Blogs from Florence, Tuscany, Italy, Europe - page 4

3/6/2019 – Firenze Gisteren, zondag namiddag verplaatsten we ons van Lucca naar Florence, Firenze dus, naar een nogal prijzige camping even buiten de stad. Vandaag maandag trokken we met de shuttle bus van camping naar het historische centrum van Firenze. We werden gedropt aan een pleintje langs de Arno op zo een 2km van de Ponte Vecchio, dé brug in Firenze die men gezien moet hebben met directe toegang tot het centrum. Wat een stad ! De de Medici's hebben hier goed geboerd. Wat een pracht aan historische gebouwen langs de smalle straatjes van het centrum. Palazzo's en omvangrijke historische gebouwen staan in de weg om de rijk versierde kerken en de Duomo in zijn geheel te fotograferen. Dat is het enige dat we kunnen proberen. Bezoeken kan, maar, mits veel tijd en goesting om de ... read more

Up late and out with plans for the Palazzo Vecchio but disappointed as it was totally occupied with a special conference closed to the public. Went to Ors San Michele, the building/church built by the guilds as a meeting place. The church is on the first floor, with meeting rooms on the second and third. What is amazing is that each of the floors has 30+ foot ceilings. Quite beautiful and a real challenge to climb the stairs from floor to floor. Amazing pictures of the major Florentine sights from each of the windows of the upper floors. From Ors San Michele we made our way to the Museo Duomo del Opera, the museum of statuary and other art from the Duomo and Baptistery. We have not been into the museo in a number of years ... read more

We had a 10AM appointment at the Accademia to view the David and his friends so we decided to visit San Marco and the work of Bartolomeo and Fra Angelico before we went to see David. Perhaps not the best decision as the frescoes in San Marco are overwhelmingly beautiful and make a deep impression on your eyes, mind and heart. Over the hour or so that we were in the abbey we came to a new understanding of Fra Angelico’s view of human choice about perception of purgatory and heaven, something that may not be achieved in an afterlife but rather something experienced in this life. Lots to unpack and little time to do it in front of the art, so we left and went to the Accademia where we joined the mass of humanity ... read more

Took the early morning “rapido” train to Florence arriving at 10:00 AM. The taxi line was almost 100 yards so we hoofed it to our hotel on the Arno at the Ponte Vecchio (quite a ways with our luggage over cobblestones). Got into our room and changed for a hot day in the city, then hoofed it over to Santa Croce for a visit and to chat with Barbara Gori, the woman who runs the Leather School, Scuola del Cuoio. This business was created by the Franciscans to teach the poor a skill back in the Renaissance. Now it is one of the foremost creative leather product producers in Florence. Had a nice visit with Barbara Gori who runs the place now that her sister has retired. She is very savvy about the business, about the ... read more

The whole day in Florence! If I had 9 more days here, I Might be able to do it properly. Our guide, Patrizia, met us at the hotel and we toured with her on foot through Santa Maria square, past the Medici museum, the Medici Saint Lorenzo church, through the Medici palace to the Academia where we saw the David. Seeing that statue was the only part of the day in which my 21 year old self and Today's self were one. I felt the same awe and disbelief at its beauty that I did more than 50 years ago. The rest of the day I was reminded how much more that younger body was able to do! Don't wait to come!! Patrizia gave us a three and a half hour walking tour which ended near ... read more