Florence - the cradle of the art world. Medici, Renaissance, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, da Vinci - just a few importants coming from this little place.
First things first. My first steps on Italian soil and my first of taste of from-Italy gelato. Mmm, dark chocolate and pistachio (I admit to getting pistachio nearly every chance I had). Little tip, just two scoops at a time.
The Ponte Vecchio - I had seen pictures but somehow did not realize it was a real place. This photo doesn't even look real but it's real, y'all. Built in the middle ages, it spans the Arno river and was once the hub of the gold trade. Notice the tiny windows above it. That is the secret Medici walkway leading from the Medici home to the town hall. In WWII this bridge was not bombed (while most others were) because the Nazis thought they might just want a secret passage way. Thank goodness!
You can't have access to Carrara marble (and bronze too) and not make something from it. The middle left photo shows the original placement of the David (now with a faux that they'll allow to be exposed to weather); the bottom middle photo shows yet another David, this time in bronze, at the top of the city.
Despite already taking in the two reproductions of the David I was not really prepared to see the thing itself. Photos cannot capture its intricacies, strength, and impressiveness. Michelangelo said that he simply freed statues from the marble and, in reference to the David, said he just cut away everything that wasn't David. If you only see one thing in Florence, the David is the thing.
The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is usually known as Brunelleschi's Dome for the architect who figured out how to not let the dome of the cathedral crash in and kill everyone. The cathedral itself is gorgeous in colors of white, green, and blue symbolizing faith, hope, and charity
The hole for a dome of the cathedral was a little larger than anyone knew what to do with but the semi-crazy Brunelleschi had some ideas (which he refused to share with anyone and made everyone just trust him). Patronized/tolerated by the Medici it all worked out. In related news, the bottom photo is actually the Pantheon, in Rome, where Brunelleschi was given permission to cut a lovely little block out and discern it's composition - information that was needed for his dome.
Next we traveled to the little city of Pisa, home of less-good architects.
The Leaning Tower of Chee-sa.
The tower is actually a bell tower and part of a larger church proper. The tower, as you know, leans but has since been fortified in it's current position so it's no sinking anymore and it's not dangerous.
At the site is this piece of art that was one part disturbing and one part amazing. It's a fallen angel and I'll leave it there.
We took all the necessary photos and, having been in Florence earlier that day, felt creative. Welcome to how I do art.
And when one has exhausted one's creativity and desire to take entertaining photos, one takes entertaining photos of others.
And when you are done with that, climb the tower. Yes, sir, we climbed the tower.
And we were rewarded with these views of Pisa. Day one in Italy was a success!
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