Blogs from Italy, Europe - page 2

Bcc:​Janell Morillo VP;​Cole14822;​rkmm_79;​sluoni1956;​jwsfpe16;​gerrytraveler;​fennag2;​moore-j;​+57 others​​​​​​​​​​​​Sat 1/6/2024 8:50 AMimg=https://attachment.outlook.live.net/owa/MSA%3Agolfkat%40hotmai... read more

This morning was the last official day of the Road Scholar program. About half of the group left the hotel at 4 am for the airport. Since we were going on to Rome and the Airbnb I found wasn’t available until the 6th, we booked a day trip to Assisi and through CiaoFirenze. Ended up being a private driver which was good. Valentin was great. The office staff worked with us in advance to arrange driver, entry to Basilica, lunch, travel to Montepulciano, and return to Florence. We booked a wine tasting and tour of the deRizzi wine caves on our own; Valentin got us there in time and gave us directions. San Francesco Basilica— who knew there were this many levels and steps in a church (just wait till we get to the Sisteen Chapel)? ... read more

After a talk about Florentine sculpture, we walked to the Bargello and toured with the guide, learning how the approach to art and thus the artwork changed. The Museo Nazionale del Bargello is located in Florence’s historic Palazzo del Podestà. It was established by royal decree on June 22, 1865—Italy’s first national museum—and is dedicated to sculpture. After a look at San Lorenzo exterior, we had lunch at Ciro and Sons (not the one in Harrisonburg!). I had a Lynsey Salad which was excellent—butter lettuce, Granny Smith apple slices, almonds and raisins dressed with just olive oil. The opposite (vinegar usually) flavor was supplied by the tart apples. On the way home, we toured Santa Maria Novella, with glorious stained glass and frescoes. A few of us stopped for a glass of wine at a cafe ... read more

Took a bus to San Gimignano, walked up and down a hill, did some people-watching, visit and lunch at Fattoria Poggio Allora agritourism farm, bought saffron and ordered wine, toured the organic farm, back to Firenze! Dinner at Belle Donna—salad for me, veggie risotto for Mike, after big lunch at the farm. Found a wine door, then walked on back to the hotel. HAPPY NEW YEAR!... read more

12/30/23 Started the day with a quick history of Florence: Foundation of Florence: Roman Florence, about year 0 to 500 AD 1st-2nd cent CE:Fiorentia grows into a minor Roman city 59 BC: Rome a Republic, not yet Empire, about 20,000 people (amphitheater would hold); military camp, grew into a city. Roman towns are exactly the same: grid plan, forum, bath complex, theater, etc., city walls, amphitheater is now Santa Croce; pieces of Roman Florence do exist; forum is now Piazza della Republica 312 Constantine legalized Christianity Gothic (northern european) invasions by end of 300s 476, end of Roman Empire; 405, Fiorentina–Chritian god helped them beat a Gothic invasion; the entire population were immediately converted to Christianity; build first church in Fiorentia Early Medieval Florence, about 500 to 800/1000 AD: end of Romans, ‘dark ages’ 400s-50... read more