Advertisement
Published: July 13th 2022
Accademia di Belle Arti
Accademia di Belle Arti founded in 1563 and location of the Galleria dell'Accademia. View along Via Ricasoli. DSC_0146p1Florence sightseeing began with an early morning visit to the Galleria dell'Accademia. There is usually a long queue to enter, so this was a wise first stop. Souvenier shops line Via Ricasoli, the street next to the Galleria. Naturally, they sell Michelangelo related items, especially ones relating to David. Like the full apron or the T-shirt so you can have your head on David's body.
The Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence is indeed home to Michelangelo's sculpture of David. It is a must-see museum for visitors to Florence. David was on display in the Piazza della Signoria from 1504 until he was moved indoors into his own rotunda in 1873. I've seen reproductions of David from Forest Lawn in Glendale, California, to the ones in Florence. But there is nothing like actually viewing the real thing. The figure appears to be caught in a moment of time, David taking the measure of Goliath while exhibiting vulnerability at the same time, as our excellent local guide pointed out. Even though the statue was to have been set high up in the Duomo, Michelangelo did not comprise on detail. Perfection carved from a single block of imperfect marble.
David is certainly the
Galleria dell’Accademia
Galleria dell’Accademia. Michelangelo's David and a series of his unfinished works are displayed here. Via Ricasoli 58-60.
IMG_0281 centerpiece of the collection. But leading to it are four of Michelangelo's unfinished sculptures, known as the Captives. They are dramatic as they are. Don't overlook them. The figures appear to be struggling to emerge from the marble, and Michelangelo said his work was to reveal what was already in a block. The were not finished because Pope Julius II, who commissioned then for St. Peter's, put the project on hold. Unfinished works, known as
non-finito, are not uncommon among Michelangelo's undertakings. It might be he did not have time to finish them, or it might be they did not live up to his expectations. An unfinished Pieta displayed with others may not be by Michelangelo but the work of a contemporary. Nevertheless, it is very powerful and appears very modern, like an abstract sculpture.
The historic center of Florence was very crowded this day because of the "Corre la Vida", a 13 km run in support of breast cancer research. The race started at Piazza del Duomo at 9:30 with the finish line at Piazza della Signoria. Participants, spectators, and media all added to the daily throng.
We made our way from the Galleria along Via Ricasoli
Florence Cathedral
Florence Cathedral (Duomo or La Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore). The dome was constructed in 1410-1413.
Historic Centre of Florence UNESCO World Heritage site.
DSC_0149p1 to the Piazza del Duomo. Here are the spectacular Cathedral (Duomo), Battisterio and Campanile. They are tightly enclosed by buildings, so one cannot enjoy them at a distance as at Pisa. Instead, one must view the Cathedral's dome from side streets. The Cathedral's façade and Campanile face the Piazza, but are difficult to take in in one vista. We examined the façade of the Cathedral but did not go in. The Cathedral was consecrated in 1436 with the completion of Brunelleschi's dome. But the façade is much newer. It had been left unfinished and was completed in 1875-1887. The free-standing Campanile, 276 ft. (85 m) tall, is shorter than the dome. It was designed by Giotto and completed in 1387. The Battistero is across from the Cathedral's façade. Consecrated in 1059, it predates the Cathedral and was in fact Florence's cathedral until 1128. It was remodeled into its present form in he 13th Century. The
Porte del Paradiso (Gates of Paradise) bronze doors by Ghiberti are its most famous feature. The ten panels of the doors depict scenes from the Old Testament. They were installed in 1452, but were removed for restoration as display indoors in 1990. The doors one
Florence Cathdedral (Duomo)
Florence Cathdedral (Duomo or Santa Maria del Fiore). Marble Neo-Gothic façade designed by Emilio De Fabris (1808–1883) in 1871 and built between 1876 and 1887.
Historic Centre of Florence UNESCO World Heritage sire.
"The present façade was erected in 1875-87 from the design of Emilio De Fabris, which originally contemplated three gables. The bronze central door is by Ant. Passaglia (1903), the side-doors by Gius.. Cassioli (1899)".--Baedeker 1906DSC_0165p1 sees today are reproductions.
The group now made its way to the Piazza della Signorina by way of the narrow Via Santa Elisabetta and the small but interesting Piazza Santa Elisabetta. The Piazza della Signorina must be regarded as the center of the historic center of Florence. Coming out on the open space, one is greeted by a dazzling collection of sights on all sides. The Loggia dei Lanzi, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Neptune Fountain and the Uffizi among them. The piazza was quite crowded with spectators, sponsors, balloons and portable toilets, as it was the finish line for the aforementioned run. I saw some of the participants coming in.
