After being in Venice, the traffic in Florence seemed dangerous and crazy…until we got to Rome!
Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance. There are two famous art museums in the city. The Accademia includes many sculptures including Michelangelo’s David, and the Uffizi Gallery with paintings by Giotto, Raphael, Botticellis (Birth of Venus) and da Vinci. We visited both art museums on the two mornings we were in Florence.
We began our time in the city with the city Duomo or cathedral (think biggest church in town). Its exterior looks very different, but it is the first Renaissance dome created by Brunelleschi. Jesse with his extensive knowledge of art history (graphic design is an art major at UW-Eau Claire) explained to me that the Renaissance artists could do all forms of art (sculpture, architecture, painting, etc.). We climbed 463 steps to the top of the dome for expansive views of the city.
After our least favorite meal (my pizza had 4 different kinds of cheese in chunks and Jesse’s calzone had raw sausage), we headed up to Piazza Michelangelo for sunset views of the city.
After our first art museum the next morning, we also visited Santa Croce Church where Galileo and Michelangelo are buried. We then visited the Duomo Museum hoping to see Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, but they were under renovations. We spent the evening in Piazza Republica…with gelato of course (our second of the day)! Our last morning we spent at the Uffizi Gallery before boarding another train headed for the west coast.
Four hundred and sixty-three steps is a LOT of steps! You need to explain about the pasta you ALMOST bought for your moms. I agree, your husband takes amazing photos!