Florence

After the sheer laziness of a week on Elba, and the indulgence that was Chianti we really needed to get on that road north. It would be complete insanity however not to spend at least a day in the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence. Especially considering that it was only 28km away!! (and especially if you're still in the market for Italian shoes and handbags!!!).

The fabulous Duomo

The Florentine skyline from the Torre d'Arnolfo to the Duomo

View of the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno river

"Cheese!"

We had spent a good few days in Florence on our last Euro trip seeing the sights and soaking up the atmosphere, and just totally being wowed by the place. This time around we felt that we could get away with less sightseeing and more soaking. Unless of course your definition of sightseeing includes shoe shops, boutiques and gelateria. And so we did.

Reflection on the Arno

Il Duomo. Up close and personal

It brings me much sadness to report however that we didn't manage any shoes or handbags, but rather a solitary leather wallet and a duo scoop of gelato (caffe/straccitella and passionfruit/fig respectively (what was I thinking??!!!)).

Parking, Italian style

Recharging. Electric vehicles!

Shopping, or should that be browsing aside, we did find the time to take in a little culture. This came in the form of a (quick) visit to the Museo del Bargello, which according to the trusty LP houses "Italy's most comprehensive collection of Tuscan Renaissance sculpture", including several Michelangelos, a couple of Cellinis and an absolutely stunning Donatello. The piece in question is a very neat, very tidy bronze David, apparently the the first freestanding sculpture since the time of antiquity to depict a fully nude male (aside from his helmet of course)! Unfortunately I can't share a kodak or two with you as they totally ban photography :( Not even a sneaky one! But here's what he looks like anyway...

David, courtesy of Google Images

Along with the sculpture, the museum was home to quite a lot of overthetop gold embellished religious works, some great Islamic art and quite a number sculptured coat-of-arms from the upwardly mobile Florentine families of the Renaissance era. We've since learnt that the fabulous building that the museum is now housed in was in turns the residence of the chief magistrate of Florence, back in 1254 (can you even imagine??!), and then a police station, complete with city gallows...

Hercules beating the Centaur Nessus (1599), Loggia della Signoria

...in detail

Marzocco, the symbol of Florence

But soon enough, it was time to get back on the bikes, ride back up the hill, and climb back on board for the drive to our next newest country, the teeny-weeny city state of San Marino...

Lunch!

SJ