Posted on

Money’s Worth

Sightseeing in Florence day 5: Last day 🙁 don’t be disheartened, I will give my full gas! #Planned

I arrived before our meeting point for walking tour about Medici Family with Gabriela, giving me some time to soaks in the Renaissance beauty.

We gathered in front of “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” church at Piazza San Lorenzo. Gabi’s theory is if the church is not so pretty from the outside, it will be pretty on the inside, vice versa. Any proof?

We went to one corner where Palazzo Medici Riccardi located, yep they owned a palace ~ doesn’t mean they were royal residence, instead just a very wealthy person who can own an impressive formal building. They started as a humble shepherd family from selling wool to one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Europe, playing a major role in banking, politics and art. They realized the great power of art, if he wants to ties some business in another city, he would sent Michelangelo and Botticelli for example to decorate Sistine Chapel.

Gabi talked about the entrance of the bank is in the corner to be easily spotted as in the past they don’t have street name. The palace was normal lookalike from the outside with a reason: Medici wants to be liked by people of Florence, spreading their subtle message “I am just a normal people like you all, I also want my voices to be heard by government”.

Next is the heart of Florence, Duomo di Firenze. The exterior of Duomo is a collections of marbles: green from Prato symbolized hope; white from Carrara symbolized faith; red from Maremma symbolized charity or love. The 16 people are not Apostles #Math ain’t mathing 🙂 they are notable citizens such as Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Dante, Leonardo da Vinci. At the center of the façade, there’s Virgin Mary and baby Jesus surrounded by 12 Apostles.

No one died #officially during the building of the Cupola owing to Brunelleschi’s engineering methods and his attention to worker safety. Not officially is one died because he drinks too much wine. We do want to live a longer life, therefore Gabi brought us to the lucky boar ~ Il Porcellino which obviously a replica, the real one is in Museo Bardini, do not under any circumstances tried to touch his snout, no luck gonna come to you. You can only touch the replica ones 😉

There is a secret passage near Uffizi connects Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace. All we need to do is look up haha #Not so secrets anymore.

Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici was the last of the Medici family, she was a smart woman, every reason why Florence still have everything is thank to her. Before she passed away she signed a packed to keep the Medici’s belonging inside Florence, it can’t be sold elsewhere. 18th February is celebrated as her day, many museums are free of charge.

I decided to go to Piazza Michelangelo, tried to use bus initially, in the end taking the same mode of transportation for the past 5 days: on foot. The view does pretty up here, some says at sunset it will be very good, seeing view of Florence from the other side. This is the Economic slash budget version for someone who wants to enjoy sunset from a higher ground. I however, will be on the Cupola 😉

I bought the Brunelleschi Pass for the Duomo cost 30 Euro consist of Cathedral, Santa Reparata, Baptistery, Bell Tower, Cupola. I am dead at this point #Too many walking. Seeing the line to get inside the Cathedral, hmmm I have bought the complete pass yo, can’t be waiting with all this free people #Devil’s laugh who only wants to get inside the Duomo.

I went first to Santa Reparata, using the other entrance, you will get inside the Cathedral as it’s located in the basement, make sense since it’s an archeological site. Back to first meeting with Gabi, she does has some point though, idk if it’s due to the Duomo is still under construction or is it only this simple hmmmm. In the Santa Reparata there is a bench, great! I sat there for 40 minutes before I move on to Baptistery.

Once I got inside, it is almost all covered due to construction. I really need to come back hey! Door of Heaven, why? Fun version: it was named by Michelangelo, it has taken ages to finish the door, he said he might have been in heaven when the door is complete. Once it’s done, he still not yet in heaven 😉 The serious version: baptistery is a crucial site for Christian initiation. Baptism is viewed as a rite of passage into the Christian faith, symbolizing the entry into a new life and the Kingdom of Heaven. Real fact: None of the door is original for there was a flood in Florence, they moved it to the Museum of Duomo.

Rest from my pass is Giotto’s Campanile Bell Tower, Cupola (got the timeslot) and Museum. I calculated if I managed to climbed the bell Tower prior my time slot to go to the Cupola. I can’t, I cannot, I am unable to can. #Reality is different from planned. What’s fortunate is this ticket valid for 3 days, meaning I can still go tomorrow morning before my flight back to Dortmund. I choose the later, went to a coffee shop, sat again for another hour, preparing my legs for 463 steps to Cupola.

While waiting on the line, I leaned on the barricade, suddenly snapped “we haven’t even started and I already tired” if I can get refund I would #First thought

Climb started, it’s all spiral, at some point I could need some seconds, sat in between the hole, letting all other people to go through. After gathered up some muscles back, I continued my journey in between a couple from Amsterdam and USA in front of me and USA Family behind me which later becomes my motivation to still continue the journey. Gabi said “if in the end you can’t going on anymore, drop it guys, its not worthy, you want to have fun on your holiday, don’t torture yourself”. Nope Gabi, I’m gonna make my money’s worth! #Dedication…or economic logic.

