Florence herself is called the City of Flowers, and that, in the spring and summer, is a happy enough description.

But in the winter it fails.

A name appropriate to all the seasons would be the City of the Miracle, the miracle being the Renaissance.

For though all over Italy traces of the miracle are apparent, Florence was its very home and still can point to the greatest number of its achievements.

Giotto (at the beginning of this quickening movement) may at Assisi have been more inspired as a painter; but here is his campanile and here are his S.Maria Novella and S.Croce frescoes.