Evening star., 1937-02-28
VISIT T0F[0RENCE
IS COURSE IN ART
Fascinating Old Streets
FIanked by Noted Old
World Architecture.

FLORENCE, February 27.-"Spring-
time in Italy" which inspires the
soft, fluid Syllables, romanticized oy
the fragrance of vineyards, olive and
orange blossoms, weaves magic WlSt-
full to both students and tourists
alike when the train guard intones
Santa Maria Novella, the main rail-
way station at Florence. The city,
capital of Tuscany, and famed
throughout the world for its glorious
communal history, adds to its tran
Gull beauty of countryside an un-
fading flower in the wealth and mag
nificence Of medieval and Renaissance
buildings.
Birthplace of music and art and
a pure cultural language which origi-
mated with the sublime poetic notes
Of Dante, Florence this Spring is
expected to register thousands of
students for its interuniversity courses
for foreigners.
The curricula, which feature sculp-
lures and paintings, music and
languages, begin March Is.
Same Shops Exist.
Amid the glorious traditions for
the lovers of the palette are the same
art shops which intrigued the genius
of Donatello, Masaccio and Cellini,
housed in haunts familiar to Michel
angelo and Leonardo de Uinci. On
the span of the Ponte Vecchio, re-
f1ected in the limpid waters of the
Arno, are the ancient stalls, fragrant
in the arts of centuries. which lead
to entrances where further splendid
specimens grace the beauty Of fas-
cinating old streets. In music. the
student may tread the ground where
Verdi Wagner and Chopin sought
inspiration.
The innate charm of the city, which
Is the synthesis of all the beauty
and grace of the Medicis, peculiarly
for American thought, begins at the
railway station. The flower-em-
powered station and the towering
dark mass of the cathedral both bear
the name of Santa Maria Novella
relieved in a poetic picture by Giotto's
soaring belfry on the nearby Cathe-
dral of Santa Maria del F1ore. Here
the student steps back with time
as the slender red cupola and the
multi-colored marble decorations OF
the church reveal the sculpture, the
Latin cross and the art which adorn
the architecture of the thirteenth
century Beyond is the Baptistery
of st. John, which reveals gems OF
the Gothic age From street tc
street epochs pass in kaleidoscope
of artistic periods. The atmosphere
is strictly Florentine. The mer
carry a stamp of tradition and the
women step as from a Botticell
fresco.
Famous Buildings.
The part of the city which lie:
on the left bank of the Arno holds
great interest for tourists by it.
picturesque appearance and famous
buildings. Passing over the river by
the ancient bridge of the Pontt
Vecchio, where the two rows OF
fourteenth century goldsmithS' shops
break for the monument of Cellini
one glimpses the art from the Plazzs
Santo Spirito. Near are the cathe.
drals, the Piazza Pitti and palace
the modern art gallery and famou!
churches, all Of which epitomize the
generous phases of Florence which
remain splendid in colors in drama.
tizing the "Fatherland of the Renais.
sance" Amid the Florentine hill!
one NAV step as from q freSco into
the same peaceful gardens that the
world of artists, poet I'D erudite.
loved Mingling with this past art
modern airports, the new race track
the new stadium and the two beauti.
full 18-hole golf links. Added to it.
old-time festivals is the Florentint
Musical Festival, held in May. with
the Giotto celebrations and the In
ternational Musical Congress.