The Viewing Deck Collections; Dan Brown's "Inferno" Tour

sightseeing the intriguing places in Florence, Venice and Istanbul mentioned in the Novel

"The human mind has a primitive ego defense mechanism that negates all realities that produce too much stress for the brain to handle. It’s called Denial." - Chapter 50, pp. 176-177

I made this post due to curiousness and fascination on Dan Brown's famous novels, on how he played my imagination while reading his book and incorporating my backpacking passion to wander them around. The adventure started in Florence, Italy last October 2013 where I headed to Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens first going to the Vasari Corridor, to Palazzo Vecchio where I found the mysterious Dante Alighieri's Death Mask, to St. John's Baptistry and its Gate of Paradise, then to St. Margaret's Church also known as Dante's Chapel. The pursuit continues on the same month in Venice, Italy by visiting the four horses in St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace. Finalizing the itinerary to Istanbul, Turkey last July 2014 in Sultanahmet's Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern.

Inferno's film adaptation to be released on October 14, 2016 with Ron Howard as director and Tom Hanks reprising his role as Robert Langdon. Filming is due to start in April 2015.

The Viewing Deck Collections; Dan Brown's "Inferno" Tour

Florence City Tour last part; other Tourist Spots

Central Europe last part; 5-days solo wandering in Italy

October 28 to November 02, 2013

Florence city tour 3rd part; Sta. Maria Cathedral, Campanile and Baptistry 

Academy Gallery (Academia de Galleria) is the hottest spot in Florence as it houses the Michelangelo's most famous works including the ORIGINAL David in all its glory. Believe the hype and deal with the lines because this one fit fella you'll never forget. Also Michelangelo's Prisoners unfinished works trapped in the stone and St. Matthew also Giambologna's Rape of Sabine Woman (a wonderful example of art rape). Entrance fee costs 11 Euro. Photography and video is NOT allowed. Souvenirs available inside. 

Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi) is the big one, take a long walk through some of the most famous paintings in arguably the most prestigious of European Galleries. For painting lovers the hours fly by. Entrance fee costs 11 Euro. Photography and video is NOT allowed. Souvenirs available inside. 

Dante's House (Casa de Dante) is where you know the life and inspiration of the Great Poet in this Alghieri's family house. If not you may laced in the Inferno's Hell or worse Purgatory and heaven. Entrance fee costs 4 Euro. Photography and video is allowed. Souvenirs available inside.

Florence city tour last part; other tourist spots (a night shot from Piazza Micheangelo viewing deck)

Florence city tour 3rd part; Sta. Maria Cathedral, Campanile and Baptistry

Central Europe last part; 5-days solo wandering in Italy

October 28 to November 02, 2013

Florence city tour 2nd part; strolling the Vecchio Palace 

Santa Maria Cathedral opens daily from 1000H to 1700H, admission free but the viewing deck at the Dome costs 10 Euro inclusive of entrance to the Campanile and Baptistry for a 2-days usage.

Il Dumo - Florence Cathedral is an iconic architecture symbol of Florence, truly a sight to behold. This church is also called "The Gargantuan Gothic Structure". The official name is Cathedral of Santa Maria del Flore and work began on it at the end of the 13th Century by none other than Arnolfo di Cambio (this guy really don't sleep). The famous dome was added in the 15th Century by Brunelleschi. Part of the utter magnificence is the architectural innovation employed to thrust the dome into the Tuscan sky.

Giotto's Bell Tower was the Santa Maria del Fiore Campanile begun by Giotto in 1334 and has 414 steps to the top, opens 0900H-1730H.

Baptistery of St. John or Battistero San Giovanni is open at 0900H-1730H. Its not just a name you know, of course the main attraction is the huge Bronze doors aka The Gates of Paradise by Ghiberti. It took him 21 years to finish There are other stunning works on the outside to walk around but the inside is literally breathtaking in its opalescence.

Florence city tour 3rd part; Sta. Maria Cathedral

Florence City Tour 2nd part; Strolling the Vecchio Palace

Central Europe last part; 5-days solo wandering in Italy

October 28 to November 02, 2013

Florence city tour 1st part; Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens

Vecchio Palace (Palazzo Vecchio) is an old palace, heads-up for Vasari's grand staircase and enter the Salone dei Cinquecento  (the first flat 500). Thee you can see Michaelangelo's The Genius of Victory. From there float down to the Chapel of Eleonora da Toledo (Bronze frescoes). Although the cream of the crop is the geographical maps room with the gynormous gorgeous "Mappa Mundi". Outside on Piazza de la Signoria very famous, fabulous, fountainous, full and is the first location where you can find, among other over0sized fakes, a copy of David's famous arse and other under-sized bits.

For me, what makes this Museum special and intriguing because of Dan Brown's "Inferno novel" is the Dante Alighieri's Death Mask. Durante degli Alighieri, simply referred to as Dante , was a major Italian poet of the Middle Ages. His Divine Comedy is widely considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature. In Italy he is known as il Sommo Poeta ("the Supreme Poet"). Dante is also called "the Father of the Italian language". Dante's death mask is preserved in the Palazzo Vecchio probably carved in 1483 by Pietro and Tullio Lombardo, most specifically in a small andito (hallway) on the first floor, between the Apartments of Eleanor and the Halls of Priors. Admission fee costs 8 Euro.

Florence city tour 2nd part; strolling the Vecchio Palace (Dante's Death Mask)

Florence city tour 1st part; Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens

Central Europe last part; 5-days solo wandering in Italy

October 28 to November 02, 2013

Milan city tour last part; other tourist spots

Starting from the hostel where I checked-in first and which is around 400 meters away from Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train station, I roam the city again by self-guided walk by a free map provided, starting back from Train Station going outwards. Getting around on the ground... Florence (Firenze) is one of the most walkable cities in the world, you will walk and you don't really have a choice. What with all the architecture and medieval wall candy - you'll hardly notice when you wear a hole through those flip flops. Thankfully, Firenze is world renowned for leather and Italy for its boots.

Most people know that Florence has some crazy pedigree - Aristocratic, Artistic, Political, Religious - you name it. But before we get to know all of this Dead Celebrities, lets take a little walk down memory lane. Florence City was originally established by none other than the Lord of the Laurel Leaves - Julius Caesar - in roughly 59BC. The original Florentia (the flourishing) was established mostly as a pit stop and trading post for Caesar's many armies heading from Rome to defend whatever tribe was attacking from the North.

Firenze, Florence, Florentia, Fuoco and Foco, Florentina la Viola! The world has been obsessed with this little Tuscan outpost ever since she was blushing bambino. Over the centuries, Florence has seen countless invasions, political turmoil, warring factions, financial boom and bust. But none of this really has anything to do with why you visit Florence. Why you are here? It's the ART! From Michaelangelo's breathtaking marble boy toys, Botticelli's shellfish delight to Ghiberti's daunting doors and Brunelleschi's Curvaceous wall hanging over... it all... That sweet and sultry Renaissance stimulates the senses and sits so nice in the soul.
 

Florence city tour 1st part; Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens