Depending on who you read, the most critical years were 1420 - 1450. That was the time ... that was the start of when humanity, well ... the Western World (Europe technically), began hoisting themselves OUT of the dark ages. It was the age of enlightenment; a time when visionaries and scientists and even priests began looking at new ways of thinking, new technology and new ways of building and travelling and communicating and even new music. And it all started (some would argue this point) in Italy.

So, since the "RonTom Adventures" series is all about taking you to some Real-World Locations that you may actually want to visit, I thought that this would be a fun place to have on the list (additionally, I've recently returned from Florence so ... there is that too.)

As fate would have it, one town would become the HUB ... The center of this Renaissance. Famous names like Michelangelo and Medici and DaVinci and others gathered here; I can tell you, there is an entire block in the city of Florence, with marble statues dedicated to SOME of the GREAT MINDS of the mid-15th century.

Perhaps what let's do is I'll tell you a bit about Florence and Tom can tell you a bit about what to see while you're in Florence. Florence (as a city) dates back to the B.C. era, founded as a Roman Military Colony. During its >1,400 year history the city has been a Republic, a seat of the Duchy of Tuscany, and a Capital of Italy! Florence (or Firenze) finally grew into its own during the (mainly) 15th century when, (as noted above) many residents of the town built fame and fortune in the areas of Finance, Learning / Teaching and especially in the Arts.

Today, Florence Italy is a city of over 707,000 residents (metro) in Central-Northern Italy, nestled into the Tuscan hills and straddling the Arno River.

Whether you are shopping along the Ponte Vecchio or seeking out good Italian cooking, there is still an artsy and historic "feel" to the narrow streets and scenic byways of this city.

I arrived into Florence via high-speed train but you may rather fly (or fly the sim) into the challenging runway at Florence:

I've heard that the connections are in some ways easier if you take the train to Pisa and then fly from there. Regardless, there will be plenty to see in and around Tuscany and I'd encourage you to take your time and really, have a good look around.

A little bird told me that Ron was headed to the continent and most likely would end up in Italy. Not to fall too far behind I jumped on a Lufthansa flight to Frankfort and then on down to Genoa. As it turned out I was not too far off, and I found Genoa delightful.

When I discovered that Florence was be our next adventure Ron's airport challenge tweaked my interest. I found a Skywagon (C185) to borrow and decided a Tuscany circle tour on the way over might just be the perfect introduction. LIMJ > LIRP > LIRS > LIQB > LIRQ proved to be an easy afternoon of flying and the high wing provided a wonderful view of the countryside.

Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its influence on culture. Roughly triangular in shape, it is surrounded and crossed by major mountain chains, and with few (but fertile) plains, the region has a relief that is dominated by hilly country used for agriculture.

The climate is fairly mild in the coastal areas, but can be harsher and rainy in the interior, with considerable fluctuations in temperatures, giving the region a soil-building freeze-thaw cycle, accounting for the region's once having served as a key breadbasket of ancient Rome.

Agriculture still contributes to the region's economy. In the region's inland areas cereals, potatoes, olives and grapes are grown. The swamplands, which used to be marshy, now produce vegetables, rice, tobacco, beets and sunflowers. The industrial sector is dominated by mining, as well as textiles and clothing, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, steel and metalworking, glass and ceramics, printing and publishing.

Soon enough Florence was in sight and the C185 was on downwind to Peretola (LIRQ). The field has a single runway, and the main taxiway is situated at the end of runway 5, with an overshoot/holding area at the end of runway 23. Interesting for a place that is served by some of the majors but, as is common at many smaller airports, after landing, planes turn around at the end of the runway, then taxi back down to reach the parking area and terminal.

Because of the close proximity of Monte Morello, planes normally take off from runway 23, thus forcing aircraft to taxi down the runway again to depart. Of course, none of this nonsense was an issue for the Skywagon and we soon were tied down for the night.

The city (Florence) contains numerous museums and art galleries, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to the artistic and architectural heritage, many have ranked it as the most beautiful city in the world.

Florence also plays an important role in the Italian fashion industry, and is ranked in the top 15 fashion capitals of the world. Furthermore, it is a major national economic center, as well as a tourist and industrial hub, not to mention the food.

To give you a list of the highlights would be a silly exercise. Florence is the highlight! Type it into any search engine and the virtual tours are endless. Depending on your interests there is plenty to keep you busy for weeks, perhaps months.

Given my love of architecture a stop at the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) was a must (Arnolfo di Cambio, Architect). The city hall of Florence, it overlooks the Piazza della Signoria, and the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi.

The Florence Cathedral, again a must visit, was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style by Arnolfo di Cambio (architect) and was completed by 1436, with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi (architect and engineer). The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered by white, and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival facade by Emilio De Fabris (architect).

Until the development of new structural materials in the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. Without a doubt, Filippo Brunelleschi's masterpiece.

Oh my, this little 'taste of Italy' has certainly given me the desire to plan ahead for a real-world adventure in the future, and I can assure you that Florence is on the itinerary. If you have not had the opportunity, put it on your list also.

If you'd like to see us travel to your part of the globe, please give us a shout at rontomsimmers@gmail.com