Europe: 3. Piza e Nostalgia di Firenze

     I was in class 4 when I read about ‘the leaning tower’ for the first time. Ever since then, I have wished to see it before it fell down. When in school, I had a great regard for those who dared to climb up to a certain level of the tower without any fear of falling down. As I grew up, my silly thoughts of school days made me laugh aloud. “Finally, the day has come, after a long wait of almost forty years!” I said to myself gladly as we began to board the coach. Yes, we were heading for Pisa (Italian: Piza). I was happy to be able to unfold the mystery which had haunted my childhood.

     Barring the mountains of Arunachal, Kashmir, Manali or Kodaikanal, generally I would take a good nap during any bus journey within India, as I did not find the surroundings quite interesting. But it was not so in Europe. Right from the moment we began our road journey from Rome airport, the background did not let me doze off for even a few moments. The sleep had not been adequate due to the journey, jet lag, and change of place. The body was certainly tired, but the mind and eyes wanted to take in the beauty as much as they could. Cottages peeped in from the farms and the grasslands, greeting us. The cattle looked cute and the small mountains in the backdrop stood firm like custodians. Apart from surprise, as it would be for any Indian on a maiden tour to Europe, the disciplined traffic was a treat for the eyes. Along with a great effort made by the administration, every citizen contributed by abiding by the law to flawless and safe movement on the roads. The rules for vehicle drivers were strictly adhered to. The captain of our coach had undergone two years of training before beginning his career. He could drive between 8 in the morning till 9 in the evening, and not more than twelve days at a stretch. He had to take a rest for at least three days before resuming the next drive. Every movement of the vehicle and the captain was being monitored by the relevant authorities. Any deviation from the laid down rules invited a stern penalty. The law is complete only when every counterpart contributes to it honestly.

     The coach stopped much before the definite premises of Pisa. The truck and coach bays are located at a distance from Pisa to protect the monument from getting affected by the emissions of vehicles. A small replica of a train, which was an electric vehicle, took us to the outer premises of Pisa. We walked down further and reached a tiny lane. We had lunch that was served in a Rajasthani restaurant. Post lunch, we walked down from the restaurant to the monument. The monument is a part of the ‘Square of Miracles’, which is dominated by four religious edifices - Pisa cathedral, Pisa baptistery, Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Monumental cemetery. The leaning tower is the freestanding bell tower of Pisa cathedral. Columns, flower pendants, and bells were mesmerizing. The tower has survived so far at least four strong earthquakes. The tilt is said to be due to soft ground. The tilt of the tower was greater during the 90s, but improved as the structure was stabilized in later years. Galileo is said to have dropped two balls of different masses from the top of the tower to demonstrate that their speed of descent was independent of their mass, in keeping with the law of free fall. The other structures surrounding the tower also amazed everyone by the details and the accuracy of the architecture. As I said in the earlier article, the knowledge of mathematics and physics during the era must have been of a superlative grade. Our tour manager told us that we would require more than a day if we wanted to explore Pisa. He also informed us that every tourist place in Europe had so much to offer and one needed at least a week to explore each place, such as Rome or Florence. Time being a constraint, we could not view the interior of the tower. While returning, we passed the tiny lane where we had lunch. We spent some time in a few more lanes near the restaurant. Peace could be perceived, and needless to mention that the cleanliness was outstanding. Again, this can be achieved only when every visitor contributes to the efforts put in by the administration. It is said that the tower is the lifeline of Pisa, being the only tourist attraction. Otherwise, the place does not have a promising means of earning revenue.

     The drive from Pisa to the Piazzale Michelangelo, a square on top of a hill, was again beautiful. Surrounded by various outlets, the square was a grand place of gathering. The river Arno flowed gently, and the bridges narrated the history. Capital of the kingdom of Italy once upon a time, Florence (Italian: Firenze) was a centre of trade and one of the wealthiest cities of the mediaeval era. Throughout the era, Florence had enormous influence in Italy, Europe, and beyond. But during the early 15th century, the centre of the Italian Renaissance moved to Rome from Florence. The square is dedicated to Michelangelo and has the statue of David in the centre, which is a bronze cast replica of the original ‘David’, one of the masterpieces by Michelangelo. ‘La Pieta’ or ‘David’; the anatomical details and the finesse of the masterpieces are just amazing. The dexterity of the artisans to cut them out of a single piece of marble in an era without advanced tools or digital devices is astounding. ‘David’ was the most favoured subject of art in Florence then, which symbolised the defence of civil liberties embodied in the constitution during the era. The visitors in the square relaxed and enjoyed wine, food, and togetherness. In spite of the enormous crowd, there was quietness and happiness. Many of them sat and enjoyed the bird’s eye view of Florence city, while their cameras waited patiently for the sunset.

     As we boarded our coach and headed towards our Hotel, it was time to rewind and play the memories of the day which had gathered in my mind, urging me to align them on paper. ‘Piza’ had certainly left a mark. ‘David’ appeared to me as an observer, narrating ‘Nostalgia di Firenze’.

(Florence- 25 Apr, 2024)

(cont.)

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