After spending a few days in Rome we headed to Florence, Tuscany. We arrived in the early evening and decided to go out for a bite to eat. Our hotel kindly recommended a few places so we headed to the Osteria Il Mostrino. What started out as a quiet dinner for two ended up as a flurry of conversations between a couple beside us from Kansas and a couple behind us from San Remo, Australia. Nonetheless the evening was spent with lovely people and a great meal of traditional Tuscan dishes.
On our first official day in Florence we headed to the coast of Tuscany to Pisa to see its famous Leaning Tower and get a pisa the action. We had not allocated much time to this visit and as there was a long wait to climb the tower we decided to just take a few photos and grab a gelato and sobetto and wander back to the train station to come back to Florence.
Having not climbed the stairs of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the morning, that afternoon we decided to climb the 463 stairs of the Santa Maria del Fiore- Duomo in Florence. The Duomo was designed by an artist by the name of Brunelleschi in 1420.
Upon reaching the top, which was easier than St Paul's Cathedral we took a few photos that overlooked the city of Florence and its surroundings.
There were various signs stating do not write on the walls however there were a bunch of adolescents that decided to write on the pillars up the top level. Unfortunately even though they were told off by a bystander it was too late.
Day 2 and our last day in Florence, which was a shame, we joined another tour group to see the 'real' David in the Accademia which as we learnt is not a Gallery but was a school for artists. Interestingly our guide told us that Florence and Pisa both have great universities however you cannot learn vetinary science in Florence or architecture in Pisa, wonder why?
There are many copies of David but as the original is made out of a poor block of marble, well Michelangelo did not think so, David has been required to be put in a place out of harms way and was moved from Piazza della Signoria to his new home today. His left arm was broken in 3 spots before he was moved and even after moving to the Accademia a crazy person came in and chopped off his toe, however both of these have since been repaired.
We also had the opportunity to see some of Michelangelo's other work, which were unfinished. These were 4 statues, The Prisoners intended for the tomb of Pope Julius II, Young Slave, Atlas, Awakening Slave and Saint Matteo. It is forbidden to take photo's in the Accademia but Christopher took a photo of David as did some others.
The Accademia also had some contemporary art on show by students. One which you could take photos of was a hideous pink and blonde David.
After visiting the 'real' David we headed to Piazza della Signoria to visit the copy of David, where the original once stood.
Having been all David out, we visited the famous Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) which was built in 1345. Today it has an abundance of jewellers, but pre 1593 butchers, tanners and blacksmiths resided there. Due to the noise and stench they were evicted and the workshops were rebuilt and let to goldsmiths, hence the jewellers today.
On our first official day in Florence we headed to the coast of Tuscany to Pisa to see its famous Leaning Tower and get a pisa the action. We had not allocated much time to this visit and as there was a long wait to climb the tower we decided to just take a few photos and grab a gelato and sobetto and wander back to the train station to come back to Florence.
Having not climbed the stairs of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the morning, that afternoon we decided to climb the 463 stairs of the Santa Maria del Fiore- Duomo in Florence. The Duomo was designed by an artist by the name of Brunelleschi in 1420.
Upon reaching the top, which was easier than St Paul's Cathedral we took a few photos that overlooked the city of Florence and its surroundings.
There were various signs stating do not write on the walls however there were a bunch of adolescents that decided to write on the pillars up the top level. Unfortunately even though they were told off by a bystander it was too late.
Day 2 and our last day in Florence, which was a shame, we joined another tour group to see the 'real' David in the Accademia which as we learnt is not a Gallery but was a school for artists. Interestingly our guide told us that Florence and Pisa both have great universities however you cannot learn vetinary science in Florence or architecture in Pisa, wonder why?
There are many copies of David but as the original is made out of a poor block of marble, well Michelangelo did not think so, David has been required to be put in a place out of harms way and was moved from Piazza della Signoria to his new home today. His left arm was broken in 3 spots before he was moved and even after moving to the Accademia a crazy person came in and chopped off his toe, however both of these have since been repaired.
We also had the opportunity to see some of Michelangelo's other work, which were unfinished. These were 4 statues, The Prisoners intended for the tomb of Pope Julius II, Young Slave, Atlas, Awakening Slave and Saint Matteo. It is forbidden to take photo's in the Accademia but Christopher took a photo of David as did some others.
The Accademia also had some contemporary art on show by students. One which you could take photos of was a hideous pink and blonde David.
After visiting the 'real' David we headed to Piazza della Signoria to visit the copy of David, where the original once stood.
Having been all David out, we visited the famous Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) which was built in 1345. Today it has an abundance of jewellers, but pre 1593 butchers, tanners and blacksmiths resided there. Due to the noise and stench they were evicted and the workshops were rebuilt and let to goldsmiths, hence the jewellers today.
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