Afterwards, Yunluo told her friends that Yunluo and An Chuyu didn't book tickets, they could just buy them directly, which was cheaper than what these people bought. These people were actually scalpers. When they got closer to the square, they found out, oh my god! The people queuing to enter the cathedral had already surrounded half of the square. Yunluo and An Chuyu quickly lined up.

Fortunately, the team moved fast and it was easy to line up. While queuing, Yunluo and An Chuyu admired the square from a close distance. Because Yunluo had made a guide in advance, he introduced the square to everyone. In the center of the square is an ancient Egyptian obelisk, which originally stood in the center of the Caligula Arena where St. Paul was martyred.

It was moved to its current location in 1585. There is a small disc-shaped stone marker (cast iron disc) on each side, with the center point of the colonnade (centro del colonnal) vertically erected on it. Standing on the disc-shaped stone and looking towards the colonnade, the four rows of staggered colonnades originally became a straight line. The ground around the obelisk is marked with eight directions.

The symbol closest to the church is St. Peter (Sanpietro) on the left side of West Wind Square. He had unwavering faith in God, so Jesus called him "Rock Peter". St. Peter's Basilica was built on the shoulders of this believer with firm faith.

It was here that Peter was crucified. Early believers built a small shrine over his grave. As the church grew, the shrine grew larger and larger until it became this magnificent church. St. Peter holds the golden key, which means that he is the one who opens the gates of heaven.

On the right side of the square is St. Paul, with a sword in his hand, reminding everyone that he was beheaded because of his faith. "The square is surrounded by 4 rows of 284 Doric columns, and above the columns are 140 statues of saints with different expressions. They are all martyrs in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.

In the center of the square is a huge obelisk that was brought from Egypt 40 years ago. The square is actually elliptical. But the semicircular cylinders on both sides form arcs with their respective centers. There is an observation point on the square. Standing there, you will really find that the four rows of cylinders are visually merged into one row.

St. Peter's Square was designed by Bernini in 1667 and took 11 years to build. The square is 196 meters wide and magnificent. In order to connect the square with the main body of the church, Bernini added two wings of colonnades on both sides. The left one is called Charlemagne and the right one is called Constantine, each 120 meters long.

The square is therefore surrounded by colonnades, forming an oval shape, symbolizing St. Peter's Basilica's status as the "Mother of Churches". Bernini's original design also included a third colonnade, which was intended to surround the entire square, but the death of Pope Alexander VII caused the project to be interrupted, so this third colonnade became the only part of Bernini's plan that was not realized.

The line finally came. Unexpectedly, the cathedral here has the same requirements as the mosques in Turkey. Girls must wear clothes with sleeves and skirts or pants that cover below the knees to enter. Unfortunately, on the day Yunluo and Anchu met, only Minyi wore long pants. The other three did not meet the requirements and were turned away.

Luli had a coat, so she wrapped it around her legs. She entered smoothly. Yunluo and Xiaochen were troubled to find something to cover themselves. Fortunately, there were people selling scarves and T-shirts near the cathedral. Yunluo and An Chuyu didn't care about the price, and finally made a deal at 10 euros for a T-shirt and a scarf.

Yunluo and An Chuyu entered the church in such a messy way. Before turning back to the main entrance of the church, Yunluo and An Chuyu met the Swiss Guards stationed in the church. The blue and orange uniforms were designed by Michelangelo. These Swiss Guards have joined the Vatican army since 1506, mainly to protect the safety of the Pope.

They are all Catholics from Switzerland and must swear loyalty to the Pope. St. Peter's Basilica can accommodate about 20,000 people. It is 190 meters long and 8 meters wide. There are three naves. The middle nave is 45.5 meters high. The total area reaches 23,000 square meters and is 211 meters long. It is one of the largest Catholic churches in the world.

It is also the center of Catholicism and a holy place for every Catholic to worship. When they entered the church, Yunluo and An Chuyu were immediately impressed by the church's grandeur, and every column was carved with exquisite statues. The dome of St. Paul's Cathedral was designed by Michelangelo, who started construction in 1547 and built the drum-shaped columns supporting the dome until his death in 1564.

The characteristic of the tympanum is the protruding double columns with drum-shaped windows between them. After Michelangelo's death, the dome was completed by his apprentice Porta in 1590. When you enter the church, the first thing that will take your breath away is its astonishingly huge area.

The most famous work in the church is Michelangelo's "Pieta" - located in the first chapel next to the south aisle: the Virgin Mary holds the dead Jesus in her arms. This sculpture was destroyed in 1972 and is now protected by bulletproof glass. This is the only work signed by Michelangelo.

The name can be found on the shoulder straps on the Virgin's chest. In the center of the church, a cross stands on the main altar, and above the altar is a bronze baldacchino designed by Bernini. As the chief artist of the Baroque, his design and Baroque art have a light, lively and uneasy feeling. It is the most important part of the furnishings in the lobby.