Finally I reached the top, the father from the USA family behind me said “if you want some pictures let me know” oh don’t worry I will have every pictures on every angle, I’m gonna make my money’s worth #Mantra. Jon and Rianne alas the couple in front of me patiently took every pictures of me + holding my bag. Without a doubt we were the loudest there on top, I don’t care, I paid for it, repeating my mantra over and over again until it’s being heard.

Thanks God I have an Asian mentality in my blood, I didn’t follow my first thought otherwise I wouldn’t have met Jon and Rianne. Leute, we really into this, we’ve got it all, all views only and view with ourselves #Were very busy!

We were second to last groups that went up at 18:00, the guide shouted “continue to go down please, its over, time for next group”. Walked passed a room of handgun or something, its not even pretty yet I’m still gonna take picture of it as a proof, chanting my mantra. We were back to inside the cathedral, one higher level in comparison to when we went up to the Cupola, what I want to express is we could see the frescoes clearly and the bottom of the frescos are so ugly fulls of devils or so. I said this to Tracy at home she commented “yeah hell is a scary place”. Stimmt!

OK we got out from the church now, we do live by our mantra on that evening. As if all the thousands pictures on the Cupola weren’t enough, we must make a picture with the truck too hahaha

Rianne is dead tired, nevertheless I brought them to the front side where you can see 4 buildings in one: Baptistery, Cathedral, Cupola and Bell Tower. She gained some energy for last couple of pictures.

Only Jon lived by the Mantra ~ he followed a YouTuber with all money’s worth tip 😉 he solely will come up to Bell Tower the next day while Rianne wait downstairs. Usually the wife is the one who comes up whereas the husband wait, well, its time for a change now hahaha. They will start later while I need to be there once they opened.

Big shoutout to Jon & Rianne, I’m really grateful we met, my Duomo experience would be totally different had I not met you two! Climbed up solo, climbed down with friends 🙂 Since we are geographically neighbor, I really do hope to see you guys again in the near future!

On my last evening, I went to have dinner with Tracy, she said once you were on the top of the Cupola, you don’t need to go to Bell Tower, it will be with Grid plus its lower anyway. Oh girl, no way, I am not only FOMO but on a mission to make my money’s worth, I still coming up hahaha. I was very happy I didn’t go on the same day to both tower or else my leg might get amputated hahaha #For real.

Next day it is! On the way to Bell Tower there is also some benches to rest, I took advantage of it. I’m not in a hurry anyway, this and Museum then I crossed all my list.

Last pass! Everything you see from outside is the replica hahaha the real one is in the museum. It is a three floor museum with statues of the churches. The idea of Duomo, look at this the “possibility” of how the Cupola might looks like based on different architect.

There is also a movie where I watched two times in Italian and English so I sat longer hahaha

Then a Poem from Michelangelo, I think was good, well he’s a legend 🙂

Michelangelo Buonarroti, Rime.

Sonnet written in the years he was working on the Pieta.

  • The course of my life has brought me now through a stormy sea, in a frail ship, to the common port where, landing, we account for every deed, wretched or holy.
  • So that finally I see how wrong the found illusion was that made art my idol and my king, leading me to want what harmed me.
  • My amorous fancies, once foolish and happy: what sense have they, now that I approach two deaths-the first if which I know sure, the second threatening.
  • Let neither painting nor carving any longer calm my soul turned to that divine love who to embrace us opened his arms upon the cross.

Closing the day with some shopping, I need to get myself something yo, reward after all this one million steps hahaha. Tracy said about a gloves leather shop called Madova and a pendant charm store at Santo Spirito called Giuliano Ricchi.

The experience at Madova was amazing, she held my hand, in an instant knew exactly my size ~ it’s 6,5, like Tracy described. The price cost either 47 Euro for Silk or 53,50 Euro for Cashmere. I don’t ask if they have any other style, I choose the silk one.

The Giuliano Ricchi Jewelry is a normal house you need to ring the bell, I bought a necklace with one charm, it cost 25 Euro.

Yes I managed to get it all, in additon sip my last Hugo.

Once more, regardless of many Baustelle, Italy has my heart. I will come back for sure, until next time Firenze!

Tips: The Duomo is a must, I strongly suggest to buy all the Brunelleschi Pass like me, yes its cost 30 Euro. Need to mentioned, other than the time slot to Cupola, it’s valid for three days, you can do one each in Ruhe.

