Firenze Santa Maria Novella

I was planing to do those pictures for months even before I got my new camera last year. 

This building attires me since I first came to Florence. I admire it especially during the night when the light underlines the architecture, its geometry and plasticity. Thanks to a strong contrast between the shades and the lights it is possible to see clearly the line of the building. All neons are shining brightly and the station is almost empty. This is when the architecture plays the main role. 

Often from people who come to Florence I hear many complains about Firenze Santa Maria Novella. They find the station not inviting at all, anonymous and silent. They remain indifferent to it.

Me instead I adore this building, every detail, all the surroundings: the station itself, the platforms, the waiting room, the Palazzina Reale from the side of Piazza Adua. I agree that the station is not in very good conditions (as most of the train stations in Europe). Moreover, it is in continuous restoration like many, many, many buildings in Florence, but still, I simply love it. 

I remember surprised faces of the people that were looking at me with suspect when I was taking pictures. Many asked me: "What is beautiful here?". 

Nothing. Or maybe everything?

A bit of history?

The station was built between 1933 and 1935 by Gruppo Toscano with Giovanni Michelucci as the leader. The aim was to unify the new station with the historical outlook of Piazza dell'Unità and the Santa Maria Novella Church in front of it. It explains the use of pietra forte on the outside of the station from that side. It is one of the greatest examples of rationalism in Italian architecture. 

For you from me Santa Maria Novella train station:

Santa Maria Novella station, June 2012.

...following the white rabbit...

When you do your research in art history it is very easy for you to loose all the passion you have for art. Art for an art historian has to become an extremely rational issue. You deal with commissioners, social background of the artistic production, exchange between different centres, iconography, style, school and so on. And then you forget why actually a work of art attired you attention. You don't see the work of art anymore but you see all that surrounds it.

On one hand I like it because I become more and more conscious of what I'm seeing. On the other hand sometimes I want to forget that art is actually my profession. In those moments I just go to see an exhibition (likely of contemporary art). Looking at the works of art I have never seen before I move my imagination just to remember myself that in the end to believe in art you have to have the courage of a child who sees a white rabbit and decides to follow it. 

Piazza Santa Croce, Firenze 2012.

Sculpture and space

I wanted to write this post already some time ago but I've never had a quiet moment to sit myself with a cup of tea and tell you something about the photo that you'll find below. 

It's not a great picture but I like it because it shows one of my favorites squares in Florence, Piazza Santa Trinita. 

It's one of the places in Florence where the space is invaded by the sculpture. 

On the square there is the Santa Trinita church on the left, the Palazzo Spini Feroni and the Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni on the right, the Column of Justice in the middle of the square. Palazzo Spini Feroni was built in the 14th century, Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni in the '20s of 16th cenutry by Baccio d'Agnolo. The column of Justice was donated to Cosimo I de Medici by the pope Pius IV in 1560 and the facade of the church was redesigned 30 years later. In this case the chronological order is quite important. The point is that the statues on the facade were the last element added to the square. If you look closely you see that they unify all space. Saint Alexius from the facade is looking up at the Justice. His glance directed out of the facade makes the space of his niche 'weaker', he seams less attached to the wall. He is also giving meaning to the space, to the distance that separates him from the column and from the figure of Justice. It creates a sort of meaningful tension between them.

It's not the only place in Florence where the statues virtually occupy the space of the city. Saint Thomas is slides out from the niche on the facade of Orsanmichele, Perseus is jealously observed by David and Hercules (there is a great essay on that by John Shearman in his Only Connect if you want to read more...) and probably many others that I still haven't discovered. 

So walk carefully through the city, the statues are watching you!

Piazza Santa Trinita, Firenze, 2011.

Le Cure

I was always asking myself if my love to graffiti depends on fact that I study monumental frescoes. Maybe yes, maybe no, but the fact is that I love graffiti. All these funny monsters, impossible creatures, funny stories - I like it. That is why I was so happy when I discovered the underground passage in the Cure district in Florence. I was amazed by this incredible net of corridors with walls all covered by funny images and colorful writings. I new that I have to photograph it and I did. Here are some of the results: 

Le Cure, Firenze 2011.

Street art

Many times walks in Oltrarno can surprise...

Street Art, Firenze 2011.

Lungarni

Siena grew thanks to Via Francigena, the main medieval road that was used by pilgrims on their way to Rome. Pisa had the sea and its port while the heart of Florence was (and still is) the Arno river. It was the Arno that made possible the development of the textile industry and the trade so the river made Florence possible. 

There is something magical in this river. Very often I just go for a walk along the river: from Cascine park, to the Ponte Vecchio, then San Niccolo' and back. The sound of the water settles me down, it makes me happy and calm. Lungarni, the streets along the river, are probably the most beautiful streets in the city.

View on Ponte alla Carraia and Lungarno Corsini, Firenze 2011.

My and my scanner reunited... Blog's revival!

After a long break (too long) I am back!
I am in Warsaw for Christmas and that means that I can finally scan my negatives!
The good news of 2011 is that during the summer I bought myself a wonderful Mamiya RZ67 and now I am scanning all my new photos made with this wonderful camera.
As this year I have lived in and I have visited few different places so... I brought some pictures that I can share with you.
I should start with showing you a place that took my heart and obsessed my brain, that infiltrated itself in my life and do not want to let me go... against any logic and any rational explanation.
It is obviously Florence with its art and its history.
I love to wonder through its streets and read the history from the buildings, bricks, facades of palaces and churches, try to figure out the names of the families whose coats of arms are exposed on them. And I like to picture her.

So today for you Piazza del Limbo with the church of Santi Apostoli:

 Piazza del Limbo, Firenze, 2011.