Day 7: Florence
Viva Firenze, Forza Viola
Galleria degli Uffizi
Back on the coach, we were headed to Florence. Patricia had a surprise for us: she asked if she could add a distinction to our itinerary. It was the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial.
Here are recorded the names of Americans who gave their lives in service to their country.
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"Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God."
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Birth of Venus
Adoration of Spring
One of the many Madona and Child
One of the many Madona and Child
The magic of restoration. Click and slide the arrow from right to left.
Galleria dell'Accademia
After refueling with gelato curtesy of Patricia, we arrived at the Accademia to see the one and only, David. The long corridor of Michelangelo's Prisoners, a series of unfinished sculptures, lead up to the masterpiece. It was chilling to walk through this grand hallway of works that pave the way for the birth of perfection.
Towers, wine, and the night sky
The next tower that we climbed was right at our hotel. We opened some bottles of wine and again met our fellow travelers to recount the day's wonders. We even met a travel-savvy couple that was staying at our hotel because they read about it in their Rick Steves Italy Guidebook. Florence is truly a city of romance; check out our view from this night on the homepage of this scrapbook.
Day 8: Florence
Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardins, & Florentine Leather
In the Pitti Palace we see the apartments, costumes, and paintings that the Medici family collected throughout their 350 year empire.
Behind the palace are acres of the Boboli Gardens. We traveled up and down hills, through passageways and covered paths to see ceramics and porcelain treasures, lemon trees and rose bushes.
Scuola del Cuoio: the Leather School
Nestled behind the Basilica of Santa Croce, is a Florentine school for leather artisans. A hidden gem where we were able to observe the students as they worked on jackets, belts, handbags, and other custom goods. We even voted on a unique handbag design contest the school was hosting, and came home with a gift or two.
all'antico Vinaio
After our hike through the garden we were excited to re-fuel in a uniquely Florentine way: a panino on the street. Down a bend from the famous Piazza di Santa Croce sits a small panino shop, All'Antico Vinaio. Truly a treasure, while you wait to select one of their specialty combinations, you might catch a baker running across the street with a mountain of focaccia straight from the oven.
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We sat along the street with our fresh sandwich and a glass of wine. This experience is a treat you can enjoy no where else in the world.
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Boccadama: our final group dinner
Melon, prosciutto, steak and rosemary potatoes, tiramisu, & wine. Enough said.
Day 9: Florence
Climbing Giotto's Bell Tower​
The last of our tower climbs; a panoramic view of Florence
Bell Tower Climb, Santa Croce
Santa Croce Basilica: under restoration
The tombs of Michelangelo, Donatello, and Galileo rest within Santa Croce. If that wasn't a reason to visit, we were greeted with another surprise. A tremendous cavity was exposed within the wall. A fresco was in the midst of being restored by a technician armed with tweezers and cotton balls. She was to rid the masterpiece of dust and blemishes that had accumulated over centuries. These artists worked with incredible patience as they covered just square inches of space at a time.
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The Last Supper
Galileo's tomb
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Arrivederci
A long goodbye in the lobby of the Torre Guelfa. Patricia gave us all a farewell gift, some "Italian Junk." A small memento that she knew would always bring a smile to our faces and flood our minds with memory of these 9 blissful days.
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