As we walked towards our first destination, we saw many vendors selling all sorts of things from trinkets of the area to belts, scarves, sweaters, shoes, purses, etc. Plus, as the day went on there were people begging for this reason or that, other people selling paintings, and since it was raining on and off, people walking around selling umbrellas.
I think the people selling paintings were the most interesting. They had a portfolio, would come near you, open it up and flip through their pictures. Some even put them on the ground for you to walk past. They were nice pictures but I had a hard time believing that the people selling them were the same people who painted them. There were some painters near the Uffizi gallery who were sitting there painting and with paintings of theirs to sell. That I believed. In fact, I was tempted to buy one I saw but it most likely would be ruined by the time we get home as we’re in such a small car. Plus, I’m sure they probably cost quite a bit.
Anyways, the first stop was at the Cappelle Medici (Medici Chapels) which is adjacent to the Basilica of San Lorenzo. We first went into the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana. This was a building that Michelangelo created to “shelter the expanding library of the Medici.” The entrance into it was inside an entrance. So you were inside and as you went into this library, the entrance was as if you were entering from outside, even though you were already inside. Then when you got inside it was rows and rows of really high pews. On the outside of the pews was a label of sorts. What it was, was a list of the books that would be within that row of pews. What people used to do was go into a row and sit and read the book they wanted from that row. They also then had a history of writings and samples through the ages of writings even on papyrus and wax and stone. Some samples they had were from 251 BC! Talk about exciting. They had some writings from books of the bible (even sections that aren’t familiar in a standard bible). They also showed the standard large bible as compared to what they call the Marco Polo type of bible which is smaller and portable. Unfortunately, the only pictures we could take were on the outside of the building and it wasn't too exciting really to look at from the outside.
We then went down into the Medici tombs which were created by Michelangelo. It basically had a lot of things too look at as the treasury was also down there. One box, not sure what it was for, had a bone in it, like an arm bone or something. Since most of it was in Italian we couldn’t really tell what some of these things were or what they meant. The main thing here was the tombs of two Medici family members. As I’m not familiar with who Medici was and what the importance of the family was, I can’t really expand. I know it’s something important as the name was mentioned a lot during the day – as if it was a time period in government that wasn’t good. We then went into the chapel and it had some interesting paintings but it did not have anything too exciting as I can barely remember going in here. I just remember Makenna starting to act up.
We then went to the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore which means St. Mary of the Flower and the flower represents Christ. This cathedral is known for the Brunelleschi dome which we could only really see a small part of. They roped off the area that lets you get close to look up. We didn’t pay to go up to the dome either. Although, I would’ve loved to have gone up and get a full view of this work of art. It also had an underground area that you could pay and see all the findings of what was there previously prior to this church. There was another church back from the 5th century on this spot but they found that it was too small and in 1296 started to build this grand church which took 170 years to complete. At the time, it was the biggest in Italy. The outside was almost more interesting in design and definitely the most colourful that I’ve seen yet.
It also had a separate bell tower that you could pay to go up and see a lot of Florence. Chris didn’t feel I’d be up to it as it had 421 steps (maybe more) and said if we had time later, which we didn’t, I could go up. There was also a baptistery (Baptistery of San Giovanni,) aka John the Baptist. This was really neat to see. The dome inside this was also painted and had a lot of meaning; mostly of Christ’s judgment at the time of resurrection. Even the shape of the building, an octagon has meaning. Each side represents a day but since an octagon has eight sides, the eighth day represents the day without end, when Christ comes again.
We got Makenna to fall asleep inside this cathedral, as she desperately needed it by her antics, and we walked to a little café and grabbed a bite to eat and some food for her for later. We continued to walk to the Galleria dell’Accademia which is known for the sculpture by Michelangelo of David. I do have to say, I’ve seen this in pictures but this was truly an outstanding piece of work. I was mesmerized by it and not because it was of a naked man. Just how perfect it looked and to be carved out of marble makes you wonder how in the world he did it. Especially since other artists at the time tried and failed to make something out of the big block of marble that the David was sculpted out of. Michelangelo took the challenge as a way of making his mark. There were other works of art and even other works of art in marble from Michelangelo that were unfinished and believed that some were from demolished buildings as you could see architectural features still attached to the sculpture.
They had a room of plaster castings that were of marble sculptures from other parts of the country. What’s interesting about these was all the nails in the sculptures. Why does plaster require nails to hold it together while marble none? I guess because of the composition and how it will break down? I would think that plaster would break and fall apart if you drive nails into it.
Also, you were not allowed to take any pictures inside this museum, especially of David. There was this one museum worker who caught a guy taking pictures and she yelled at him and then made him take the picture off his camera. I don’t know how he didn’t see all the signs that were posted telling you not to take pictures. Of course, I can’t blame him; I would if I got the chance.
Which I did, but a replica in the Piazza della Signoria. This is basically an area where there are a lot of statues and it’s next to the Uffizi Museum. It had a replica of the David, along with a fountain, and numerous other sculptures. It's the focal point of the origin and of the history of the Florentine Republic and still maintains its reputation as the political hub of the city. It was originally just a plain plaza but since the seat of government was there, over the years, various people gave sculptures to improve the look of the area.
The Ufizzi museum had an excruciatingly long line and surprisingly, Makenna did well. Of course, she had a good long nap, and she could get up and run around as mommy or daddy would take turns watching her as the other stood in line. When there were maybe 15 or so people in front of us, the guy who lets people in saw us and moved us ahead of the line. Wish we had made ourselves more noticeable sooner. What was nice about being in line and then in the museum is that it kept us out of the rain.This museum officially opened in 1765 and is said to have Italy’s finest collection of art. It has works from Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Mategna, Bellini and others. I have to say that I’m not a huge art fan but it is truly amazing to see these works. We saw Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus,” and Leonardo’s “Adoration of the Magi.” There was also a room that had statues in it and what was more interesting to me was that it had been bombed in 1993 by some guy I guess. I have to look that up. We unfortunately couldn’t take pictures here either but at one point did take some pictures of the outside from inside the gallery. We weren’t the only ones and I think it was okay to do so.
After, we went to a restaurant near by and I had lasagne – had to – while in Italy! It was okay. I have to say that other one in France was a bit tastier even though it was smothered in cheese. Makenna had penne noodles with mushrooms and she gobbled up the mushrooms. Chris and I helped her to finish off the noodles. I had asked for a child sized portion and whether they gave us less or not I don’t know but they still charged us for an adult portion. I was upset but they made up for it by giving her a free gelato (ice cream). Chris and I had got some for ourselves on the way back to the car. This was good ice cream! Chris had this extremely chocolate kind and I had mint chocolate. Makenna had a bit of both of ours (on top of the one she had from the restaurant). We’ll definitely have to indulge in that treat again before we leave Italy!
That brings me to something else I found interesting. Again, at the rest stops, they had your usual stuff for sale but they also had huge tin cans of olive oil and also bags of different types of pasta. I should’ve bought some pasta that I can’t find in the UK.
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