Ticking off the bucket list
By Lee Hyon-soo
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A visit to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, had been on my bucket list ― the list of things I wish to do before I kick the bucket, that is, before I die ― but I did not get around to traveling to that city until recently.
The word “renaissance” literally means rebirth, and in a broad sense, the Renaissance was the rebirth of the Greek and Roman civilizations. To be more specific, the Renaissance was, according to Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, “the transitional movement in Europe between medieval and modern times in Europe beginning in the 14th century in Italy, lasting into the 17th century, and marked by a humanistic revival of classical influence expressed in a flowering of the arts and literature and by the beginnings of modern science.”
The Renaissance is generally considered to have started in Florence. Many Renaissance giants lived and worked in that city, including Francesco Petrarch, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Dante Alighieri and Giovanni Boccaccio, to name a few. I visited the city to see their legacies and tread on where they moved about.
I recently traveled to Europe in part to tick off a visit to Florence on my bucket list. My wife and I did not fly directly to the city, but rather, took a roundabout route. Taking advantage of our sojourn in Seoul, we joined a group of Koreans who set out to tour six cities in Europe, including Florence.
We flew to Paris and spent two days there sightseeing. The city was not new to me because this was my third visit. In Paris, we boarded a TGV train bound for Geneva, where our coach tour started.
We were driven to Interlaken, where we climbed Jungfraujoch by train. Rising 3,454 meters above sea level, Jungfraujoch is a notable saddle in the Bernese Alps, connecting the Jungfrau and the Monch. As our train went up and down the mountain, we were overwhelmed by the spectacular scenery and fantastic views through our window.
We then moved to Milan for a quick sightseeing, and from there, we proceeded to Venice, which is situated across a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by bridges. Parts of Venice are renowned for their beautiful settings and their architecture and artwork. We explored the city through a walking tour, a boat tour of its canals, and gondola rides. Venice is a beautiful city worth visiting.
At last, we arrived in Florence, my premier destination. First, I went to Piazza della Signoria to see Michelangelo’s David, a Renaissance masterpiece. To gaze at this famous statue was a breathtaking experience, until I learned that what I saw was a replica. The original statue, which was unveiled here on Sept. 8, 1504, was moved to the Galleria dell’Accademia in 1873 and later replaced by the replica.
I saw many historic sites in Florence, including the Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore), the Baptistery of John the Baptist, Ponte Vecchio (Florence’s first bridge across the Arno River) and Santa Croce (the largest Franciscan church in Italy). I also visited the Museum of Dante’s House, which had been dilapidated by time and rebuilt in the first decade of the 20th century, right where the Alighieri family homes once stood and where in 1265 Dante was born.
Our tour ended in Rome, where we paid homage to the vestiges of ancient civilization scattered throughout. Although Rome was great, I had seen it once before, a long time ago, and thus, was not as impressed this time around.
The writer is a retired international banker who lives in Toronto. His other writings are posted on his blog, https://blog.daum.net/tom_hslee.