The altar is 29 meters high and is surrounded by four 20-meter-high, extremely gorgeous spiral-hinged copper columns; each copper column is divided into three sections: the lower section is carved from crimson spiral lines, the middle and upper sections are all carved with grape branches and cassia twigs; many little angels climbing are also carved between the grape branches and cassia twigs.

Countless flying bees dot the branches and leaves. A huge bronze canopy is supported on four bronze pillars. In the middle of the canopy is a white dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit guiding the Pope. A standing guardian angel is carved at each of the four corners of the canopy. Between the guardian angels is a pair of little angels.

Some held high Peter's three-layer crown and two keys, while others played with Paul's scroll and sword. On top of the four bronze pillars, there were four phoenix-tail-shaped bronze pillars with their four feet rooted in the four large hinged bronze pillars below; the four phoenix-tail-shaped bronze pillars were connected together to support a bronze ball, on which a cross was erected.

Facing the canopy, behind you on the right is a 13th-century statue of St. Peter on a throne. Many people line up to touch his right foot, which has been worn smooth by the kisses of pilgrims because it brings good luck. 119 meters above the altar is Michelangelo's masterpiece.

The central dome (thedome). Facing the altar, there is an elevator and stairs at the end of the nave on the right, leading to the first floor of the dome. You can buy a ticket to go up to the dome and overlook the whole city of Rome. After leaving the cathedral, it was almost one o'clock, and everyone was hungry, so Yunluo and An Chuyu hurried to find a place to have a good meal.

The restaurants around the Vatican are expensive and they specifically rip off tourists. When Yunluo and An Chuyu entered a restaurant, the waiter greeted them warmly and took them to the dining area to choose their food. The food was very tempting, but there were no price tags. Yunluo and An Chuyu could not resist the temptation.

They ordered a lot of food, which was really good, all Italian specialties. When Yunluo and An Chuyu finished eating and paid the bill, they were dumbfounded. Yunluo's order totaled more than 30 euros, which was enough for a discounted high-end restaurant meal. The weather was hot at the time, and the friends had long lost interest in going to the Vatican Museum in the afternoon.

Moreover, Yunluo thought about how much she had spent, so she and An Chuyu planned to go back home. She had wanted to see the museum, but to see the museum, she had to queue up through the towering walls, so Yunluo and An Chuyu had to go back with regret.

Yunluo's most profound impression. The night before, Yunluo and An Chuyu took a train from Rome to Florence. They had agreed with the host on booking to arrive at the place at 10 o'clock, but when they finally arrived, no one answered the phone. They called but no one answered, which made Yunluo and An Chuyu very anxious.

Florence is a typical Italian town, with many families living in the deep alleys. From time to time, someone would pass by the alley where Yunluo and An Chuyu were. In addition to searching nearby shops and trying to contact the B&B owner in other ways, Yunluo and An Chuyu also asked everyone who passed by the alley about their situation.

Although Yunluo and An Chuyu were so blind, everyone they asked was very enthusiastic. One of the courier boys, who was originally there to deliver pizza, was stopped by Yunluo and An Chuyu and wanted to help Yunluo and An Chuyu call the owner of the store, although he understood that the meaning of the phone was that the owner had turned off the phone.

But he didn't turn around and leave. Instead, he helped Yunluo and An Chuyu greet the nearby parking lot keeper, left his phone number, and asked Yunluo and An Chuyu to wait for the store owner's reply in the parking lot. Another Italian happened to be in the box to cool off. Seeing that Yunluo and An Chuyu were in a hurry, he kindly told Yunluo and An Chuyu the wifi password.

It was used by people like Yunluo and An Chuyu who didn't have internet access. Although they didn't get a call from the owner of the B&B, Yunluo and An Chuyu found a cheap and beautiful hotel nearby with the help of a group of elderly couples who were traveling. They lay on a comfortable bed at night.

Thinking back to the difficulties of finding a house and the enthusiastic help from the local residents, I was touched. Here, Yunluo would like to express my gratitude to the hotel where Yunluo and An Chuyu finally stayed. The name of the hotel is Blunotte-B&B Centro Afirenze, which is not only cheap but also provides a great breakfast.

Five-star recommendation. The B&B that I couldn't contact was florencedowntownsantacroceapartment, which was super irresponsible and gave me endless bad reviews!

Since the friends were very tired, Yunluo embarked on a journey alone. After so many journeys, Yunluo learned that when time is tight, he must learn to make choices and focus on the key points. The most attractive thing about Florence for Yunluo is the panoramic view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, and the other is to see the world-renowned paintings in the Uffizi Gallery.

Finally, Yunluo realized both of these wishes. This is called ideals are full, and reality is even fuller. Florence is not big and can be reached by walking. It takes 20 minutes to get to Piazza Michelangelo from the north in the morning, but because the sun is not that strong, the air in the city is still very comfortable and cool.

