370 Route 53. FLORENCE. Situation.
and the monastery (p. 412), S. Annunziata (p. 410), S. Spirito (p. 428);
then the Pal. Pitti with the picture-gallery (p. 430) and the Boboli Garden
(p. 439); the Accademia (p. 413); the National Museum (p. 401); the Views
from S. Miniato (p. 443) and the Viale dei Colli (p. 442), from Bello
Sguardo (p. 445), and from the heights of Fiesole (p. 448). — A stay of
4-6 days will not suffice for more than a hasty glimpse at the sights of
Florence.
Florence, formerly the capital of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany,
in 1865-70 that of the Kingdom of Italy, and now that of the
province of its own name, the seat of an archbishop, and the head¬
quarters of the VI. Corps d'Armee, ranks with Rome, Naples, and
Venice as one of the most attractive towns in Italy. While in ancient
times Rome was the grand centre of Italian development, Florence
has since the middle ages superseded it as the focus of intellectual
life. The modern Italian language and literature have emanated
chiefly from Florence, and the fine arts also attained the zenith of
their glory here. An amazing profusion of treasures of art, such as
no other locality possesses within so narrow limits, reminiscences
of a history which has influenced the whole of Europe, perpetuated
by numerous and imposing monuments, and lastly the delightful
environs of the city combine to render Florence one of the most
interesting and attractive places in the world.
'Who can describe the enchanting view of this art-city of Tuscany
and the world, Florence, with its surrounding gardens? who paint the
distant horizon, from Fiesole smiling at us with its fair towers, to the
blue ridge of the Lucchese Mountains standing out against the golden back¬
ground of the western sky? Here everything betrays the work of gen¬
eration after generation of ingenious men. Like a water-lily rising on
the mirror of the lake, so rests on this lovely ground the still more lovely
Florence, with its everlasting works, and its inexhaustible riches. From
the bold airy tower of the palace, rising like a slender mast, to Brunel-
leschi's wondrous dome of the Cathedral, from the old house of the Spini
to the Pitti Palace, the most imposing the world has ever seen, from the
garden of the Franciscan convent to the beautiful environs of the Cascine,
all are full of incomparable grace. Each street of Florence contains a world
of art; the walls of the city are the calyx containing the fairest flowers
of the human mind; — and this is but the richest gem in the diadem
with which the Italian people have adorned the earth.1 (Leo).
Florence, Italian Firenze, formerly Fiorenza, from the Latin
Florentia, justly entitled 'la bella', is situated in 43°46' N. lati¬
tude, and 11° 15' E. longitude, on both banks of the Arno, an in¬
significant river except in rainy weather, in a charming valley of
moderate width, picturesquely enclosed by the spurs of the Apen¬
nines, the highest of which {Monte Morello, about 3000 ft.) rises to
the N. On the S. the heights rise more immediately from the river,
on the N. they are 3-4 M. distant, while towards the N.W., in the
direction of Prato and Pistoja, the valley expands considerably. The
sudden transitions of temperature which frequently occur here are
trying to person in delicate health. Thepleasantest months are April,
May, and the first half of June, September, October, and November.
In the depth of winter and the early spring bitterly cold winds often
prevail, while in July and August the heat is very oppressive. On
the whole, however, Florence is considered a healthy place,
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