09The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:11The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:13The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:15The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:17The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:19The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:21The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:23The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:25The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:27The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:29The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:31The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:33The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:35The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:37The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:39The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:41The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:43The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:45The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:47The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:49The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:51The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:53The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:55The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:57The tower is 85 meters.
00:34:59The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:01The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:03The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:05The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:07The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:09The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:11The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:13The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:15The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:17The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:19The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:21The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:23The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:25The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:27The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:29The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:31The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:33The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:35The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:37The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:39The tower is 85 meters.
00:35:50Do you know what it is that?
00:35:52Cow skin, OK?
00:35:54It is the young asleep cow.
00:35:56But it is softer, it is light.
00:35:59Do you know what is that?
00:36:01Don't worry.
00:36:03It is not something strange.
00:36:05This is the lamb skin.
00:36:07It is the same family from the lamb.
00:36:09family of the land because this is gold, it's gold. Metals, okay, like the chrome, the mineral ones
00:36:16is the faster kind of tannins and gives to the leather this uniform, this uniform coloring
00:36:22because meanwhile we stop the rotting, we can also attach the color because there are big barrels full
00:36:28of water, you put the raw hides inside, okay, the chemicals inside too, and the leather absorbs
00:36:35the color, the chemicals, okay, the barrels start to rotate even for days, it depends on the
00:36:42treatment. This is not stamped, this is the natural pattern of the leather and it's natural
00:36:49tannins too, you know which animal is this one? No, it's not something exotic, our skin is always
00:37:00different, okay, even the skin of the animal, so it's impossible to find a bag in this case
00:37:07that has the same pattern of another one, okay, even the same stamp has all the same
00:37:14pattern and perfection, it's very uniform. If something looks to you too perfect, it could be,
00:37:18not all the time, but it could be a fake, but the most important surface is the bag,
00:37:23okay, it is rough and soft at the same time and it's very difficult to be
00:37:30reproduced artificially, okay, very expensive.
00:48:01So,
00:48:18and of course, your visit to Pisa cannot be complete without exploring the symbol of Pisa
00:48:24and one of Italy's signature sites, the Leaning Tower. For centuries, the Leaning Tower of Pisa
00:48:31has been creating admiration and concern to both experts and tourists. It was even proposed as one
00:48:39of the Seven Wonders of the World. The construction of the tower began in 1173 and continued for over
00:48:46200 years due to the onset of a series of wars, death, and hopeless attempts by engineers and
00:48:53architects to correct the lean. With 207 columns ranging around eight stories, the Leaning Tower
00:49:00of Pisa is more than 16 feet of perpendicular and as you start climbing to the very top,
00:49:07trust me, you will not only see it, but you will definitely feel it as well.
00:49:12Guys, this is such a crazy experience because at first you start leaning to your right and then
00:49:20you have to compensate, so you balance yourself out and then you start leaning to the left.
00:49:26The whole experience is just insane because the entire time all you're doing is trying to find
00:49:31your equilibrium. As the architects and engineers try to correct the lean by making the remaining
00:49:37stories shorter on the uphill side, due to the foundation stones being laid on the soft ground
00:49:44consisting of clay, fine sand, and shells, the tower unfortunately, or fortunately,
00:49:50continued to lean more and more. With over 5 million visitors per year, this world-famous
00:49:58Italian landmark reminds us once again that it's our own imperfections that make us so special,
00:50:05unique, and attractive. And of course, fabulous people, if you want to take all the headache out
00:50:12of the planning process, then I welcome you to check out the concierge service of my travel agency,
00:50:18where we will plan, organize, and book every single thing for you, from accommodations and
00:50:25transportation to tours, activities, restaurants, and of course, I'll make sure to leave you a link
00:50:31to my travel agency in the description down below. After all the sightseeing in Pisa,
00:50:37I'm sure you'll be ready to discover the food scene in this part of Tuscany, and I have
00:50:43just the perfect place for you. So fabulous people, just so you know, in case this is your first time
00:50:49in Pisa, and you are not sure what you should try, you should definitely know that Pisa always had
00:50:56very strong ties to the sea, and therefore, most of their popular traditional dishes will definitely
00:51:03involve seafood. And there is no better place in town for all the seafood lovers than Branzo.
