A Journey Through Northern Italy, ca 1950

[Music] [Music] the mystery of this famous smile lies in the word knowledge the genius of a painter was not enough to produce such a work of art a universal genius was required the genius of Leonardo da Vinci master of all the arts he was also a precursor of most modern sciences at Milan looking at his sketches and a drawing of a wing in flight we realized that debt we owe him they are the first outlines of the airplane which has just flown as safely and comfortably to Milan what da Vinci himself recognized this 2,000 year old city today a prosperous metropolis with a million and a half inhabitants when he recognized the famous Cathedral began in 1386 it took five centuries to build the immense dome the most impressive and complex gothic construction literally gaze at its forest of spires and fretwork a silent world at 4,400 statues and sir Monning the mall 310 feet from the ground the graceful figure of the Virgin we choose one of the five great highways part of a vast network of roads to lead Milan and soon reached the lake of Garda around which wines the perfumed root of the lemon trees oranges and lemons are the golden food of this earthly paradise [Music] the gel shorris sloped down to the water with the balmy climate flowers here bloom all year long and Gotha is the ideal place to play tennis and golf to go right a boating swimming waterskiing or even lower skating [Music] for those who prefer less strenuous pastimes there is the gambling casino or Dolce Far Niente which means sweeten activity there are strolls - perhaps to the house of the celebrated poet DiNunzio regular steamer and motorboat services per all the lakes silvery waters gliding past fabulous villas [Music] the boats take us to ports bathed in sunshine got a toenail on my Darrin Oh before leaving the lake of Garda will go to come puree and have a last look at the sailboat preparing for the regattas [Music] and now off to Pisa I salute first of all to the Leaning Tower of Pisa one of the wonders of the world then crossing the Tuscan countryside we come upon Florence they that are transparent and milky light a city unique in the world in Florence the Fine Arts seem to have discovered their chosen city a city built on a human scale the result of man's joy and effort allied with climate nature and the heavens themselves the 14th century the Quattro chendo was the Golden Age of Florentine art in this century the Ponte Vecchio was built linking the Pitti Palace to the city the old houses nestling on the bridge Schuller the artists who have kept the lie of the century-old secrets of jewel making and the tradition of small crafts and trades [Music] with the possible exception of Venice Florence more than any other city has blended the advantages of modern life and tourist hospitality with the splendors of ancient days [Music] let us visit some of the famous landmarks the Santa Maria de fury is the Cathedral of Florence the gun in 1296 it is easily recognizable by its grandeur its noble austerity and as checkerboard facing of green and white marble each detail has its own distinctive Beauty blending in with a harmony of the entire structure [Music] a few steps beyond and we come back to the busy atmosphere of everyday life time has been kind to the ancient house where Daddy lived an arrow and picture at Street brings us to the dwelling place of Michelangelo [Music] further on we find the franciscan church of santa croce pantheon of italian glory for michelangelo lies at rest in the company of Galileo Machiavelli Alfieri Rossini and Fusco the menacing shadow of someone Allah hangs over the square tower the old palace of Assyria a treasury of sculpted masterpieces of the renaissance escaped the destructive fanaticism of the monk then on the downfall of the Medici art has always triumph in Florence [Music] the Pitti palace collections vayan splendor with the masterpieces of the effete sea close by the famous boboli gardens where a dance festival is held every year the breathtaking bulk before we enter the palace itself for centuries the florentine painters have fascinated travelers each picture merits hours of study each detail is absorbing let us stop briefly for a look at the works of petty celli giovanni da fiel a [Music] Ron Jericho to understand the painter of angels we must visit the entire hillside of piazzoli Frangelico was born in this unique spot a favorite with every successive civilization it boasts vestiges of antique Rome of the Etruscan era [Music] and of the Franciscan monks [Music] yes early today has lost none of its ancient charm [Music] each year in front of the Palazzo Vecchio the concho procession reenacts the ancient rivalries of the greens and the Reds descendants of those heroic Florentines who went on playing under the fire of Spanish bombardments in 1530 the costumes we see date from this period [Music] a huge ox is the official prize [Music] [Music] and now the game gets underway [Music] our pasta was a game of Roman origin a combination of football and rugby with a touch of wrestling thrown in [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the winners and they will take possession of the Ox [Applause] the Spanish bombardments of old have now been replaced by a brilliant display of fireworks it's reflection still trembles in the waters of the Arno River as we leave Florence why landscape changes we are nearing the mountains after the lake of credits we discover the Dolomites [Music] here we are at Cortina d'Ampezzo the most modern and best equipped of the mountain resorts in the Dolomites [Music] what joy in filling your lungs with pure mountain air dizzy peaks in the silence of eternal snows yet we can pluck the flowers on the sunny slopes in Cortina the Olympic skating rink is open all year round [Music] here present champions and future champions come to train [Music] after an exhibition of their skill it's the invitation to the dance but it's all too brief other pleasures summon us the pleasure of seeing Bennett's the fabulous city of Venice built on water between the lagoon and the Adriatic let us float down the Grand Canal the watery boulevard throng with more abode steamboats and of course gondolas time takes on a new visit here we're in the realm of the Lord's and the doges masters of the sea each stone each palace each church attests to the sovereignty of their rule [Music] [Music] you would not be surprised if the Doge himself appeared on the balcony of his palace or walked down to the Piazza de the little square in front of it among the pigeons who flocked there [Music] the bronze more who strikes the clock in Venice calls our attention to the perfect artistry of these surroundings here is the fantastic Basilica of st. mark a fascinating blend of Romanesque in Byzantine styles this is the realm of wealth and splendor and on st. Mark's Square named after the patron saint of Venice everyone is preparing for the festival [Music] now the dawn's more strikes the bell again it is the luncheon hour depending upon your mood you can choose a picturesque drop area or the comfort and luxury of your own hole [Music] the enchantment of Venice is meta fold the Bridge of Sighs recalls the prisoners who passed over it to evitable and agonizing death what strange peace in the city without a single car [Music] admire of a delicate and fragile creations of the Murano glass works where even the most modest workmen as an artist [Music] like a hot moving pallet the melted glass is first tinted then transformed with a breath into those varied exquisite and harmonious forms we call Murano glass [Music] [Music] and now it is your turn to dance or to go for a ride then crossing the lagoon you'll reach the famous Lido Beach where all the pleasures of the best summer resorts awake you [Music] [Applause] [Music] when the clock strikes three back to Venice this is the hour of lovers of eternal Ronnie booze for Venice has always been the accomplice of love young love or old love [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] and now gliding through the air like the winged lion of st. mark you end your journey in the supreme comfort of an Air France plane you lean back in your seat and try to recapture those splendid imperishable memories of Venice [Music] as we saw a westwards we peer down and catch a fleeting glimpse of Mobe law last souvenir of a magnificent voyage to northern Italy [Music]