Posted on

Frequency

Sightseeing in Florence day 4: meeting Kate in Rome, skip Tuscany sky for a bit, moving on to Eternal City. Was on the way to train station when the sun rises at 07:35 AM, finally I see the daylight!

What a coincidence that her flight from Russia landed Rome during my stay in Florence, the train distance is only 1,5 hours, our half day in Rome planned 🙂

Kate really understand the ultimate point, this is what I’m talking! People who knows how to take pictures and how to do a boot camp whilst travelling! We are in the same frequency! Rome wasn’t built in a day, but with her plan, we’ll try to see it all hahaha

If you haven’t been to Rome, it’s a must as in M.U.S.T! It’s where every street feels like a storybook. I am fortunate I was with her, she never gets annoyed at my comment “oh, what’s that?” her responses were always “let’s go closer, make picture there”, it could be very south if I go with other people. That’s my girllll!!!! you got me and you got me good 🙂

Trace back our more than 20K steps:

What else other than….. Trevi fountain! oh hello Baustelle Julius informed me about the upcoming events, jubilees ~ the holy year in 2025, caused Rome under numerous construction and restoration projects. This is the Trevi Fountain without any water guys, nevertheless you can’t take away the beauty of it. I asked her to take picture of only building, she was… you could also do it, then she got my point “you asked me because i’m taller?” yessss! if I do the picture I will get the fence only haha

Next on our list is Pantheon Rome, while walking I found an interesting Pillars, undoubtedly she is ready with her camera + squat position. I like my first photos, she replied let’s do it one more time until I like it. #That’s the spirit!

I went in to one of ancient Roman buildings, renowned for its massive domed ceiling. With the oculus – about 9 meters diameter, it allows natural light to illuminate the interior. It has symbolic meaning which represents the connection between the temple and the heavens. Wooooo amazing hey!

The outside view of Pantheon equally astounding. You can feel this building does have history! beckoning you to come inside, you will bow to.

We walked passed two historic landmarks ~ under constructions too haha church Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza: a church symbolizing wisdom and learning with famous spiral-shaped lantern; Piazza Navona: an ancient stadium turned into a square with three Baroque fountains ~ Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Fontana del Moro and Fontana del Nettuno.

I did zero research about Rome, I just went there because of meeting Kate. We stopped seeing the view at on of the Ponte until I questioned something…..

  • Kate…. that building… is it where Angel & Demons movie takes place?
  • I don’t watch the movie but it’s Vatican
  • Are we going there?
  • Yes we can go to the border, you can see from outside. Vatican is in Rome.

I AM GOING TO VATICAN CITY!!!! #Beyond believe.

Still on the journey to Vatican 😉 another landmarks show up: Castel Sant’Angelo / Castle of the Holy Angel which has serve a lot of function since it was built 2000 years ago from mausoleum, military fortress, papal residence, prison and now it’s a museum.

In front of the Vatican ~ still under Rome jurisdiction, there is Piazza Pio XII, a public space before entering the sacred boundaries of Vatican City. Kate took sooooo many picture until I got the IT picture.

In the end asked Sissy to removed all of people in the background mwahaha, my fav is the Air Jordan style 🙂 What do you think?

Stepping on at Piazza San Pietro / St. Peter’s Square which is one of the most famous squares in the world, located in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City! Let me repeat: I am LITERALLY ON THE GROUND OF VATICAN CITY!!! The place where Papa Francesco holds Mass! Felt a rush of emotions words barely capture, realizing how lucky I was to be here. The place I’d only seen in “Angels & Demons” was now right before me, it was no longer just part of a movie, rather a vivid reality, a tangible experience, one I could see, feel and remember forever. In some way, I was in a sense of disbelief realizing I was truly here. #Lost of words.

I remember when I was 16 years old in Bandung, my housemate, she is a Catholic, she was very very proud ~ borderline arrogant way saying “I’m going to Vatican” I was just listened. 17 years later, here I am, witnessing this majestic building. Never have I ever thought I would be able to be present at this awe-inspiring square.

I managed to put one feet on Vatican + one in Rome hahaha I promised myself I will come back to both Rome and Vatican, do the research so I can be inside! #Me want! One more thing to look forward too.

This dazzling experience leads me to hungrrryyyyyy we just eat somewhere, pasta in Italy = never wrong. We enjoyed the view of what we have accomplished so far from Janiculum Hill, we have walked quite a bit heyyyy! At Trastevere we could see Zara’s national war hero haha.

It’s not finised yet people, we still have got some hours before our trains departs 🙂 Kate took a silhouette picture of me inside the Church of Our Lady of Consolation near the Forum Romanum / Roman Forum a.k.a Ruins. Although the Forum now is archaeological site, back then it served as the political, social, economic and religious center of ancient Rome; lived beyond the Imperial Era of Augustus, Vespasian and Trajan.

