Italy Part II: Florence

So although I flew into Bologna, my classes began and ended in Florence. My quick take on this city: incredibly beautiful architecture and scenery, full of culture and history, but also pretty chock full of tourists (we were there in peak season) and people speaking English. But I really did love everything I saw and ate there. Here are pictures of that remarkable city! 

The Basilica della Santissima Annunziata

This was the first piazza (or town square) we visited - Piazza della SS Annunziata - this is a statue of a Medici noble - one of many around Florence. Notice the view of the Duomo!

Florence's main cathedral - Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Brunelleschi's Duomo di Firenze) completed in 1436. You can see the Baptistery of St. John in front is undergoing construction...as you might imagine in these old cities, repairs and restorations were everywhere you looked.

Piazza della Repubblica

A bronze model of the city in Piazza della Repubblica

And from above...can you spot the bronze model from the above picture?


Monument erected by Donatello in 1431 at the crossing of the Thistle and Decuman, two main roads from the Roman period.

Piazza del San Marco

Palazzo Pitti

These are all around town - cast iron rings used for centuries to tether horses. 

One of many evidences of WWII bombing. 

The entryway of one of the noble Florentine family homes. Descendants still occupy upper levels and rent out the ground level as storefront property.

Geeeelaaaaato...

My roommate Taylor and I on the steps of the Uffizi gallery - home to a multitude of Italian masterpieces.

A beautiful Michelangelo - see placard below

 "Annunciation" - Leonardo da Vinci's earliest complete work, completed while still an apprentice for Verrocchio. 

"The Birth of Venus" by Botticelli

Snapped this picture of the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) from the third story of the Uffizi. This is the only bridge Hitler did not destroy when he blitzed through Florence. 

Mmm...like a sparkling lemonade.

This is the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) - the heart of political and civic affairs in Florence.

And inside...

You'd never know I was a tourist.

The chalk artists were unbelievable.

Panoramic on the River Arno

Bust of Benvenuto Cellini (famous goldsmith, sculptor, soldier and musician) on the Ponte Vecchio.

So after a walking tour of Florence, lunch, gelato and the Uffizi Gallery, my class dispersed. We had a few hours before dinner, and I considered how best to spend them. I had an internal debate about spending the 10 Euro to see Michaelangelo's David. I'd just seen a replica outside the Palazzo Vecchio, but I heard the replicas were no comparison. My friend Amanda and I were lucky enough to secure tickets (thanks to our sweet classmate) to the Galleria dell'Accademia where David is housed, along with other paintings, instruments, and sculputures. 

We saw many Stradivari's...

This is the father of all pianos.

The Accademia was once a literal academy. Those little black dots are tiny nails hammered into the plaster to act as reference points for students.

But the main attraction was David. All the anticipation made my heart flutter when I turned the corner and caught sight of the 500-year old masterpiece for the first time.



For contrast's sake, here's the replica I'd seen earlier:



And here is the real thing:

I was blown away. Maybe it was the scale, or the way he was perched high in his own private rotunda, but I felt like I was meeting a celebrity who had earned every bit of his fame. Amidst so many other adoring fans, I marveled at the exquisite detail and contouring. Every tendon, muscle and vein.....somehow Michaelangelo created this stunningly lifelike figure out of a hunk of discarded marble.

There is a rounded bench that lines the wall behind him, and we just sat and absorbed the beauty. So grateful I chose to go! Here's to taking full advantage of our opportunities in any given place and time.