27 October 2015 - Florence for a day

Journey past the marble quarries from Bologna to Florence

The first thing we noted about Florence was the number of people milling about everywhere.  We were glad to not to have visited in peak tourist season and perhaps we've been spoiled a little with our recent country living.  More than once I remarked that I was glad to be staying in much less touristy and equally lovely, Bologna, in a quiet spot.  I am not saying that Florence wasn't fantastic, it was, and of course the reason why there are so many people is that there is so much worthwhile seeing!

First stop was the Tourist Office for maps and possibilities and although I had looked up a few things before we went, there is nothing as good as a paper map and a quick chat with the locals at the beginning of a day in a new place.

Entering the Piazza del Duomo

The colours are rich green, white and pink - would have been all hand cut!

The amazing marble facade

Bronze doors with great detail

The enormous bronze doors (1899 - 1903) don't lack decoration, either!  They also are huge. 

Marble carvings, statues, and paintings

Il Duomo again

Inside the Cathedral

Inside the actual dome!  So high up!

The dome is the largest brick dome in the world and is certainly impressive and the courage and skill of those who painted it is really something.

Prayer candles bringing light

The Bell Tower - we decided against climbing it for 10 Euros each as we had had such lovely, if not treacherous climbs in Bologna's towers. 

As the road from the station leads towards the Duomo, (cathedral), we went to Piazza del Duomo first and our jaws hit the floor just looking at the ornate marble exterior of the Duomo.  The detail is mind blowing: no wonder it is a UNESCO world heritage site these days. Actually it is called the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore  (St Mary of the flowers).  The 19th century marble facade is made from Italian marble.  The colours are stunning and the more you look the more you see!  Although the cathedral was started in 13 th Century, it took centuries to complete.

More exterior detail

More exterior carvings - the more you look the more you see!

Whilst both Karl and I have been to Florence before, neither of us can remember much as many years have passed.  It may be because I had a rail pass and I am pretty sure I'd slept on the train, to save money on accommodation, left my backpack in the left luggage, walked around Florence for the day and got back on another night train!  No wonder I can't remember much! I do know that I went to both the Uffizzi Gallery and the Academy of Art last time, don't remember long queues and do know I probably only had enough time to go to one today.

I chose the Academy of Art as I thought the kids would enjoy it more and remember it more readily.  The queue was long enough to eat lunch in and run around and come back to.  Once inside, it was not too crowded and well labelled.  Michelangelo's Prisoners are there as well as David who looms tall above the audience.  I am sure the impression of seeing him will say with the kids.  The other paintings, mostly from churches depicting religious scenes.

Standing in line at the Academy of Arts, under a sign which declares fines for graffiti!

Gypsy woman begging - they are persistent and many

Entrance hall at the Academy of Arts

15 th Century St Bartholomew, John the Baptist, James the Great, st Michael the archangel, Lawrence and Leonard

15th Century painting

St Stephen between James and Peter 15th Century

I loved this one for its tranquility.

Maestro della Croce

Michelangelo - Prisoner collection

Michelangelo - Prisoner - prisoner or unfinished work?

Micelangelo - Prisoner collection - looking tortured

The Prophet Isaiah

The Pieta from Palestrina - Michelangelo or Bernini

David and his little mimic -  much to the amusement of a group of Asian students who now all have photos of David and Luke!  1502-1504

The question is still unanswered:  Was this of David before or after he defeated Goliath?  He is magnificent to the point of veins in his hands and feet, as are the other Michelangelo masterpieces.  such detail, such craft, such patience!

Madonna, and child, the young St John and an angel - 1543 - 1548

Allegory of Fortitude - 1560 - 1562

My beautiful children in Florence!!!

Monument to Elisa Baciocchi - whoever she might have been!

Charity - Bartolini

So sweet!

Child with dog

Little angel

The Academy of Arts isn’t a big gallery and although the old 12^th to 15^th century paintings all look same-ish after a while, we all enjoyed looking at them and picked out a few favourites.  The ancient hand drawn and written manuscripts always amaze me...the left hander who always smudges ink work!  However, it was the sculptures that we really came to see and we weren’t disappointed looking at Micelangelo’s fine works.  The other notable hall was a plaster model display of the templates for sculptures before they start chiselling the marble.  We supposed they were like the sketches before a painting.

The plaster gallery

Selection of heads and hair styles

The Tree of Life - 14 Century

Stunning architecture EVERYWHERE!

Medieval tower

The covered market - still in use today!

Corner of the Uffizzi Gallery, from the Loggia

Beauty at every turn!

After this we wandered in and out of the beautiful streets and on to the Piazza Vecchio which is like a gallery in itself!  The Loggia stands at one end which provides shelter and beauty with a display of replicas of statues.  The Uffizzi Gallery is on one corner of this piazza.  We spent some time sitting and enjoying our surrounds.

Boys resting in the Loggia

Statues in the Loggia

Souvenirs, souvenirs, souvenirs

The Uffizzi Gallery heading to the Arno

Macchiavelli

The Arno looking away from the Ponte Vecchio

Not far from Piazza Vecchio is the Ponte Vecchio, the Medieval covered bridge over the Arno.  Today it has jewellers’ shop on each side but in its early days, it was full of butchers’ shops which would give it a somewhat less pleasant smell!  The Arno today looks polluted enough but imagine it when all the meat scraps were tossed into it!  There are several other bridges which cross the Arno so we enjoyed a walk.  Florence is a place where one starts to feel a bit saturated by the churches and history and statues and souvenir stands.

Autumn colours and the Ponte Vecchio

My darlings

The souvenir stands do sell some lovely things but what would we do with them all?  Luke and Annika have a vast collection of key rings, so added to their collection.  We were amused by the boxer shorts and aprons with copies of David's anatomy (I'll leave you to imagine the rest!) but funnily enough none of us wanted such souvenirs!

Icecream - so tempting!

View from Ponte Vecchio

Street art?! Mobile gymnasium?!

Karl and I

A challenging handstand - so glad he didn't fall in1

Justice!!

Not sure what these rings are for or were for, but Tim found a use for them!

The Chiesa della Santa Michele e Gaetano - some parts were built in 12 th Century

Again, no expense spared

Even inlaid marble on the altar rail

Each little chapel

And back to the Piazza del Duomo after walking about and we had seen enough for the day.  All of our senses were buzzing with Medieval history: a nice feeling but also tiring!

The Cathedral dominates the piazza

We ventured into other piazze and churches marvelling at the beauty and the incredible workmanship and expense which went into their construction.  By 4 PM the sun was already low in the sky and we are really noticing the shorter hours of daylight since the clocks changed last weekend.  We took refuge in McDonalds near the station where we found a cosy quiet corner, toilets and refreshments without hurry.

Detailed mosaics

Trying to get everyone looking to the front and smiling!

Narrow streets are best for just pedestrians - should make it a car free zone!

The three trains we travelled back to Bologna on connected well without too much waiting around.  Although it was only 7 15 PM when we got back “home”, it felt so late as it was really dark.  Winter is definitely descending on Europe!