Florence: The Leisure Life
Florence was well known and enjoyed for its slow paced life. The British tourist Thomas Gray remarked that a person could "get up at twelve o'clock, breakfast till three, dine till five, sleep till six, drink cooling liquors till eight, go to bridge till ten, sup till two, and so sleep till twelve again" (Gay92).
Florence was one of the cities most affected by Austrian domination. It actually was a beneficial experience for the Florentines. Leopold I, the son of Marie Therese of the Austrian empire, took over control of the kingdom after the last Medici died. He instituted many new Enlightenment influenced reforms, like equalizing the judicial system for all classes, eradicating the death penalty, and restricting the privileges of the church. Unfortunately, the drive for reforming old laws died down after the French Revolution began, as there was a fear that a revolution could occur in Italy as well.
Tobias Smollett quite enjoyed his stay in Florence remarking that, "Florence is a noble city, that still retains all the marks of a majestic capital, such as piazzas, palaces, fountains, bridges, statues, and arcades" (Smollett 204).
However, Smollett notes the decay of the city as he scans the churches. "Several of these churches, however, stand without fronts, for want of money to complete the plans". He later notices that for such a large city there is very little trade. This is an indirect reference and eye-witness account to the economic suffering of Italy at this time. Even with these hardships, the city of Florence is still full of remarkable architecture and beauty.
San Miniato al Monte
Looking at the artistic works in Florence was an essential part of the experience. The picture below represents the Tribuna room. This room in the Uffizi Gallery became the spot for British tourists to drink tea, look at art, and paint. This painting was commissioned by the royal family to commemorate that experience.
Tribuna room by Johann Zoffany.
Image Sources:
View of Florence (Hibbert 114).
Tribuna Room (Hibbert 116).
San Miniato al Monte <http://sights.seindal.dk>.