Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Arno

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as the capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art-loving, power-hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The river Arno cuts through the old part of the city. One of the bridges, in particular, stands out – the (Old Bridge), whose most striking feature is the multitude of shops built upon its edges, held up by stilts. The first bridge here was constructed already by the Etruscans, the current bridge was rebuilt after the old bridge was destroyed by flooding in the 14th century. Originally, butchers and tanners were the residents of the bridge. The butchers threw their waste into the Arno, the tanners washed their fabrics. In 1565, however, these were replaced by goldsmiths by decree of Cosimo I de Medici. Even today there are numerous jewelers in the small shops on the bridge. It is the only bridge in the city to have survived WW II intact. It is the first example in the western world of a bridge built using segmental arches, that is, arches less than a semicircle, to reduce both the span-to-rise ratio and the number of pillars to allow lesser encumbrance in the riverbed.

San Miniato al Monte is standing atop one of the highest points in the city of Florence. So the terrace below is the most loved spot for taking wedding photos. Unfortunately for the happy couple the weather was not that brilliant.

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already, when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic was ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was, when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art loving, power hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The rain ceased for an hour and so I walked up a hill, to get an overview. Seen here are the "Ponte Vecchio" crossing the Arno (left), the large tower (94m high!) belongs to the "Palazzo Vecchio", today the town hall of Florence. The small dome belongs to the "Basilica di San Lorenzo", the white triangle is the roof of the "Battistero di San Giovanni", next to this with the campanile and the large dome is the "Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore". The small church in front of the cathedral is the "Chiesa di Santa Margherita dei Cerchi"..

The Romans may have had a bridge here, spanning the Arno at its narrowest point. The "Via Cassia" crossed Florentia, a settlement founded 80 BC for veteran soldiers. For sure a bridge existed in 996. This bridge got destroyed by a flood in 1117, rebuilt - and swept away again in 1333. It was rebuilt again in 1345. Shops existed on the bridge already in medieval times (like on many bridges in Europe), but then probably butchers offered their goods here. Meanwhile jewellery and souvenirs are offered to the thousands of tourists, using the Ponte Vecchio every day. Even during a very rainy day! In 1944 the retreating German army destroyed all bridges in Florence - except the Ponte Vecchio!

Already existing in 1113, the octagonal "Church of the Holy Sepulchre" was built for the Knights Hospitaller (aka "Order of the Knights of Saint John"). It was designed by Diotisalvi, who later designed the Baptistery of Pisa Cathedral. His name is inscribed on a wall of the tower ""Huius OPERIS FABRICATOR DeuTESALVET nominatur». The church was locked, but I found a window. Inside around the altar is a rotunda out of eight pillars - and a kind of ambulatory around the center. This interior rotunda is "generic" for churches of the "Holy Sepulchre", eg "Neuvy-Saint-Sépulchre", "Drueggelte", "Northampton"..

Already existing in 1113, the octagonal "Church of the Holy Sepulchre" was built for the Knights Hospitaller (aka "Order of the Knights of Saint John"). It was designed by Diotisalvi, who later designed the Baptistery of Pisa Cathedral. His name is inscribed on a wall of the tower ""Huius OPERIS FABRICATOR DeuTESALVET nominatur».

Already existing in 1113, the octagonal "Church of the Holy Sepulchre" was built for the Knights Hospitaller (aka "Order of the Knights of Saint John"). It was designed by Diotisalvi, who later designed the Baptistery of Pisa Cathedral. His name is inscribed on a wall of the tower ""Huius OPERIS FABRICATOR DeuTESALVET nominatur».

Seen on the southern banks of the Arno river is the roof of the octagonal "Church of the Holy Sepulchre" was built for the Knights Hospitaller (aka "Order of the Knights of Saint John") in the early 12th century. It was designed by Diotisalvi, who later designed the Baptistery of Pisa Cathedral.

The tower, built around 1406 when the Florentines ruled Pisa, was part of the old "cittadella". It was named "Torre Guelfa" as an other, older tower in Pisa was named "Torre Ghibellina". In 1944 the Torre Guelfa was completely destroyed the bombings of World War II. It got rebuilt in 1956. Between tree and tower the snow capped mountains of the Apennines are visible on the horizon.

On the right bank of the Arno is the small Gothic church "Santa Maria della Spina", built in 1230. At that time it was known as "Santa Maria di Pontenovo" - I am standing on that "new bridge". In 1333 the name of the church was changed, as since then a relic believed to be a thorn ("spina") of the Crown of Thorns was venerated here. The church originally was erected right on the banks of the river, but in 1871 it was dismantled and rebuilt on the higher level.