Up earlier than intended, we headed over to the bell tower or campanile of the Duomo. The lineup was small and we decided to head up the 450 something stairs (and, as luck would have it, the same amount back down again) for an early morning jaunt. Quote of the day from Sparky:
I have to rest for a minute, Rosebud, so I don't die.
This morning we met a private tour guide who we booked to tour us through the Galleria Accademia where David and other Art live. Her name is Alessandra, and she is an art historian and a native born Florentine.
She met us at our hotel, and immediately started her tour by bringing our attention to the building across the street from where we were staying. This, she says, is the Medici Palace. She proceeds to explain the Medici family history, the blossoming of Florence, its relationship to the Catholic Church,
the foundation of the modern banking system, the reason why the Medici are now extinct, and the legacy the left behind, not only for the citizens of Florence, but for the world.
Whew. A fascinating person who kept us and our kids engaged for a full two hours and more, first on the walk to the Galleria, where she drew on all the relevant history to our faith and our tour of Florence and Italy in general.
As the culmination, of course, she drew a fascinating line to the Medici, to Michelangelo and finally to David himself.
When she found out the Old Testament names of our boys, she told us of the famous bronze doors on the Duomo Baptistery, where each of their namesakes was produced by Ghiberti in bronze relief.
Alessandra herself was baptized here, as was Dante and a bunch of other important Florentines.
After our tour with Alessandra, we wandered about the museum until we were dying of starvation. We headed to the Duomo museum after lunch and oggled the incredible works of art there, ending with the original aforementioned bronze doors. The doors presently on the baptistery are copies. Expensive, well guarded copies nonetheless.
The rest of our afternoon was spent hanging out in the sunny street and piazza where all the action is. A driver we had hired took us from there to Montepulciano, where, overlooking stunning views of the neighbouring hill towns and wine country, we graciously received at a lovely Tuscan apartment.
For the next few days, we will stay here, as a home base to visit Siena and some of the wine country.
I have to rest for a minute, Rosebud, so I don't die.
This morning we met a private tour guide who we booked to tour us through the Galleria Accademia where David and other Art live. Her name is Alessandra, and she is an art historian and a native born Florentine.
She met us at our hotel, and immediately started her tour by bringing our attention to the building across the street from where we were staying. This, she says, is the Medici Palace. She proceeds to explain the Medici family history, the blossoming of Florence, its relationship to the Catholic Church,
the foundation of the modern banking system, the reason why the Medici are now extinct, and the legacy the left behind, not only for the citizens of Florence, but for the world.
Whew. A fascinating person who kept us and our kids engaged for a full two hours and more, first on the walk to the Galleria, where she drew on all the relevant history to our faith and our tour of Florence and Italy in general.
As the culmination, of course, she drew a fascinating line to the Medici, to Michelangelo and finally to David himself.
When she found out the Old Testament names of our boys, she told us of the famous bronze doors on the Duomo Baptistery, where each of their namesakes was produced by Ghiberti in bronze relief.
Alessandra herself was baptized here, as was Dante and a bunch of other important Florentines.
After our tour with Alessandra, we wandered about the museum until we were dying of starvation. We headed to the Duomo museum after lunch and oggled the incredible works of art there, ending with the original aforementioned bronze doors. The doors presently on the baptistery are copies. Expensive, well guarded copies nonetheless.
The rest of our afternoon was spent hanging out in the sunny street and piazza where all the action is. A driver we had hired took us from there to Montepulciano, where, overlooking stunning views of the neighbouring hill towns and wine country, we graciously received at a lovely Tuscan apartment.
For the next few days, we will stay here, as a home base to visit Siena and some of the wine country.
No comments:
Post a Comment