It is forbidden to miss the most iconic symbols of ancient Rome and a masterpiece of engineering and architecture: The Colosseum we are saving the best for the last 🙂 we were talking the fact that it was a gladiator contest places, however at that time it wasn’t consider inhumane. There is no time to go inside, we just saw it from the hill.

Let me correct it, the Gelato is the best for the last! We were separated after this on Rome train station 🙂

Kate, it’s been five years, at the same time it felt like no time had passed at all, we were picking up exactly where we left off. Thank you not only for our tour in Rome, for the real conversations we had, and for being the friend I can reconnect with, no matter the years in between. I wish you all the best as you settle into this amazing chapter of life in Italy! Buona Fortuna!

‘Till we meet again 🙂

Tips: buy the ticket of Pantheon online to save some time waiting in line for ticket office. I bought the entrance on 13:00 and get in at 11:00. We asked them, she said OK, they didn’t really control the time. It cost 5 Euro but online fee 0,95 Euro so 5,95 Euro.

Posted on

No Revolution

Sightseeing in Florence day 3.

Tracy was like “are you seriously you gonna be the whole day in Pisa? It is very small, what are you gonna do there?” Noooo don’t worry, the tour will be Pisa – San Gimignano and Siena. Then she was relieved to know it, quote “then it’s OK, you won’t be bored”

Tomato tomatoes with the day before, tour starts at 07:30 AM meeting point at 07:15 AM, it does feels like a disciplinary holiday 😉 the only reason I enjoyed waking up early. On the way to the meeting point, I met a couple, her name is Meta, she said she got an Email explaining they will got a refund because the Bishop decided to have a Mass on Siena’s church. I don’t get any Mail nor WA, then I know they went in a full mode including wine tasting + lunch + guided tour in Sienna while I only for transportation version.

We’ve got 45 minutes at Pisa. Our guide Fabi explained there are 4 parts to see: Baptistery – Church – Pisa Tower – Cemetery, describes the beginning and end of life.

I looked for another solo rider, aha, found her, Nora from the States 🙂 Passed the gate, seeing Pisa was an overwhelming feeling, although it was or is not considered 7 Wonders of the World, for me it is. I always saw it in Internet now it’s right before my eyes.

When you see the bottom of it, it does tilt, the picture didn’t do the justice. Obviously you need to have a mandatory pushing Pisa pictures haha.

We circled around….that was it hahaha! The whole city was literally centered in this square haha. Previously I was confused to why should I be bored in Pisa? #Understood 😉

We’ve given up on where’s the cemetery. Some says “you’ll find what you’re looking for when you’re not searching for it”. That’s exactly happened, we find the last part of life when we were supposed to be back to our meeting point. With that, Pisa: checked!

Fabi counted if all people are on the bus, she said “please sit back at your original seat guys, no revolution” hahaha so changing the seat consider revolution now heyyy 😀

Next to a medieval hill town called San Gimignano. Meta and Nora are the full tour people, they will have their wine tasting and lunch. Which means, I explore this town all by myselffff. Right after I entered the gate, I followed arrow to Punto Panoramico, what will it lead me to? A green panoramic view 🙂

Need to refuel my energy with Lasagna + Hugo. They have the best ice cream in the world ~ Behauptet, whilst I believe it, however the lines were just too long. I prefer see around what else do they have here.

I always set up a timer on my phone, met a couple from the group asked them what time we should meet up? #Sicher ist sicher. They speak no English, either Spanish or Portuguese. I opened calculator 😉 it has many functions not only for bargaining in China but also to talked about time. Thanks God I met them otherwise I will be the one whom everyone waits for, they saved me from my walk of shame haha

Last Chianti experience is Sienna. Initially I didn’t get the grasp of it as to where should I go, somehow I took the wrong turn, is it really what this city can offer?

Luckily I managed to see the heart of this city, the Piazza del Campo where the student from Poland named Maksymillian took me as a confused tourist, brought me to Duomo di Siena. For a student, you can get in to Duomo for free, aha, it was an ancient times ago. Before we went back to the oldest bank in the world meeting point, we closed the day by sharing a very hype Ice Cream Grom #FOMO which similar to his last name Krom, nope he’s not the owner of the shop 😉

I have to say I wasn’t walking that much in comparison to the day before, yet of all the accumulated walking, I had to ask Tracy for a Voltaren or Counterpain or whatever gel to release muscles. She doesn’t have it, what she does though a massager, oh way better! She asked “so tomorrow you are going to Rome?” Yes – “At what time?” 8AM is the train – “Gosh hearing your schedule I already feel tired” haha I called it a happy kind of exhaustion 😀

Facts: I paid 65 Euro from Get Your Guide website “Tuscany: Day Trip to Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti” the full tour including lunch + wine tasting + guided tour in Siena was about 122 Euro, I do the exchange rate because Meta paid in USD. According to them, the lunch + wine tasting wasn’t so good, they can’t have options for lunch it was already prepared and the wine was too little to taste anything, they regret it.

