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Published: November 26th 2007
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There was another forecast of a lot of rain for today so decided it was time to see a lot of museums. Started out with the Uffizi which is the most famous of Florence’s museums. Home of several original paintings from the Renaissance period. We were not allowed to take pictures so you’ll have to take my word on what I saw! I am definitely a fan of the Renaissance period. I really enjoy looking at it and marveling at the artist’s abilities. I wouldn’t want to decorate my house with it but I do enjoy looking at it.
At the Uffizi, I was able to view Vecellio’s "Venus of Urbino". I’m not saying his Venus needed to work out but I would have totally fit in and been desired in that time period. I also saw several Raphael’s (somewhere around 10 or so) including his famous self portrait. Looks just like his self portrait in the Vatican scene he painted to mark his work. I also saw two Michelangelo’s including his "Holy Family" in the frame he also designed (which must be about 8 inches thick). Then, I moved into some other rooms and saw the "Birth of Venus"
View from Uffizi Terrace
Duomo dome in background...trying to be creative in my photo taking. by Botticelli. Loved it. I have seen reprints of this painting many times but nothing compares to the real thing. It is much larger than I imagined it would be taking up most of a large sized wall. The colors are also much more muted than I thought they would be up close. Not sure if that is due to age or if they brighten it up when they reprint copies. Beautiful, beautiful painting. It’s protected behind glass since priceless. It's apparently also the most popular print at the Museum for reproductions. In the same room is also Botticelli’s "Primavera" which I also liked as well. In another room are three of Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings (Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi and Baptism of Christ). The Magi is a rare print I’ve seen today which has people in it who are not white. This place is just full of famous originals. In another room were three Rembrandts as well as Michelangelo Caravaggio’s “Medusa” which is actually pretty scary looking and pretty well protected given it’s priceless as well.
I am a big fan of landscape artists and saw a few in this Museum which really caught my
Fountain
Check out this "little" guy. eye. Those prints were by Jan Van Der Heyden and Jacob Van Ruysdael. I was especially drawn to Paolo Pannini’s "Capriccio Architettonico" which was gorgeous and had a wonderful blue sky with an angel over a pyramid with Greek columns. However, an artist who I need to do some more checking on is Salvator Rosa. Saw several landscape prints of his at this Museum as well as later at the Pitti Palace that were just gorgeous. (I was making notes in my journal throughout my tour to try to keep everything I saw straight.)
The Uffizi is a huge museum with over 40 rooms of art on the second floor. They’ve tried to separate the art as much as possible by artist which is helpful. It was built to showcase all of the Medici art collection. Took a break and had a cappuccino on the Museum terrace before I headed off to my next stop. It was raining so put on my windbreaker. My pictures are dreary as a result.
After crossing the Ponte Vecchio Bridge and taking several photos, I made my way to the Pitti Palace which is now a Museum and home to a large
amount of Renaissance art as well. Not allowed to take pictures of the interior here as well. Grrr....The Palace was built by the Pittis who were importers of French fabric. They apparently had a little feud going with the Florence Medicis who basically ran Florence. They built a palace to outdo the Medicis. Problem was, they went broke and the Medici’s then bought it and made it their own. That sucked for them, obviously. The Palace is on a hill with great views of the city. It is also massive and my tour book said it was believed to be the premiere European residence until Versailles was built. Eventually, the Medici’s were run out of town and the palace was eventually sold to the Hapsburgs (of Austrian fame) and eventually given to the government for a Museum. The Medici’s were obviously lovers of Raphael’s work because there were around 10 of his originals there. In the Palace are at least three floors with the bottom two being an easy two stories each. High, high ceilings which are all painted or incredibly decorated with gold leaf. I especially loved the painted ceiling showing the Birth of Baby Jupiter. Very light and
airy. Some of the rooms were way overdone but then when you have about 100 rooms, I’m sure you run out of ideas. I’m not a fan of French design so the rooms with walls lined with bright red and gold fabrics were not my thing. They would have kept me awake at night. Very heavy.
The upper floor also has some works Post-Renaissance as well as some Greek sculpture. An additional painting was one titled “Maternity” and was a woman pinching her nipple. I know, I know, it makes sense but seemed odd. Also on the upper floor was a Costume Gallery and it was very clear to me that women in those days were much tinier than we are today. Small, small dresses with very pointy shoes. My feet would have hated that time period but I must have had some great of a grandmother who I inherited these wide feet from who suffered through it. After the Gallery, went outside to tour the Gardens. It was drizzling a little when I started but after I while it finally quit for the day. Did not tour the entire garden because it has to be several acres. Massive,
just like the house. Very pretty and built over several levels which exhaust you climbing.
I then had a very late lunch and then meandered my way back stopping in my favorite square Piazza della Signoria and at the Duomo again for some final pictures before sunset since the rain was finally leaving and some blue skies were peeking through.
Despite the weather, it’s been a great couple of days in Florence. This city is amazing as to the cultural hold it had during the Renaissance and consequently still has. It’s all packed into one little city and worth a visit.
Tomorrow…am off to Venice for my final city of my trip before heading back home.
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Judy Muniz
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Pitti Garden
Hello!! I wento the Pitti Garden in 1999 almost 10 years ago, .. I got lost..with my daughter .. but I found a beautifull armony in the garden .. spirits full of joy in there. Bless you!!!