Merian - Florencie – Dörrzapf Anke (2018)

A huge number of artistic treasures, a metropolis for gourmets, and a shopping paradise – the capital of Tuscany truly has a complex character. The justification for the historic center of Florence being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982 begins with the statement that "any justification in this case is inappropriate and ridiculous" – after all, it is home to "the largest collection of universally recognized works of art in the world." Sometimes it is that simple. UNESCO is absolutely right. Florence experienced a unique flourishing during the Renaissance: Brunelleschi built the dome of the cathedral, one of the city's landmarks. Michelangelo created world-famous sculptures like David and built chapels, while Giotto erected the bell tower. Painters such as Masaccio, Ghirlandaio, and Botticelli worked in the city. The result is a unique accumulation of world-renowned monuments. However, it wasn't just visual arts that thrived during the Renaissance; extraordinary literature also emerged in the city on the Arno: Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch wrote works that influenced European thought up to modern times. Philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli penned his "The Prince," a classic work on tyrannical rule. The city continues to thrive from this cultural flourishing to this day: Every year, people long to see the buildings, sculptures, and paintings by...