I asked Nora what are the most interesting information from the guided tour. She explains that Siena divided into 17 “groups” who were in horse war each year to decide who would be the ruler / winner for the year. The horse was decided 3 days before the race, within 3 days they need to find the jockey and…… the horse can win without the jockey. In the end, it’s rather based on luck other than any training whatsoever. There you go 😉 now you can decide if you want for a full tour or the economic version haha

Posted on

Yes, I’ll Be There

Sightseeing in Florence day 2, I am going to Cinque Terre! Saw some pictures while I’m booking for Pisa from Get Your Guide website, hmmm… this does looks like Amalfi Coast, it’s a M.U.S.T 😉

Tracy did mentioned the possibility to go to Cinque Terre by myself, normally that what I would do but since I have not really do my usual preparation, decided to just do it with the tour, one less concern.

The tour departs at 6:40 AM, meeting points 20 minutes before, walked from Tracy’s place needed 30 minutes. Calculate backwards you know what time I should get up right? As a comparison my first alarm for waking up to work is at 6:30 AM, doesn’t mean I really got up though. However, if it’s about travel, trust me, rain or shine, I’ll be there! #Dedicated. Little did I knew when I arrived at the train station to register myself, the ticket lady said my tour is the “Bus Transport” only, doesn’t include visit to all villages, if I want to upgrade I will have to pay 51 Euro. I asked if I can take the train by myself or there is really no other transportation way other than by car? Getting yes as an answer, Ok I’ll do the first, checked on trenitalia website, the cost of each train ticket is only 5 Euro. Perfectooo!

They dropped all of us at Levanto Train station, that’s where we separated, some people goes with the groups, I bought my Cinque Terre Card for 19,50 Euro. I’m all set! Adventure for one: starts!

Cinque Terre = Five Lands, consist of Monterosso al Mare; Vernazza; Corniglia (up in the hill, bus needed or walk up 1 km); Manarola; Riomaggiore.

According to Tracy’s the best is Monterosso al Mare. I made sure it was my first station, had she not tell me, it would me my last’s as it was the closest to Levanto where our meeting point is.

Not only beach, there is a kind of Fortress here, I’ll hike up!

Where the fortress? haha got distracted by a tunnel which lead me to “city center” area offering some places to eat + church. If I continue walking, wouldn’t reach the Fortress at any time soon so I had to go back.

Now I’m ready to slowly walk up 🙂 Mind you, my legs are still sore from yesterday full day walking haha I did have my doubt, nevertheless after put one step in front of the other, it’s kind of doable. I used some chance to sit every now and then.

On the way down, well… up too, I just didn’t pay attenzione, written a graffiti “just the 2 of us” but I’m only one hmmmm

My plan next is going to the further side (Riomaggiore) then back getting closer and closer to Levanto. If they don’t have mussels restaurant, I would say Riomaggiore is not my fav, sowohl small als auch only way up, there are stairs too that leads to have no idea, I saw it and immediately throw white towel haha.

Manarola on the other hand, is walking friendly, even though at some point you also reached the higher position in contrast to when you started, you don’t really feel the hike. I’m not sure if you can swim on the beach side, it could be only on Monterosso. I do not mind, I’d say Manarola is giving me the most Amalfi Coast vibe.

Follow the path, ended up in a slightly higher level, feel so happy aaaaaaa! It could be better than Amalfi Coast due to the fact Cinque Terre is in the north part of Italy. The Italy I always have in mind.

Einerseits I still want to stay a bit in Manarola, andererseits I’m also FOMO gotta see the last 2 Terre in less than 90 minutes. Move move moveeeee, next is Corniglia. To my disappointment, it was not as good as the others. Since it was raining + located on top of the hill, I will / had to wait for the bus with the hope I would still catch the train on time to Vernazza.

Ran to the Platform, yes! made it on time. I love Vernazza! It’s good to have this as the last stop, they actually have a castle. I didn’t even know where the castle located, for some reason didn’t see it. Sara from the tour went there she said its cost 2 Euro except she didn’t have time to see the church. I do the opposite way from her.

What I like about joining a tour, got one more amiga in south of Spain 🙂

When I visit my other Sara haha, I’ll see you too 🙂 until then… ¡Hasta luego!

Much needed dinner! Tracy brought me to her favorite pasta place ~ Alla Vecchia Bettola, we both took a scooter, it was a bit juggling because the road in Florence is not smooth, in the end I manage it! The foods are delicious! I like their pasta #no question ask, surprisingly the liver of the chicken too! We go full version with ice cream! #Wenn schon denn schon.

