A Tribute To The City Of Florence

A Tribute To The City Of Florence Essay, Research Paper It is abundantly clear how Leonardo Bruni feels about the city of Florence. In Panegyric to the City of Florence, he expresses nothing but the highest praise for the city. Every aspect of Florence is backed by a clear reason why it is the best, and there is no other city in the world that can compare. According to Bruni, Florence has extraordinary beauty, architecture, geography, history, government, and people. This, of course, is only one person?s opinion. In the diaries of Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati, they too give their opinions on the city of Florence. In general, they do not seem to give Florence the same recognition and praise that Bruni gives. Bruni explains that Florence is a beautiful city, one which

cannot even be described in words. He notes that Florence is not ostentatious, but rather, it is elegant in its moderation (23b). The city is physically beautiful, but it also ?possesses the clearest and purist speech? (42a). ?The study of literature in Florence grows in full vigor,? Bruni points out. Pitti indirectly shows that he agrees with the art of literature by writing a sonnet in his diary (Pitti 71). Everything from the buildings to the land it sits on, Florence is claimed by Bruni to be the most gorgeous city in the world. The city is also amazingly clean (24a). Everywhere you go, Bruni is positive that you will find nothing ?disgusting to the eye? (24a). However, according to Pitti, his family had to leave the city because ?they had taken refuge from the plague then

raging in Florence? (Pitti 64). Pitti again mentions how he and his family had to leave because of the plague in 1411 (Pitti 87). Dati also states that ?there was a plague? in the year 1411 (Dati 129). In addition, Pitti recalls a time when ?citizens left the city to avoid the pestilence? (Pitti 102). Neither the plague, nor the pestilence is mentioned by Bruni. To him, Florence?s cleanliness, its attractive buildings, its good climate, and its large population all work towards making this the worlds most beautiful city (24a). The architecture in Florence is very ?distinguished? according to Bruni (24b). He is in awe of its ?spacious and ornate buildings? (24b). Not only are the everyday buildings throughout Florence a spectacle, but there is ?nothing more magnificent than the

churches? (25a). Sacred buildings are decorated appropriately, including the tombs as well (25a). Even the homes of the private citizens are ?designed, built, and decorated for luxury, size, respectability, and especially for magnificence? (25a). The unparalleled architecture in Florence is not only limited to one part of the city, but it is ?diffused throughout the whole city? (25b). Florence is surrounded by a wall (23b); but once outside the ?fortress,? there are country houses even more spacious than those found in Florence (25b). These homes have the luxury of being ?comfortable and pleasant? (25b). Bruni believes that anyone would be ?amazed when at a distance he sees from the top of a mountain the massive city, beautiful and splendid, surrounded by many country houses?

(26a). He also points out that ?in the center of Florence is a tall and handsome palace of remarkable workmanship? (25b). This palace stands out above the private houses, and it dominates all of the buildings around it (25b). Bruni restates that the awe invoking architecture can be seen in ?the grandeur of its buildings, its splendor and magnificence, the lofty towers, the marble churches, the domes of the basilicas, the splendid palaces, the turreted walls, and the numerous villas? (26b). Bruni cannot expresses his love for Florence?s architecture enough. Bruni insists that the geography of Florence is unlike any other. It is neither in the ?high mountains,? nor in the ?vast plains;? it lies ?midway between the dangerous extremes? (23b). Bruni acknowledges the wonderful climate