florence

i have to be honest....after an early morning....and getting over my sickness....i was not in the best of moods to listen to long winded talks on church art....

soooo

the morning was good....but i was ready for lunch at 1:45 when we were given 5 euro. i was on a little bit of visual overload.... so here is the morning...

arrive
santa maria novella
question posed--how would i visually represent the church?

then...museo di san marco (rebuilt by cossimo medici)
fra angelico paintings
monastic cells

(one thing that was mentioned was that the best view of florences is from fiesole....so i need to find that on my next trip there)

lunch.....wandering and then the best pick me up!--cappuccino with a chocolate heart on top :)

after coffee i had a great afternoon seeing bits of florence
florence is a rennaissance city--the beginning of secular modernity

we saw the Bapistry infront of the duomo
and the gates of paradise! by Ghilberti
the Duomo bell tower
depicting the seven sevens
all the important trades of the city on bottom row

the orsonmichela "the garden of michael"
the guild's chapel--each guild ordered to commission a statue for their niche--florence liked to do things that drew everyone in together

Piazza Dela Signoria--main piazza, contains town hall
the masculine statues and authority of government offer a contrast to the the duomo (the mother church and father government)
the town hall is were the famous "David" was supposed to stand--which we haven't got to see yet...
the loggi is an amplitheatre...previous of civil speaches, but not used for concerts

we were sort of rushed through here, so not any good pictures....

then an amazing view overlooking the river
then we saw some art and back on the train....