Tips: You can also do the same like me from Get Your Guide website choose “From Florence: Cinque Terre Day Trip by Bus”, it cost 54 Euro while the full tour cost 99 Euro, if additional on the day then +51 Euro. The tour does include cruise by boat ~ if Zeus against it, no refund was given. I’m not sure how much if you go by train / bus by yourself maybe back and forth from Florence, perhaps it could cost cheaper than 54 Euro.

Once you arrived Levanto buy the Cinque Terre Card it cost 19,50 Euro and you can go to all 5 Terre, using the bus to Corniglia too. I agree with leaving Florence around 6:30-7:00 AM if you want to see all 5 Terre on one day then better arrive as early as possible. I only have no more than 1 hour on each Terre, it was enough whilst I also need to hurry. Imo, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza and Manarola are the best. The rest it’s totally OK to skip, you won’t miss much 🙂

If you can’t go to Amalfi Coast, go here, Tracy also had the same view, she commented: they both have same concept, colorful house and beaches, only the color in Amalfi is more nude. Just an alternative if you’re not mentally ready to face Southern part of Italy 😉

Posted on

A Day as an Analyst Continued

***Triggers Warning: Disturbing Content, Includes Violence, not for fainted heart***

My legs has already given up at this point, on the other hand I’m running out of dates to do this dark mystery tour therefore I kept going! #Ain’t like tomorrow.

My tour guide was Angela, she was funny, she said we only enroll to this dark mystery due to we enjoyed family drama haha she was so right! She reminds us that the tour we are about to embark based on real story, what was really happening at that time & how they handle it, not about ghost.

First we were at Palazzo Grifoni named after a noble family Grifoni who married for love. Regrettably this blissful marriage only last for 3 days because he was sent to war. Every day his young wife waits for him to come back, she looks for any sign of him from her bedroom window. Hence the window is always open, day and night, winter or summer, all the time.

Unfortunately, he never came back, he died at war. She too, died in old age. After her death, their relatives moves in, they closed the window. This is when strange things starts happening ~ weather always bad, furniture moving by itself usw. It is believed the spirit of his wife is still there, still waiting for him to return, they decided to re-open the window and the strange things stops.

The windows remains open the same way including when it’s under constructions, no one close the window ever again. Now the palace is not functioning as a palace rather a private house by Budini family. Can you spot the open window?

Moving on to the Duomo area, precisely in the corner between the Bell Tower and Santa Reparata. Angela said underneath is used to be a cemetery for noble people #Didn’t surprise me at all.

Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet while Florence has a real life version named Ginevra degli Almieri and Antonio Rondinelli. Ginevra was a very beautiful girl in the final year of 1300. She was only 16 years old when she fell in love with Antonio. However, Antonio’s family is the enemy of Ginevra’s, without a doubt her father didn’t bless their relationship, her father arranged her to be wed one month later to Francesco Agolanti. Her father said “you will not get the permission, forget Antonio forever or we can kill him.” Thus, she obeyed.

After the marriage, she was always sad, became very sick, didn’t want to eat, cry, fell into deep depression. Four years later, she was found fainted to the ground in a very bad condition with blood etc. The doctor convinced she has caught plague, she needs to be burry immediately to prevent contagious. Her body was covered from head to toe so the people of Florence won’t see it, closed in marble coffin.

The midnight after her burial, it started a storm. What they didn’t realized is….they buried her alive! Sad to relate, at that time it was “common” that people were mistakenly dead. How do they know it? Once they want to moved the cemetery, the skeleton was found not in a normal position of how people died, some died while trying to get out from it. In this case, Ginevra managed to get out of the coffin, she broke her nails, in a dirty condition with Erde & blood.

She went back to her house where Francesco lived, he and her family were in grief.. Once he opened the door, seeing Ginevra, he thought it was a ghost of her. He told her to get away, “I’ve been praying for you, you are the ghost of my wife, please leave me alone, go back to your tomb” Her own husband rejected her, she went to her parents home only to get the same answer. Heartbroken, confused, where to go? she remembered way to Antonio’s home. He recognizes her, removed her veil, welcome her to his place. Being loved by Antonio, Ginevra’s health got better then finally the two decided to get married.

Of course news arrives to Francesco and parents of Ginevra. He seeks for revenge, went to the Bishop to send executors for Antonio. Thanks God the Bishop disagreed. He said “Ginevra comes to you but you rejected her thinking it was her ghost. Since then she is a free woman” Francesco is looking for a new woman, except no mother is willing to give their daughter to him knowing the treatment he has done to Ginevra when she came back alive. Therefore, no descendants coming from Francesco.