Part of the Historic Centre of Florence UNESCO World Heritage site. In the Santa Croce. The Basilica di Santa Croce was a church I very much wanted to visit.
The facade dominates the Piazza di Santa Croce and catches ones attention upon entering the square. The Gothic church was built from 1294 to 1442 for the Franciscans. But the striking marble facade is neo-Gothic and a later addition, dating from 1857-1863. Interestingly, the facade, designed by by Nicolò Matas, was commissioned by an English admirer of the
Florence Cathedral Main Entrance
Florence Cathedral (Duomo or Santa Maria del Fiore). Main entrance to the cathedral. Above the bronze doors is the lunette Christ Enthroned with Mary and John the Baptist, by Nicolò Barabino (1831–1891).
Historic Centre of Florence. UNESCO World Heritage. Inscribed in 1982.
DSC_0167p1 church and Florence, (Matas was Jewish and included a prominent Star of David at the apex.)
Santa Croce was a popular church in Florence and notable Florentines were buried or commemorated there. After Italian unification, Santa Croce became a kind of Pantheon for many Italians of accomplishment.
As we were visiting on a Sunday morning, mass was still in progress at Santa Croce. However, the officials were kindly letting visitors in anyway. So, we kept to the back of the church. But, here were the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo and a cenotaph to Dante. The marble pulpit with scenes from the life of St Francis, carved by Benedetto da Maiano (c. 1475), could be enjoyed, too. I would have liked to have stopped at the tomb of composer Giacomo Rossini, but it was further forward where the service was in progress.
The Uffizi Gallery - Galleria degli Uffizi. One of the most acclaimed art museums in the world and a showcase in particular for Italian and Renaissance art. Every art history book has illustrations of the masterworks on display here. To actually see them is person is a surreal experience. This was next in our Florence
Florence Cathdedral (Duomo) and Campanile
Florence Cathdedral (Duomo or Santa Maria del Fiore) façade and Campanile. At 276 ft. (85 m), it is a bit shorter than the Dome.
"The Campanile, or bell-tower, begun by Giotto in 1334-36, carried on after his death by Andrea Pisano and Franc. Talenti, and completed in 1387, a square structure 276 ft. in height, is regarded as one of the finest existing works of the kind. It consists of four stories, richly decorated with coloured marble. The windows, which increase in size with the different stories, are enriched with beautiful tracery in the Italian Gothic style".--Baedeker 1906.
Historic Centre of Florence. UNESCO World Heritage. Inscribed in 1982.
DSC_0174p1 agenda. The museum has its origins in the art collecting and commissioning of the Medicis. The gallery itself was built in 1560-1581 as Medici regime administrative offices--uffizi. The gallery forms a large U-shape beginning across from the Palazzo Vecchio and wrapping around back to the Loggia dei Lanzi on the Piazza della Signoria. I liked the newly restored Tribuna, the octagonal central room that was an elegant reception room and original display chamber for the Medici's most treasured works. It was meant to show off the best of the Medici collections to visitors.
It's difficult to know where to begin to describe the Uffizi collections! The works that stood out most for me were Botticelli's Birth of Venus and his Primavera, Michelangelo's Holy Family, and Leonard da Vinci's Annunciation. One could of course spend days here and not take in everything or begin to comprehend it all. The museum is always changing and its never-ending corridors are something of a warren of surprises.A must-see even if one can only spend a brief time here as was our constraint. A gift shop and terrace cafe are available. Photography of the collections is not permitted. One can take photos of the
Dome of Florence Cathedral
Florence Cathdedral (Duomo or Santa Maria del Fiore).
Historic Centre of Florence. UNESCO World Heritage. Inscribed in 1982.
DSC_0182p1 Ponte Vecchio from the windows at the far end of the corridors and of the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio from the terrace.
All the above are part of the Historic Centre of Florence UNESCO World Heritage site.
The hotel is a bit removed from the historic center of Florence. We found it to be about a 12 block walk from Piazza della Repubblica at the edge if the historic center to the hotel. I would take a cab next time!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.071s; Tpl: 0.015s; cc: 13; qc: 25; dbt: 0.0327s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
An iconic building
This one is a beauty and we have a photo of it hanging in our home.