I am on a tour of Italy with my husband. We wonder which of the Italian wonders is the most beautiful. We appropriately begin our investigation in Rome. I say it is appropriate in that the Italian history is dominated by Rome and the Romans. First we see the great fountains and architecture, the Spanish Steps and the three sisters.
Then we tour the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and are introduced to the genius of Michelangelo. The tour guide tells us that Michelangelo never came down from the scaffolding during the four years required to complete the work. It was a commission that he did not want, but could not deny the pope’s request. He even added a self-portrait of the tortured artist (himself) on the ceiling.
However, the image of civilized Rome is offset by the stark beauty of the Roman Coliseum. Lions are released into the Coliseum separated from the fans only by netting (which is sometimes insufficient.) The floor could be flooded to simulate navel battles. Crocodiles are kept in the water to encourage combatants to remain in the boats. Ghosts of Roman prisoners from a thousand years haunt this edifice. This shows Rome not only as a brilliant luminary in the advances of man, but also a dark and brutal society.
From Rome, we move on to another giant in the progress of human development; Florence, home of the Renaissance. Florence is also home of my favorite statue, Michelangelo’s David. The statue shows a young man, not a child. He faces Goliath without fear or bravo. He is surveying the coming battle lightly balanced on the balls of his feet, ready to throw the stone from the sling at the appropriate time. Michelangelo resisted the urge to create another heroic statue instead creating a thoughtful interpretation of the famous battle.
We arrive on the outskirts of Pisa to a hubbub of vendors surrounding the wall that, in turn, surrounds the collection of buildings that include the famous leaning tower. Having been forewarned, I keep my valuables close and move past the aggressive in-your-face vendors inside the wall.
Moving inside the wall, I am greeted by not only the famous leaning tower, but the other three buildings. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the freestanding bell tower of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the Cathedral. It turns out the collection of the four buildings is argued to be the most beautiful set of buildings on earth. The startling white marble settled on the green lawn is indeed striking and very beautiful.
The beautiful buildings of Pisa, the statues, fountains, and buildings of Rome, the stark beauty Roman Coliseum, and the statue of David are so very different that I cannot chose a single one as the most beautiful. However, I have experienced and been moved by each of these beauties.