Passing by the Basilica di Santa Croce, it is the largest Franciscan church and a fairly standard secondary cathedral. Most of the interior structures of European Catholic churches were developed based on the form of this church. This most attractive church in Florence is not only a palace of art - it contains frescoes by Giotto and others.

It is also the burial place of 276 of Florence's most famous residents - Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Dante, Marconi, etc. The church was not open at the time, so I didn't go in. It is said that there is an opera museum, which should be very interesting.

There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!

Florence is sparsely populated in the early morning, and walking in the alleys is the most artistic. The higher you go towards Piazzale Michelangelo, the higher the terrain becomes. You have to climb a slope at the end. It may be a bit strenuous for the elderly. After finally reaching the square panting, the view in front of you immediately opened up, and the beautiful scenery of Florence was in full view.

Piazzale Michelangelo is actually a high platform on a small hill. It is named after the famous sculpture "David" by Michelangelo standing in the center of the square. However, just like the David statue that Yunluo and An Chuyu saw in Piazza del Comune, this "David" is also a replica, and the original is kept in the Academy Gallery in Florence.

It can be said that no other city loves the same statue as much as Florence, where traces of David can be seen everywhere. This work, specially created by Michelangelo at the invitation of the Florentine Republic, has taken root and blossomed in the hearts of Florentine citizens and has become a symbol of Florence's freedom and self-reliance.

Standing in Piazzale Michelangelo and looking down at Florence, the ancient city is shrouded in a warm and decadent color. The Arno River flows quietly around the city. The rose-colored roofs contrast with the sunset in the sky in the twilight. The hazy beauty reveals a luxury that still exists in the prosperous times. It is so beautiful that it takes your breath away. Enough of seeing and taking pictures, Yunluo starts to walk back. Destination! Uffizi!

To reach the Uffizi Gallery, you need to cross the bridge. Yunluo took a detour because he wanted to visit the famous Ponte Vecchio first. This may be the most expensive place in Florence, with a wide variety of gold, silver and jewelry. This most famous and oldest bridge on the Arno River has witnessed the rise and fall of the entire city of Florence.

It was built in the Middle Ages and has survived wars and floods. It has become a must-see for tourists visiting Florence. It is said that the Ponte Vecchio was originally a place where locals sold pork. Later, the Grand Duke Medici found the stench unbearable and ordered the butcher shops to be driven away and replaced with jewelry shops.

In order to avoid walking the same road as ordinary people, Grand Duke Medici built the famous Vasari Corridor on the Ponte Vecchio to connect his office, the Palazzo Vecchio, and his accommodation, the Pitti Palace. Today, the Ponte Vecchio is the most famous gathering place for gold and jewelry shops in Florence, and almost all of them are handmade.

After crossing the Ponte Vecchio, you will arrive at the open-air art gallery of Florence, the Piazza della Signoria, also known as the Piazza della Signoria. It is the central square of Florence. The entire square is L-shaped. Although the square is not big, there are many exquisite sculptures on the square. The most famous of the many sculptures is Michelangelo's David, and others include the Fountain of Poseidon.

The equestrian statue of Cosimo I, the lion statue, the heads of Perseus and Medusa, etc. The one on the right in the picture above is the Loggia dei Lanzi, designed by Orcagna and named after Cosimo I's mercenary guard, who used to camp here. Originally it was a place for public gatherings.

Today, some late Renaissance sculpture masterpieces (both originals and replicas) are housed here. The two most famous statues are the bronze sculpture of Perseus beheading the Medusa on the left, with his left hand holding a severed head of the Medusa, his right hand holding a sword, and his feet stepping on the corpse of the Medusa.

It is exactly the same as the one in the garden of the Munich Palace in 2006. The bronze statue was placed here to warn Cosimo I of the fate of his political enemies. The sculpture was created by Cellini in 1545. Perseus is a famous hero in Greek mythology and the son of the main god Zeus. He and his mother were abandoned by their grandfather and drifted to the island of Seriphos.

He was taken in by the king there. In order to marry his mother, the king of Seriphos encouraged Perseus to take risks and asked him to kill the monster Medusa. Medusa was the most dangerous of the three Gorgons. Her hair was full of poisonous snakes. Anyone who looked at her would immediately turn into stone. Perseus overcame many difficulties.

He found Medusa, fought her with a shining bronze shield obtained from the goddess Athena, and cut off her head by the reflection of the shield. The statue shows the Greek hero who cut off Medusa's head. His angry and beautiful face drooped slightly, showing his inner joy of victory and the moment of calm after the battle.

The sculptures are extremely skillful and exquisite, the figures’ postures are realistic and natural, the muscles are clear and healthy, and the anatomical structures are accurate and detailed. In order to achieve a beautiful form, the author deliberately handled many details of the statue, such as Perseus’s thick hair, the venomous snakes wrapped around Medusa’s head, and even the blood spurting out of the witch’s neck. (To be continued...)