Florence, a city bursting with color

This morning we're taking the train to Florence.
From Pisa Central Station to Firenze S. M. N. (Florence), the trip takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes and costs us 8.5 euros per person one way.
A mountainous landscape comes into view, with vineyards and old buildings, vegetation dotted with yellow flowers, and a few old villas and castles—perhaps dating back to the time of the Medici.

We spot a market not far from the train station, next to the Church of San Lorenzo—a leather market outside, with spices and local products inside. On the way to the market, we come across a rather kitschy restaurant, the Cornelius, where we enjoy a delicious pasta appetizer. I highly recommend it!
After the market, while strolling around, we stumbled upon Florence’s cathedral, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, built in 1296, on Piazza del Duomo.

Florence has Roman origins; it came under the control of the Medici in 1434 and remained so for nearly 300 years, interrupted by brief periods of rebellion. In 1494, following a popular uprising, the King of France entered Florence and invaded Italy. At that time, a monk became the ruler of the city. Four years later, he was executed, and Florence defied the Roman Papacy.
The Medici returned to power in 1512 and remained in control until 1527, when they were driven out for three years.

Upon their return, the duchy was established, along with various art and language academies. The Medici dynasty came to an end in 1737.
From that point on, Tuscany was under the control of the Austrian crown. It later became the Kingdom of Etruria under Bonaparte.
In 1860, Tuscany became part of the Kingdom of Italy. But during World War II, it was occupied by the Nazis, despite its resistance.

A major disaster struck in 1866—a massive flood of the Arno River—which sparked international solidarity.

Through all these historical events, the city of Florence has retained its unique character and has become a cultural capital. It boasts a diverse mix of works of art and buildings in various architectural styles.

It is while strolling through the city that its history is revealed to us—through the echo of each of our steps in the city’s narrow alleys and through the beauty of every building marked by history.

Toward the end of the day, we arrived at the Fortezza da Basso, another architectural masterpiece commissioned by the Medici family.

Before catching the train back, we stopped at a restaurant, Rosso Crudo, where my partner enjoyed a ribeye steak “alla Fiorentina”—a typical Tuscan dish.
We were completely exhausted on the way back; we’d been walking for hours without even realizing it, so mesmerized were we by this majestic city.

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Ninve,

P.S.: Here’s an Airbnb code so you can get a 30-euro discounthere