After visiting the Bargello in the morning, I decided to check another location off my list. I wanted to walk up to Forte di Belvedere for the view. I don't remember being there before even though I have been in the area. The Fort is the place that the Medicis would take refuge if they needed to, it was right behind (and connected to) their gardens (Boboli). This is a remainder of the ancient wall around the city:
This portion is on the other side of the Arno from where I live, it leads to Piazzale Michelangelo and is near where I had aperitivo with Theresa awhile back. In this photo you can see the Torre Niccolo in the middle of the background (you can also get up to the piazzale from that spot):
I walked up the steep hill along the outside of the city wall. This is a private door on the other side of the street from the wall:
As I was walking up the hill I started to hear a lot of noise coming from a section of park that was kind of inside the wall. Apparently, every May they have a little gathering of people who do archery and whatever else for an exhibition (I think the Florentines will find any excuse to dress up in costume). So I stumbled into this scene:
And the medieval swordsman were just finishing lancing eachother or whatever it is they do:
These guys are very serious about what they do. In the picture above, the guy has a little pouch holding his arrows. Below, they were lining up to shot at the targets:
Four would go at a time. I can't tell you if the instrument (bow?) has a special name:
Taking aim:
These were the judges/moderators--I love their costumes!:
The targets with the arrows on them:
The judges collecting the arrows, checking the locations, and scoring each contestant:
They are very proud of their "antique tradition", apparently it has been practiced in this field for many, many years:
The sign: "Campo di Tiro, Balestrieri Fiorentini"--the balestra is a crossbow (I just looked it up in my dictionary):
Then I kept walking up the hill to Fort Belvedere where there are some nice views of the city. This is the Church of Santa Croce in the middle:
The Medici Chapel on the right (the red dome):
Walking back down into town I passed by some other nice gates to private residences:
And through some very green parks:
It's amazing how this is just right outside the city. By the time I got home I think I had been walking for about 3 hours. Armed with my ipod it felt like nothing at the time...but when I finally got home I realized I was starving and my feet were throbbing. It was a very successful and productive weekend at home in Firenze!
This portion is on the other side of the Arno from where I live, it leads to Piazzale Michelangelo and is near where I had aperitivo with Theresa awhile back. In this photo you can see the Torre Niccolo in the middle of the background (you can also get up to the piazzale from that spot):
I walked up the steep hill along the outside of the city wall. This is a private door on the other side of the street from the wall:
As I was walking up the hill I started to hear a lot of noise coming from a section of park that was kind of inside the wall. Apparently, every May they have a little gathering of people who do archery and whatever else for an exhibition (I think the Florentines will find any excuse to dress up in costume). So I stumbled into this scene:
And the medieval swordsman were just finishing lancing eachother or whatever it is they do:
These guys are very serious about what they do. In the picture above, the guy has a little pouch holding his arrows. Below, they were lining up to shot at the targets:
Four would go at a time. I can't tell you if the instrument (bow?) has a special name:
Taking aim:
These were the judges/moderators--I love their costumes!:
The targets with the arrows on them:
The judges collecting the arrows, checking the locations, and scoring each contestant:
They are very proud of their "antique tradition", apparently it has been practiced in this field for many, many years:
The sign: "Campo di Tiro, Balestrieri Fiorentini"--the balestra is a crossbow (I just looked it up in my dictionary):
The Medici Chapel on the right (the red dome):
Walking back down into town I passed by some other nice gates to private residences:
And through some very green parks:
It's amazing how this is just right outside the city. By the time I got home I think I had been walking for about 3 hours. Armed with my ipod it felt like nothing at the time...but when I finally got home I realized I was starving and my feet were throbbing. It was a very successful and productive weekend at home in Firenze!
1 comment:
costume party!
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