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Florence: Birthplace of the Renaissance
After dropping the rental car in Salerno, we enjoy one more stroll along the Piazza, then head to the train depot. We’re on a high speed train to Florence, about a 4 hour trip so I booked us in the Business Class silent car, where music, loud talking, & cell phone conversations are prohibited. It wasn’t much more than economy, and SO worth it. Moving forward, we will book this class for longer train rides. The Business Class cars even have conference rooms, where business meeting can be held while transiting. This seems not only more efficient than plane travel but more comfortable. C’mon, America!
The hotel is a quick 10 minute walk from the train and a good location for our planned site seeing. Tom’s great-niece is attending college for a semester in Florence, we arrange to see her. Claire is a bright, down to earth young lady. We meet for a delicious meal and get updates on her studies and share tales of travel highs and lows. Not surprisingly, Claire’s schedule is packed. We hug goodbye and are on our own to explore.
The next day the Cathedral, Duomo, and the Academia del Arte, home of David, are on the agenda. Did you know the Florence Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, is the third largest in the world? The first stone was laid in 1296 and consecrated at completion of the dome in 1436. The green, red, and white marble encase a prodigious structure adorned with elegant sculptures such as Eve performing the first instance of a face palm. Inside the cathedral is a staircase to the Duomo that winds ever steeper and narrower, 463 steps to the very top.
Did someone say stairs? The Duomo climb is arranged in groups of about 20. We are the oldest, but undaunted. There are not really any landings to stop for a breather. There isn’t any way to pass others. I have no idea what would happen if someone fell or had to stop. But weclimb on hoping the winding subsides. I have a vague regret of not wearing an anti-nausea patch. Finally at the top… compensated with views of Florence in every direction. I’m only slightly terrified.
The next stop is the Acadamia Gallery to visit David. We give a perfunctory inspection. Pecs, abs, and glutes (no tiny hands) are adequate. We enjoy the rest of the gallery, including an unfinished piece by Michaelangelo and another with a very wierd frame he designed. We were fascinated by the musical instrument collection with some unusual creations and I wonder if anyone would even know how to play the piano guitar today.
At dinner we are seated at a table next to another couple. One thing we’ve noticed in Italy is how the restaurants seem to pack the tables so close together. In this case, we are rewarded with meeting Trista and Matt, travelers from Utah. An easy conversation ensues, comparing notes about carry-on-only travel and which places we must visit. Feeling like Italians, we enjoy desserts and coffee and chat for a couple hours; even Italians finished and left before us! Trista and I exchange contact info and vow to stay in touch.
We rise early the next day to start our enchantment of the Uffizi Gallery. We end up spending several hours in the museum, perusing each different gallery and carefully inspecting the most intriguing to us. A highlight for us was Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, the paintings in chiaroscuro technique, as well as the high Renaissance paintings. Boccaccino‘s Saint Matthew was especially fascinating. Just zoom in on the pearls. I wonder how much time he spent on each?
I was also amused by some of the weirdness. Especially the Madonna col Bambino by Giovanni di Francesco di Piero. There is no mistaking it: are we to be offended or amused?
Your time in Florence takes me back to
our short whirlwind trip there. So much to see and you are doing it right. I would not have noticed the intricate pearls in the painting of St. Matthew… I’m in awe of the talent!
The Madonna- so weird !? The artist showing his sense of humor or … I’m not sure?
Loved your pictures❤️
So wonderful to meet you both. Your blog is absolutely amazing. We look forward to your updates especially now that we are home and you are still out exploring. Happy Holidays to you!