From Florence to Lucerne

Category: My latest Europe trip | Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 1:12 pm

From Florence it was on to Lucerne. We passed through Bologna and Milan on the way, although we did not stop, except for rest breaks.

The scenery in Switzerland is stunning. So picturesque. The Swiss have a saying. "Every direction is a picture", and it is true. Wherever you look it is worth a picture.
During our trip we took over 3,000 pictures, some were a bit blurry! But most came out OK.

Here are a few on the way to Lucerne, in Switzerland.

Finally, arriving at Lucerne we went immediately to the "Lucerne's Lion Monument" as it would be dark soon.

The Swiss have a long tradition of supplying mercenaries to foreign governments. Because the Swiss have been politically neutral for centuries and have long enjoyed a reputation for honouring their agreements, a Pope or Emperor could be confident that his Swiss Guards wouldn't turn on him when the political winds shifted direction.

The Swiss Guards' honour was put to the test in 1792, when - after trying to escape the French Revolution - King Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, and their children were hauled back to the Tuileries Palace in Paris. A mob of working-class Parisians stormed the palace in search of aristocratic blood. More than 700 Swiss officers and soldiers died while defending the palace, without knowing that their royal employers - like Elvis - had left the building.

In the early 1800s, the Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen was hired to sculpt a monument to the fallen Swiss Guards. The sculpture was carved in a sandstone cliff above the city centre, near Lucerne's Glacier Garden and the Panorama, and it has attracted countless visitors since its dedication in 1821.

This dying beast is draped over his bent and war damaged shield, indicating his "commitment and honour to King, Pope or Emporer", and with a broken spear sticking out of his flank, signifying "his commitment unto death". The writing underneath is Latin (Sorry, I can't translate that!)

Here is a closeup view.

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Gardenstew wrote on Thu Nov 03, 2005 1:42 pm:

I would like to visit Switzerland, it looks amazing.

That sculpture is marvellous indeed. Quite symbolic. Idon't know how these artists do it, so talented.

looking wrote on Thu Nov 03, 2005 1:54 pm:

Yes, it is truly stunning scenery. I think my 2 favourite places were Austria & Switzerland. Although things are fiarly expensive in Switzerland. (compared to other places.)