00:51:10Every plate is a perfect combination between the scents of the sea and the rhythm of the city,
00:51:16resulting in the freshest traditional dishes with a touch of innovation and creativity.
00:53:04So fabulous people, welcome to Pisa! Today I'm going to share with you the most perfect
00:53:25day trip itinerary to Pisa. Everything from what to do in Pisa, what to see in Pisa,
00:53:31where to eat in Pisa, and of course, top travel tips you need to know before traveling to this
00:53:37stunning Italian city. Now, before we begin, please remember to smack that like button,
00:53:44and if you're new to my channel and my vibe and the vibe of this channel resonates with you,
00:53:49I invite you to subscribe. All right, fabulous people, let's go explore Pisa! If you want to
00:53:55enjoy Pisa to the fullest, I recommend starting your day trip to Pisa as early as possible.
00:54:01Before the big crowds and urban noise, trust me, having just a few moments in the Piazza dei
00:54:07Miracoli or the Square of Miracles to yourself will guarantee the most perfect start to your
00:54:13Pisa day trip. Now, I'm sure you're wondering if it's worth seeing the entire complex or just
00:54:20the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and I can say with all certainty, definitely see the entire Pisa
00:54:26Cathedral complex. Having been described by UNESCO as an outstanding example of medieval
00:54:32Christian architecture, it consists of the Pisa Cathedral, the Pisa Baptistry, the Leaning Tower
00:54:38of Pisa, and the Monumental Cemetery. Please allow me to share with you why each part of this complex
00:54:44deserves your attention. Let's begin with the Pisa Baptistry of Saint John. The beautiful
00:54:50Baptistero of Pisa is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, and it's the largest baptistry not
00:54:56only in Italy but the entire world. The construction began in 1153 but was only completed after a
00:55:03century, and this is why when you look closely, you'll see that the building displays a mix of
00:55:09two different styles, the Romanesque and the Gothic. As you can tell, the interior of the
00:55:15baptistry is very simple, without much decorations, and it is here in 1564 that Galileo Galilei was
00:55:23baptized. But there is one more reason why you absolutely must visit this famous site in Pisa.
00:55:30The vault of the baptistry consists of a double dome, which gives it the most exceptional acoustics.
00:55:37And if you guys want to experience this one-of-a-kind acoustic effect for yourself,
00:55:43then you should definitely know that every 30 minutes the doors of the baptistry get closed,
00:55:49and then one of the attendants on duty actually gives you a brief demonstration of how this
00:55:55astonishing acoustic effect actually works and sounds.
00:56:13The next place in this Pisa travel guide rightfully belongs to the Campo Santo, or the
00:56:19Monumental Cemetery, one of the oldest Christian medieval architectures for the devotion of the dead.
00:56:25It was built in 1277 to accommodate the graves that until that time were scattered around the
00:56:31Church of the Duomo. During the 14th century, the graveyard has been decorated by the great
00:56:37artists of the time, and the inner walls were embellished by stunning frescoes about life and
00:56:44death. Members of prominent families, rectors, and professors of the university were all buried here,
00:56:51often using ancient sarcophagus from Roman times. There is such a beautiful energy inside the Campo
00:56:57Santo, and if you plan to visit Pisa, I definitely recommend not to skip this special place of peace
00:57:05and silence. And of course, you cannot forget about the heart of Piazza dei Miracoli, the Duomo.
00:57:13If you buy any ticket to the complex, you will get a free pass to visit the cathedral.
00:57:18Now, if you want to see and explore the entire complex, including the Leaning Tower, the price
00:57:23of the ticket is currently 27 euros, and it can be easily purchased on the official website.
