See that beautiful Medieval tower with the crenellation? It’s the Torre di San Niccolo and sometimes, in the summer, it is possible to climb to its very top. Today was one of those times!
As I approached the Torre, walking from the center of Florence towards the east on Via San Niccolo, the tall fortification towered above the streets, against a beautiful azure sky filled with cumulus clouds.
Here’s the tower in all its glory:
Walking through the tower, which was one of the major gateways in the walls that once surrounded all of Florence, I noticed the marker showing the height to which the Arno flooded in 1966.
The Arno rose to the level of the white rectangle on the wall below. Standing where I was when I shot this photo, I would have been 15 feet under water.
If this were any time period prior to the mid-19th century, upon approaching Florence from the east, one would encounter this gateway. It projects strength and some beauty, with a few sculptural details:
Belos is a picture of the tower from the south side. This is how you enter the tower today.
Northern (exterior) façade
And, away we go.
The views from the top of the tower are spectacular. I’ll be posting them soon.