Italy - Florence

Two action packed days in Florence started with an evening walk around the Duomo and historical downtown.

The next morning, we went inside the Duomo.  I have been inside many churches and really, this one is not nearly as impressive inside as out.  Truly, I find the style a bit over the top, but the recognizable dome is beautiful and easily identifies thia landscape as "Florence"

Above is a pic of another impressive building....not sure which one, but Cassio took the opportunity to use his little wide angle attachment for his samsung tablet to capture the whole thing...and me too:)

Looking out on the Arno River from the Ponte Vecchio.

This photo looks like a miniature model train set because of another camera effect.  I think it looks great! We got this shot after crossing the bridge and climbing up steep paths in a rose garden up to the top where the piazza Michaelangelo is.

Original Cinquicentos. So cute to find a couple together!

Our meals have been making up for months of almost no bread and cheese! Yum!

Santa Croce Cathedral. The day started off super foggy but the blue sky came out for the rest of the afternoon.

Walking and walking, we stumbled upon an area with a ton of little antique shops including a bunch of stall type kiosks.  Lots of fun finds but we had to look only....too much stuff in our place already!

Day two included a visit to the Galleria Uffizi! Definitely well worth it!

We also went inside the Accademia to see the original David among other impressive artworks.

Earlier in the day we made a stop to the municipal market.  It was a shame we did this immediately after breakfast because there were lots of vendors offering free tastes of cheese, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, bread and truffle pate!!! I tried the truffle but still had the taste of toothpaste in my mouth. Mistake. Tasted really weird. I will have to give truffles another chance!

Outside the Galleria Uffizi is an outdoor sculpture garden...here is a gorgeous, if gruesome, beheaded medusa.

We saw so much fine, skilled work today that to show it all would take hours...but check out the detailed carving on the marble collar above!

Most people were crowded around the birth of Venus by Bottecelli.  This lesser known work is almost as captivating.  The photo makes it look small but it was probably about four feet in diameter.

A dome lined with sea shells.

Dutch painting detail.

This painting by Vecchio has been at the Uffizi since the 1600's.  The rendering of the faces isn't particularly accurate but the rest, especially the empty glass, is unbelievably realistic.  Our detail photo below, did not focus closely enough....it is actually MUCH sharper in person.  Wow!!!!

And we saw more sculptures than we could count.  Sometimes one feels as if "oh, here we go again....one more religious painting...yet another roman bust..." But really, it is worth it.  You find surprizes and new sights every moment.

Italy - Pisa & Lucca

Buon giorno!

  Above are our good friends, Loverci and Sergio, who live in Reggio nell Emilia, and who picked us up at the airport in Genoa. Upon our arrival, they greeted us with big hugs and tiny, little panettones!    

From Genoa we drove to Pisa and hung out for a bit, walking along the Arno River toward the famous leaning tower.

The tower really is impressively slanted! Photos don't do justice.  Everyone, including us, was trying to photograph the illusion that we were holding up the tower.  So silly.  But truly it is a majestic sight and we were taken aback by the grand church that is built beside it.

Above is another lovely piazza in Piza, the weathered building awash with late afternoon Tuscan sun. It was a glorious day.

The following morning, after spending a night in a quaint airbnb apartment in Lucca, (smartly decorated with ikea furnishings), we had another sun filled, if somewhat chilly, day, walking about the old town with our friends.  We visited the main cathedral which has been mainly restored and houses many oil paintings in addition to fine examples of medieval carving and sculptural work.

Another interesting place in Lucca is what was formerly a Roman Amphitheatre.  The residents of Lucca eventually claimed the space "under the bleachers" and built homes and businesses there...and built up but left the "stage" open as a piazza.  The original outer wall is still largely intact.

Lucca is a pleasant and restful town with picturesque vistas everywhere you look.  Lots of history and tons of chic boutique shops too!

The photo above shows the bike path and pedestrian walkway that is the current use of the top of the high city wall, originally built to fortify and protect Lucca.

We abandoned the diet altogether and, yes, we each ate our own pizza...NO leftovers for a cold pizza breakfast! It was a highly satisfying end to a long and welcome travel day!