00:57:30Just make sure to book it in advance, especially during the high season. One thing for you to keep
00:57:36in mind, fabulous people, is that only for Leaning Tower you will have a specific visiting time
00:57:43indicated on your tickets, and for the rest of the sites, be it baptistry or cathedral, you can show up
00:57:49at any time. Before you enter the Duomo, pay close attention to the stunning details of the bronze
00:57:55doors, made by Florentine artists in the 17th century, after the original wooden doors were
00:58:01destroyed in the fire of 1595. As you begin exploring the Duomo, you will notice different
00:58:07stylistic elements, from classical to Byzantine and Islamic, perfectly blending together and
00:58:13reflecting the international presence of Pisan merchants at that time. The 68 monolithic columns
00:58:20were brought here from Sardinia. They represented how many churches were in Pisa at the time of the
00:58:26cathedral's construction. And as you look up, you will see a stunning golden ceiling that was added
00:58:33during the Medici's rule in the 16th century. Before you leave, don't forget to explore the
00:58:38marble pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, a true artistic highlight of the cathedral. With a precise
00:58:45calculation of light and shadow, it represented a new concept in medieval sculptures, with figures
00:58:51seemingly stepping out of the frame. The Duomo of Santa Maria Sunta in Pisa
00:58:57is a true masterpiece of the Romanesque period, and it's definitely a sight to behold.
00:59:02And in the afternoon, get to know Pisa on a more personal level. With its numerous stunning churches,
00:59:17hidden streets, beautiful parks, this city has so much to offer. So, don't leave Pisa just yet,
00:59:26give it another couple of hours to really soak up the atmosphere of the city.
00:59:32One of the things to do and discover in Pisa is the Church of Santa Maria della Spina in Pisa.
00:59:39Located on Arno riverbank in Pisa, this extraordinary example of Pisan Gothic
00:59:44has undergone numerous changes due to its proximity to the river. The most radical
00:59:49renovation was in 1871, when it was fully dismantled and rebuilt about three feet higher.
00:59:57As you explore the church, you will find an impressive Madonna of the Rose by Andrea and
01:00:02Nino Pisano, as well as temporary exhibitions that are occasionally hosted inside the building.
01:00:08Santa Maria della Spina in Pisa is open to the public just a few times a week,
01:00:13and if you're doing Pisa travel, visiting this little gem is an absolute must.
01:00:19Another church that should definitely be on your list of things to do in Pisa
01:00:24is the Chiesa di Santa Caterina. Built at the beginning of the 13th century,
01:00:29the facade of the church is done in Pisan Romanesque style and is decorated with white
01:00:34and gray marble from Monte Pisano. The church is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria,
01:00:40a beautiful young woman from a noble family who, according to the legend, was murdered by
01:00:46Emperor Maxentius when she refused to worship pagan idols and converted to Christianity.
01:00:52With a single nave particularly suitable for preaching and music, it's not a coincidence
01:00:58that numerous choral concerts are often held in the church thanks to its perfect acoustics.
01:01:04In fact, the last time I visited the church, I was fortunate to witness one of the rehearsals,
01:01:09and to this day I still have goosebumps just thinking about that truly special performance.
01:01:27Renowned for its marble cathedrals, leaning tower, and historic piazzas, there is one hidden
01:01:34gem of Pisa that often gets overlooked, and that is the Orto Botanico di Pisa, or the Botanical
01:01:40Garden of Pisa. Founded in 1543, it was the first university botanical garden in Europe and to this
01:01:48day is still operated by the University of Pisa. Located just a few minutes away from the leaning
01:01:54tower, it offers a relaxing, peaceful break in its luscious botany. If you're looking for some
01:02:01peaceful quiet away from tourist crowds, this botanical garden offers such a peaceful escape.
01:02:09As you stroll past gardens with fountains and water lilies, admire plants from every corner
01:02:15of the world, and have a quiet moment to yourself among the scents of mint, sage, and rosemary,
01:02:22you will fall madly in love with this side of Pisa, rarely discovered by tourist crowds.
