Hi Everyone!
Today I headed out to the Galleria del Academia to see some awesome artwork, and Michelangelo's David. Harold tried to help me censor the statue to make it safe for work, but he covered too much of it up so I'm posting a cropped version instead.
While David may be the big draw for the gallery, I liked the artwork from the 1300's and 1400's; it's amazingly detailed and colorful. Most of it was recovered from local churches around Florence. I loved the emotion this painting presents.
When I picked up my tickets for the Galleria and the Uffizi gallery, the woman at the ticket desk told me that there was going to be a strike in the afternoon and I should go to the Uffizi gallery early. I took her advice and headed there next.
The Uffizi gallery is housed in the former offices (uffizi) of the Medici family. The building is huge and filled with so much art. There are 3 halls of marble statues, and each section of the ceiling above them is a painted fresco, each one is unique.
The Uffizi gallery houses many paintings by Botticelli, including his famous "Birth of Venus", although this one of Temperance from The Seven Virtues was probably my favorite. I love how confident and self-assured she is.
Nearby is the Fontana del Porcellino (pig/boar fountain). If you rub the snout, it is supposed to guarantee your return to Florence.
I strolled along the Ponte Vecchio, the most famous bridge in Florence. It is lined with jewelry shops, just as it was in the renaissance.
Florence is an interesting city, the streets are filled with leather shops, and Gelaterias. I see lots of motor scooters and bicycles. There is white fluffy stuff floating around the city, which I suspect is pigeon feathers of some kind, as the city is full of them. The people in Florence all have colorful shoes, so my purple converse fit right in. Parents of small children have strollers with all-terrain wheels. After lugging my suitcase through the streets yesterday, I can see how that is a necessity. People here are friendly, and almost all of them speak English. I've been attempting Italian, and have been able to communicate my food allergy effectively. Yes, that was the first Italian phrase I learned.
I knew that transit strikes were a possibility in Italy, and unfortunately there is one scheduled (yes, Italy schedules transit strikes) for Sunday, when I'm supposed to go to Siena. I've already purchased my ticket, and it is for a time when trains are supposed to run, but I may have to do some creative planning on the fly.
I took some photos of the Piazza della Repubblica earlier in the day, and went back to take some at night.
I'm headed to the Duomo (cathedral) tomorrow, but Harold wanted his picture taken with it today when we were walking past.
Today I headed out to the Galleria del Academia to see some awesome artwork, and Michelangelo's David. Harold tried to help me censor the statue to make it safe for work, but he covered too much of it up so I'm posting a cropped version instead.
While David may be the big draw for the gallery, I liked the artwork from the 1300's and 1400's; it's amazingly detailed and colorful. Most of it was recovered from local churches around Florence. I loved the emotion this painting presents.
When I picked up my tickets for the Galleria and the Uffizi gallery, the woman at the ticket desk told me that there was going to be a strike in the afternoon and I should go to the Uffizi gallery early. I took her advice and headed there next.
The Uffizi gallery is housed in the former offices (uffizi) of the Medici family. The building is huge and filled with so much art. There are 3 halls of marble statues, and each section of the ceiling above them is a painted fresco, each one is unique.
The Uffizi gallery houses many paintings by Botticelli, including his famous "Birth of Venus", although this one of Temperance from The Seven Virtues was probably my favorite. I love how confident and self-assured she is.
Nearby is the Fontana del Porcellino (pig/boar fountain). If you rub the snout, it is supposed to guarantee your return to Florence.
I strolled along the Ponte Vecchio, the most famous bridge in Florence. It is lined with jewelry shops, just as it was in the renaissance.
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| Harold enjoying the view of Florence from the Ponte Vecchio bridge |
Florence is an interesting city, the streets are filled with leather shops, and Gelaterias. I see lots of motor scooters and bicycles. There is white fluffy stuff floating around the city, which I suspect is pigeon feathers of some kind, as the city is full of them. The people in Florence all have colorful shoes, so my purple converse fit right in. Parents of small children have strollers with all-terrain wheels. After lugging my suitcase through the streets yesterday, I can see how that is a necessity. People here are friendly, and almost all of them speak English. I've been attempting Italian, and have been able to communicate my food allergy effectively. Yes, that was the first Italian phrase I learned.
I knew that transit strikes were a possibility in Italy, and unfortunately there is one scheduled (yes, Italy schedules transit strikes) for Sunday, when I'm supposed to go to Siena. I've already purchased my ticket, and it is for a time when trains are supposed to run, but I may have to do some creative planning on the fly.
I took some photos of the Piazza della Repubblica earlier in the day, and went back to take some at night.
I'm headed to the Duomo (cathedral) tomorrow, but Harold wanted his picture taken with it today when we were walking past.
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