Posted on Jun 24, 2009
We had two nights and the better part of two days in Florence. We arrived on a Sunday night. Monday is a day when most of the museums were closed, but we did stumble across the Museum of Precious Stones. This is on the site of a workshop founded by the Medici to do pictures by inlaying various colored minerals. The results were overwhelming and we practically had to use dynamite to get Giles away from it. Fortunately the churches were open. Sam and I climbed to to the top of the Duomo just in time for a thunderstorm to passs nearby, which added a frisson of excitement. Monday was a good day not to do too much and to recuperate from Rome.
Tuesday we managed to squeeze in three major museums before rushing madly to the railroad station. We saw Michaelangelo's David and the Prisoners at the Accademia, a marvelous collection of Renaissance sculpture at the Brgello (including a special exhibit of Bernini portrait busts), and then wandered through the Uffizi. I was absolutely overwhelmed both by the Giotto Madonna and Child, and by a 13th Century crucifix on the opposite wall. I had seen all of this in art books and medieval history texts, but the size and brilliance of the originals was overwhelming. Between Rome and Florence we saw both Michaelangelo and Bernini's David. Sam had an interesting observation. Bernini's David is all tension as he gets ready to let the rock fly (I'll preach someday on how Goliath never had a chance), while Michaelangelo's David stands in a moment of quiet; the decision to act made, but th eaction itself yet to be undertaken.
We arrived in Venice at about 10:30 and had a quiet Vaporetto ride to the neighborhood of our hotel. When we found it there was a jazz band playing in the piazza. A wonderful surprise and a great end to a hetic day.