What is happening with Ginevra and Antonio? Is it happy ending? I wish. Something happened to Ginevra, as she tries to break out from the tomb, she saw corpses in a very bad conditions namely without head etc. She became to see it everywhere she goes, on the market, at home. In today’s language she is having a mental diseases caused her to lose her mind, she’s like a baby again, impossible to cure. Antonio couldn’t take it, he died perhaps due to big suffering in his heart. Both buried outside Florence, the cemetery for normal people.

The first time she was mistakenly buried was 1. May, it is being said every first day of each month there is her spirits walking until the end of the street then disappear. The name of the street was via la donna della morte. However in year 1800 the government change the street name to Bell Tower Street for Touristic purpose.

Next we stopped at Piazza della Signoria / Palazzo Vecchio where The Neptune fountain is located at. The statue with man on the horse is one of the Medicci family member. Back then, instead of fountain, this area was filled with torture machines to remove nails, organs, including genitals from both male and female.

If a woman (only woman) survives after the torture, she would considered as a witch, consequently, she will be burn alive. They could suspect anyone to be a witch for example if you have red hair, have job without husband, independent woman, yep you might be one of them.

There were 3 ways to kill someone: First, hiring executor who wears a black mask so people won’t recognize him, he always carries an axe which could never finish the job in one cut. Second, ties both hands and legs to 4 different horses who runs in different direction. Lastly, hang for 3 days from the first floor of the palace.

One day, all of these horrible things stopped, one day to the other. Why? Because the last two male of Medicis are homosexual, they didn’t have kids therefore no successor. The last female heir Anna Maria Luisa obliged to married old king from him she got syphilis’s that caused her not be able to born a child. Medici family has a pact with Austrian family, Duke of Lorraine. First thing he did once he was in Florence is cancelled the torture on the square. Not an Italian family solved this problem, obviously the Austrians do the wrong things too. Even so, do not forget they civilized the city of Florence.

After that we went to a normal street corner that has a very dark facts, even darker to know it was happening not so long ago, on 27.05.1993. It was all starts when two judges from Palermo fights with a Mafia who has been hiding from police, living in bunker for 30 years. When the big Mafia boss got caught, they bombed the judges. The group decided to put bombed in Milan, Roma, Uffizi quarter. About 200 kg of TNT was placed at this corner, one student (Dario Capolicchio) was crossing this street being burn alive + young family (Fabrizio Nencioni, Angela Fiume, 9 years old Nadia and 50 days old Caterina) found already carbonized. You can see the bricks are different because it was the hole from the bombed where they lived.

Whenever you see two people kissing each other, stretched their arms into an olive tree meaning mafia attack in those place. On the wall it was written poem from Nadia two days before the attack as if she got a feeling something bad gonna happens.

Still around that corner, hanged a sculpture made by Barney. The blade symbolize Mafia, 5 figures represents the victim. Those 5 victims are walking in blade but never falling down. It is a message of hope and love, to let people know they will forever remains in our lives.

Gladly the tour is coming to an end, I was sick to my stomach already. As if all of those facts weren’t enough. Angela closed our evening walk by telling us notorious serial killer started in Chianti Area in 1968. Two couples around the age of 18 decided to made love in the car, they chose the wrong night, wrong place, they were followed. Somebody has a long iron stick, broke the window and shot them. The killer took the genitals of the guy, cut the breast of the lady only to attach it to her genitals then leave it on the ground. The day after, police was called, they were terrified, it was the first time something like this happened in Florence. This was happening for 14 years… the serial killer repeated it to 8 couples a French + German couple tourist became victim too. The youngest female victim was 16 years old, the oldest was 30 years old. The killer decided to cut her breast while she’s still alive to sent it to the police. How sick of a mind can someone actually do that?

In 1945 police caught a farmer who has bad record such as raped his own daughters, after some years he was declared innocent due to alibi he has. He died hanged, it was still not clear if someone kills him or he commits suicide. Strangely, when he was in prison the killing stops in Chianti… only to happened in other city. Until today the killer is still a free man, no one knows, no one being caught. The big questions is if the killer move to other place of Italy?

There are 3 main hypothesis: first, it was a surgeon because the cut was so precise. Second perhaps it was somebody works for police as the gun was the same gun from police office which could be stolen. Third it could be a practice of satanism or illegal human trafficking organ. Angela said there is a movie made from it called The most Florence in Mostrow and Zodiac. Watch it if you want to not be able to sleep for some days. It is very disturbing hey.

This dark mysteries tour is really something different, it goes beyond family drama, regardless this is facts that was happening in this city. We can’t / shouldn’t / mustn’t erase nor forget it, all we can do is hope the killer will die slowly in hell and raise our awareness of danger / predator possibility.

