November 2000 › Siena › Rome - Famous Sites › Rome - Roman Ruins and the Colosseum › Rome - the Pantheon › Vatican and the Sistine Chapel › Rome - St. Peter's Basilica › Florence Images › Florence - Duomo › Lucca - Final Stop › The Visit › The Family › Madurodam › Madurodam Part 2 Other Months › Index page

Florence Images Saturday, November 04, 2000; posted by Paris Spent two days exploring Florence. Here are some of the images. Mosaic inside San Miniato al Monte. San Miniato al Monte, hilltop church with a fabulous view of Firenze, near the Piazzale Michelangiolo (this spelling is unique to this little area). Quiet, intimate, and beautiful inside, I have to say this was one of my favorite churches of the entire tour of Italy. Thanks to our experienced guides for letting us in on this treasure! In the Galleria Dell'Accademia, founded as an art school in 1784, now a gallery. The real deal. Carved in the 1500s, David is said to be anatomically precise and technically perfect, although recent laser scans indicate that his eyes may not be looking a direction that is humanly possible. Picky picky. High on a pedestal, the statue is glorious and awe-inspiring. Also in this gallery are the four "Prisoners" by Michelangelo. They are half-finished statues whose figures look as though they are emerging from the marble. Fabulous. A lovely view of the river Arno and the Ponte Vecchio at night. There is an old song about Florence being seen as an illumination from the Arno, which we heard in a café one night. The famous Ponte Vecchio (old bridge). Built in the 14th century, it was spared by an enlightened German during the scorched-earth retreat from Italy in WWII. On each side of the road across the bridge are gold and silversmith shops, which have been there since the 16th century. This is a good place to give away some of those lire. The tower of this government building, the Palazzo Vecchio, is an integral part of the famous Firenze skyline. The center of the hall is open and its walls are covered with decaying frescoes by several artists. This is a view from the center of the Palazzo Vecchio. Dark and intricate, like much of Florence, from here one can peek into the apartments above the arches, which are lavishly decorated with paintings by Vasari and sculptures by Benedetto da Maiano. Lovely, misty view from the little hilltop church near the Piazzale Michelangiolo. To the right and left of the stairs are family crypts, beautiful and peaceful. Our fabulous tour guides at the hilltop church, with Anita's city (Firenze) as the backdrop.