Florence Italy! Loved it!
Following are the many wonderful things we were able to see in Florence Italy…..
--- One of first stops was the large Duomo complex at the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore. We get in the line and climb the 392 steps to the viewing tower at the top of the bell tower at 9am. We are huffing and hardly awake. It’s a magnificent view and we enjoy our perch above this fantastic city.
--- We stopped for a break and then get in a line for the next stop, the Opera di Santa Maria del Duomo. We are following the fascinating story on how the Duomo came to be and enjoy the museum that highlights the churches 800-year history. Relics, reliquary, facades, statues and reconstruction history highlight our 2-hour exposure to Florentine excellence during the early Renaissance.
--- Next we join the line to ascend the 400 step dome tower itself and we fully respect the 400 narrow steps that need to be dealt with in order to get to the top. It rained lightly but we enjoyed our 360-degree view and marvel at the beauty unfolding below us.
--- We meet a friend from Portland, Bob, for a tour of Uffizi Museum of fine art. The old office of the Medici family was the seat of Florentine governance for 200 years. Turned into a museum 150 years ago to house the vast art collection of the Medici dynasty. The museum is now home to a beautiful collection of antiquity statues and features works from artists like Sarto, Raphael, Caravaggio, Divinci, Correggio and Michelangelo. The fine art collection features major Florentine artists from pre-renaissance through the baroque era of mid 1700’s. So many key works from both small and major period artists.
--- We have a wonderful stroll through the Boboli Garden that rise up a view hill just behind the Pitti Palace. The weather and view are spectacular.
--- We took a 1-hour train ride to the city of Pisa to see the famous leaning tower. We chose not to climb the tower because of the $40 it would cost and we have climbed so many other towers lately. Instead we choose to wander the grounds and enjoy the cathedral that was first built in 1066 and has been rebuilt due to fires.
--- No trip to Florence would be complete without seeing David by Michelangelo and The Kidnapping of the Sabine Women by Giambologna at the Gallery dell Academia.