Be safe everyone! If something feels off, it’s off. Hope we will never ever encounter something evil like that.

https://www.arteleonardo.com/de/blog/473/mysterious-florence-the-window-that-is-always-open

https://www.arteleonardo.com/en/blog/159/the-story-of-ginevra-degli-almieri

https://www.governo.it/en/articolo/president-meloni-s-statement-30th-anniversary-georgofili-bombing/22727

Posted on

A Day as an Analyst

Sightseeing in Florence day 1 begin 🙂

When I told Julius about my Florence holiday, he directly said I must visit Uffizi Gallery and Michelangelo’s Museum. That Sunday before my trip I really sit down, arranged, booked everything.

FYI, Florence is small + Tracy lives in kind of city center, everything is walking distance within 25-35 minutes, besides the Bus App are really not user friendly, I gave up trying to understand it. First trip is from her home to Accademia Gallery where Michelangelo’s David statue placed, bought the first entry time slot between 08:15-08:30. I went out before sunrise, walked pass an expensive Salvatore Ferragamo boutique shop, Burberry with funny jacket on its mannequin, some Piazza until I reach the line queuing for my David’s.

Tracy said I wouldn’t spend more than an hour at David’s, the first floor are not very interesting because it has wayyyy too many Christianity paintings then David then room of Statues, last second floor. Just like she described, first floor is full of painting about Jesus, Maria and the Saints. Also on the second floor, I had to agree with her, at some point, you just have enough.

Wait until you arrive to the magnificent David, the one you have been waiting for, he looks very shiny from afar. The details, his eloquent pose, the size, it was really a WOW. He is the superstar in the whole Museum. Of course I asked people to take several pictures of me and David, from different angle, none of them are pleasing my eyes. Oh well, gotta live with it. These are the best I got 🙂

I started to go around him for complete look, Michelangelo is a genius! was in total AWE, how come someone sculpt someone he never sees… very handsomely? Look at his vein, abs, stature! #Melting. If only he’s a real person! #Drooling <3

I knew what room of sculpture she’s talking about, I was there. One of them reminds me of Mr. Whistler’s Mother from Mr. Bean movie haha I’m so sorry sculptor, didn’t mean to offend you.

Guess how many hours I spent there? Perhaps three! haha not because I was looking at all paintings but rather it was raining outside, at the end I was just skimming and sit for some hour before I continue my trip haha.

Walked pass Spedale degli Innocenti / Hospital of Innocents where I found this meaningful pink ribbon on the middle of the Piazza with QR code. Go visit nudmfirenze.noblogs.org it is a symbolic for women who have no more voice as they were assasinated.

We planned to have lunch together however Tracy was really swamped at work so I choose a random Pasta + Hugo place around the Duomo ~ heart of Florence. Tracy mentioned “you know we are not located near water right? so you might not get or have a good seafood pasta, order rather a meat one” Nope, you can’t stop me, Pasta with seafood it is hahaha, it’s still verrryyyy delicious!

Ready for my next analytic project: Uffizi Gallery. This is huge! as in H.U.G.E! It has many collections from Leonardo DaVinci, Raffaelo Michelangelo, Caravaggio. What amazed me the most are the ceilings! They are all decorated very beautifully.

I did recognize some of the names though, for example Julius Ceasar, Titus, Painting of Wedding in Cana, Adam and Eves, John the Baptist, Salomon. There is a red room where you can’t enter, you can only see from the sides.

I was very overwhelmed hence I decided to sit down every now and then. Tracy informed in the middle of it there is a Cafeteria, I can’t missed it. After almost 3 hours I reached it, let’s have a rest first, so much deserved 🙂 There I got the chance to know Juli from Brazil who located in Zürich, aha! since then we visited the rest half of the Gallery together 😉

She knows some art, she was very happy to see Carravagio Medusa! Look at the painting of the wine, you can see the bubbles, very real. I have to snapped a picture of the important family in Florence, the Medici!

Once we finished, we decided to have Florence “Döner” hahaha right after that we separated, I went to my Dark Mysteries of Walking Tour #First timers, very curious!

to be continued… my day hasn’t finished yet 😉

Facts: It was actually confusing to buy ticket for David and Uffizi from the official site, it always leads to B-Ticket website with 4 Euro fee. If you want to wait in line to see if the ticket office still have tickets for that day it will only cost 16 Euro, on the internet is 20. Same for Uffizi, I paid 26 + 4 while some people might get it for 19 Euro on special day or special time or so. The walking tour guide Gabriella told me, of course I didn’t pay attention about the how, since I received this info late, been there anyway. To my personal view, David is a must visit while Uffizi hmmm unless you really understand Renaissance, interested in paintings, prepared to walked for over 4 hours then you can go too, if not, feel free to skip it 😉