Day Two Florence

Today we got a slow start heading over to the Ufizzi Museum. Generally, thirteenth and fourteenth century art can be, centred on just one thing: Jesus and Mary, mother and child, and the Virgen and baby. Often the babies look like little, chubby men with his mother looking sad or distracted. This was not that. Each painting, fresco, and sculpture was astounding. The brilliant colours all with a story to tell about the history of the place at the time. We had an audio guide that was great except that it meant we had sooo much information stuffed into our heads by the end of the tour. It is two long corridors with rooms filled with artwork on each of two floors. Amazing.

After saturating ourselves with art in the morning, we came home for a lunch break. It is nice to have a spot so close to just about everything. Our apartment doesn’t compare with our last digs - but it does have three bedroom allowing Sheryl and I to sleep separately while Sheryl finished up her cold (and then I got it later). It has all the things.

We headed out to the Academia - where the original David sculpted by Michelangelo is housed. The story goes that the patron had wanted a sculpture of the triumphant David standing on the head of Goliath. However, the marble stone which had been transported a long way had cracked at just the spot where the head would go. Hence, several sculptors turned down the commission. Michelangelo had a better idea. He would capture the look on David’s face as he discovers his behemoth opponent before using his strap as a sling to throw the stone that downed the mighty Goliath. Once down, David chopped his head off. This is why the sculpture has Davids legs spread apart - to avoid the crack. Clever, no?

At days end, we just decided to get some pizza, again.Read more