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| LOCATION
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From the central railway station of "Santa
Maria Novella", a taxi to the hotel will take
about 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a bus, either
number 36 or 37 to "Porta Romana".
Get off the bus just before the old city gates. Walk through
the arch and take the first left into "Viale
Machiavelli". After about 200 metres, turn
right into "Via Michele di Lando",
where our hotel is located almost immediately on the left
hand side.
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| San
Giovanni Batistry
When the baptistry was constructed nobody is quite sure however,
several Sarcophagi dating back Roman times have been excavated
on the site which clearly indicate ancient originas... for
your infomation a sarcophagus isa stone container for a coffin
or body, the word comes from Greek "sarx" meaning
flesh, and "Phagos" meaning to eat, so sarkophagos
which means "eater of flesh". dedicated to St. John
the Baptist, later patron saint of the city, are still uncertain.
According to tradition and ancient folklore the temple was
used as a place of worship to th Roman God of War Mars. Not
everyon agrees with this theory and some say that the building
dates back to pre-Roman times and was formerly the residence
of a barbarian king... Today in the Museum Opera del Duomo
you can view the statue that many believe depicts the Barbarian
King that once stood at the entrance to the Ponte Vecchio.
Dante Alghieri in his most famous book the
Divine Comedy called San Giovanni's Baptistry "beautiful
San Giovanni" (Inferno, canto XIX) Many other scolars
and patrons of the arts have also made many compliments and
include such revered figures as Michelangelo who referred
to the Bronze Doors carved by Ghiberti as the "Doors
of Paradise". Unfortunately, this iPIX tour of the Baptistry
doesn't show the intricate detail of the doors which are only
really visible if you go to Florence. So what are you waiting
for? Go ahead and book your room with us here at the Villa
Carlotta and spend the rest of your no doubt precious time
organising your itinerary...
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