It's Spring break and my first stop was Firenze where I spent two more days and nights wandering around the city again and looking at some art I missed during the first visit.
Florence is particularly beautiful at night with her hotels and restaurants beckoning you with their bright, neon lights. The streets pick up the light and send it reflecting back making the city sparkle. Santa Maria del Fiore, the Cathedral-Il Duomo in Italian-and the baptistery of San Giovanni rise up from the gray, slate street. The campanile and Brunelleschi's famous dome tower above the remainder of the city creating an unmistakable skyline that can be seen for miles.
I love wandering her streets at night. Most of the tourists seem to disappear after sunset and the streets, while not empty, are pleasant to walk. The first night the weather was perfect, cool but not cold, it had rained earlier in the day and remained cloudy which kept the city pleasantly comfortable.
I revisited squares and loggias, walked past churches and down arcades. I listened to a trio of musicians play some dixieland jazz on a street corner and then listened to a solo guitarist and singer play covers of the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel. It was magical
The next day started off at the Bargello, a lovely museum with all sorts of Medieval and early Renaissance treasures from musical instruments, to reliquaries, to an adorable pair of candle holders. But the most impressive was the room dedicated to Donatello which included two of his David's and his St. George, and its original niche-formerly on the facade of Orsanmichele (sorry, photos not allowed). I was surprised at how moved I was by St. George but he was beautiful in his simplicity, with just a slight turn at his waist indicating a turning movement.
All of my art classes that have mentioned Orsanmichele just focused on the exterior and the important sculptural work commissioned by Florence's guilds so I was surprised when I entered the church and discovered a Gothic interior with a double nave and two altars. I have never seen a church laid out like that before.
One of the things I really love about large or touristy cities is the number of street performers. This one didn't do much but he looked spectacular with his gold sequins glistening from the sunshine.
In 1955 my parents, and I suppose three of my siblings, visited Firenze and stayed at the Hotel Mediteraneo. The hotel had just opened some portions weren't even ready for use. Mom asked me to check it out while I was in Firenze so I did. Maria at the front desk was so nice when I asked if I could take pictures, especially after I explained to her why I wanted them.
After my visit to the Hotel Mediteraneo I wandered the part of the city on the other side of the Arno river. My intent was to visit the museum at the Palazzo Pitti. I finally made it there but only after a stunning climb up to San Miniato al Monte, a church at the top of the hill with a spectacular view. With every step up to the top the view seemed to just get better and better. I have several photographs now of the same vista but each successive one is taken further up and further away.
Next post...Venezia!
Ciao a tutti!
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