01:02:28And, of course, I cannot end this Italy travel vlog without sharing with you the best gelato in
01:02:34Pisa. Favorite among locals, Gelateria de Coltelli offers unique flavors, only natural ingredients,
01:02:42and the friendliest stuff. A perfect way to end your trip to Pisa. All right, fabulous people,
01:02:49thank you so much for watching this Pisa travel guide. I truly hope that you found it useful
01:02:54and beneficial. And before you go and start packing for your trip to Italy,
01:02:58please remember to smack that like button. And if you're new to my channel, and my vibe, and the
01:03:04vibe of this channel resonates with you, I invite you to subscribe. And I truly hope to see you all
01:03:10in my next video. But now it's time to cross the Arno river to check out my favorite part of the
01:03:16city, the Odrarno district. You'll find fewer tourists here. I really like the vibe on this
01:03:22side of town. It's a little bit more alternative, definitely more laid back, and you can find lots
01:03:27of great restaurants without all of the crazy crowds. I really like the areas around the
01:03:34churches of Santo Spirito and San Frediano. It's also Florence's artisan district. Crafts like
01:03:41leatherworking, silver and goldsmithing have been practiced here for centuries.
01:03:46So it's a good place to look for high quality souvenirs from Florence.
01:03:53At Lipogrifo, Duccio Raffaele and his parents use a centuries-old etching technique called
01:03:58Acqueforte. I was curious to check it out. Thank you so much for having me here in your atelier.
01:04:04Can you tell me a bit about what you and your family do here? Yes, we do etchings. This is an
01:04:11ancient process that was invented in the 16th century and for 400 years was used for the
01:04:17illustration of books. Today we use it for the core, for art. We start with one engraving on
01:04:23the copper, we put a wax varnish on the top of the plate, we etch and then keep it in acid.
01:04:29After making the metrics, we can print one by one. We spread the ink all around into the grooves,
01:04:35then we clean, we remove the ink excess, and we put a wet paper on the top of the plate.
01:04:42Then the print with the ink, after transferred into the plate, goes into the paper. After it goes
01:04:51from the press machine. So then we wait a couple of days, two or three days, to dry the ink and the
01:04:57paper and then we can keep it black and white. Or if you want, we can use colors. We use watercolors,
01:05:04so each one is painted one by one.
01:05:11Wow, it was really peaceful in there and I definitely could have stayed
01:05:15all evening, but we have to go check out the sunset. Let's go!
01:05:21The most popular place to watch the sunset is Piazzale Michelangelo.
01:05:26But it can get pretty crowded up here, so I'm taking you to my favorite sunset spot
01:05:32just down the road, the Basilica of San Mignato al Monte.
01:05:39And to go with this beautiful sunset, I thought it would be nice to have some
01:05:43classical music here in Florence, so I've invited my friends Trio Chitaristico Fiorentino.
01:05:49An Italian Baroque composition by Alessandro Marcello.
01:06:10Dinner at Trattoria Enzo e Piero, which specializes in Italian cuisine.
01:06:18And specializes in Tuscan cuisine. Joining me are some friends who live in Florence,
01:06:22including fellow Michigan girl, author Casey Rose.
01:06:26So this is where we embrace a more slow travel vibe. Food culture is not to be rushed in Italy,
01:06:33especially not dinner. Dinner is a time for togetherness,
01:06:37being with friends and family, and enjoying each other's company.
01:06:40And in Italy, you have to look each other in the eyes when you raise a glass.
01:06:45Casey, you mentioned something about the bread that we'll find here.
01:06:48Yeah, so Tuscan bread does not have salt, traditionally. Saltless bread is best enjoyed
01:06:54with meats and cheeses that are already salty, that already have so much flavor that you don't
01:06:57need the added salt in the bread. Italy has such diverse cuisine,
01:07:01so it's really nice to be able to order something from the region.
01:07:05Like pici with wild boar ragu, or ribollita, bread soup, or tortelli filled with potato.
01:07:15Oh my goodness.
01:07:17But Florence's most famous dish is Bistecca alla Fiorentina,
01:07:21loin steak served rare.
01:07:23The famous Bistecca Fiorentina.
01:07:26Definitely to be shared.
01:07:29Well, we really saw a lot today, although there's so much more that Florence has to offer.
01:07:35I hope you're ready to have a good visit to the city.
01:07:38And honestly, my job here is done.
01:07:40So, arrivederci!