A few showers for Saturday

It was raining a bit this morning, so I had a lazy a.m., ate breakfast, checked mail, etc. But, Florence beckoned, so was out and about by just after 10:00. I actually put my umbrella up twice, for about 5 minutes each time...not really what I call rain, and it's very warm out, so this Alberta girl has no problem zipping about today at all.

However, the rain did deter some of the tourists as the line for the Campanile was very short...what the heck, it will be a great day for a high high view of the city!

My stair quest for the day...

One of the old bells, on the first 'floor' lookout/place to catch your breath

My quest for next week...the top of the duomo! See those little people walking around up there?

The clouds are breaking up!

That's the Palazzo Vecchio in the upper left...Florence is amazing from up here...and now 418 stairs down again!

Men's shoes...I told Dave about the blue ones, I think they are amazing!

Time for a walk through the market...first a wee rub on the boar's nose, and in I went!

Friday, heading into the long weekend

Up early, met Kristina, a fellow art student from Sweden, and it was off to the Uffizi. We spent 4.5 hours  cranking our necks, walking while gazing at ceilings and also staring at some of the most wonderful masterpieces ever painted and sculpted.

One of the three hallways, literally lined with paintings and sculptures, and there are labyrinths of rooms/salons off to the side that house the most precious works.

From the Bottacelli room...Primavera and the Birth of Venus...both of theses paintings measure about  3.5 metres by 2.5 metres -tempera on board, which is the technique I'm here learning how to do

The gold room, hard to capture just how beautifully appointed this room is

Yet another Baccus...my favorite guy, God of Wine that he is!

Titian's Venus...no words can say enough

Antiquities - these ancient Greek statues are fun to sketch

One of the hundreds of sculptures in the Uffizi...more than the mind can absorb...

The Arno at night from the Ponte Vecchio

Kristina, rubbing the boar's nose...a Florentine tradition

 

 

Thursday...so much fun, they should declare it a National Holiday

What can I say, as days go, this one was a pipp, with a capital P. I will start at the beginning, and not at the amazing bar where the day ended...

There just happens to be a Jackson Pollock exhibit (no pix allowed in the Pollock exhibit) being held at the Palazzo Vecchio, so, even though I've been through the palace before, well, who can resist a few paintings by Jack the Dripper? Not me! 

Into the Palazzo I go. I have to say that the 'Hall of 500' is as amazing as it was the last time and the sheer opulence of the entire Old Palace is just rather overwhelming...

I'll pop in the pix of the whole Hall when I get to the pix from the next floor up!

Just a touch intimidating...which is exactly the look and feel that the Medici were going for!

From floors...

to ceilings...

To stairways...nothing goes undecorated!

The map room...the walls are festooned with maps and a huge globe commands centre stage

As high up the tower as they will let you go...only 282 stairs up from the second floor, and it was 167 stairs to get from floor zero, thru one and up to two! 

But the view was breath-taking!

The directors of the Art school invited all students to come along for a night out...at the bar they took us to, you buy a drink and then you help yourself to the food laid out buffet style...haven't eaten this much since I got here...delicious salads, cheeses and prosciutto and salami ...delicious!

Now, I must stop writing as it's an early morning tomorrow. I have reserved tickets for the Uffizi for 8:30! Buena notte!

Wednesday the 16th

I'm feeling rather charmed as the weather again today was bright, blue and wonderful. A bit of a breeze, but just beautiful out. Took a walk to the Ponte Vecchio, enjoyed the view and of course, couldn't escape without picking up earrings for Cyan and Kayla! Hard to pick from all that sparkle...but, gave it my best effort!

One of the window displays in one of the shops on the Old Bridge!

At the very centre of the bridge is a bust of Maestro Benvenuto Cellini, and at this spot, the evening's street performer sets up once the sun goes down

The view to one side of the bridge

And the other side. A few clouds in the morning which were gone by noon and the rest of the day was clear

Walked back to the school, and spent the next several hours adding another layer to my painting. I'll take another snap of it on Friday for the blog.

Tuesday, April 15

Another beautiful, blue sky day, and very warm. Spent the morning walking around, I wanted to visit the Spedale degli Innocenti, where the facade features Andrea Della Robbia's glazed terracotta roundels, but it is under construction and the entire facade is covered with painted drop cloths to hide the scaffolding. Oh well....not this time. So I turned it into a glass day, and took a photo of the main doors to one of the banks, where they also have a wonderful art collection on display that visitors are welcome to walk around and enjoy...I want to bank at this type of bank!

Don't let the glass doors fool you, they are inside the solid streetfront doors, and there are cameras and security guards to spare inside

This glass ceiling is the sweet piece that covers the entrance to San Annuziata

The ceiling of Annuziata is totally covered in gold leaf...very heavy and very ornate

Then is was off to the Instituto to get a couple of hours of painting in before the lesson. At about 2:00 I took a break and went for lunch. Found a gorgeous little restaurant very close the the school, and the pasta was perfect!

Today's lunch was wide ribbon pasta with pesto, little tomatoes and freshly grated parm. You can't see the flame on top, but beside the roses there is a candle in that silver holder...fine lunching!

Monday, April 14

Laundry morning, well, folding and stuff like that. Swept the apartment, too...very domestic!

Beautiful bright and blue outside today, so enjoyed walking around, and stopping for a coffee at an outside table.

Only time for one thing this morning, so picked the Musee di Orsammichele - and got an extra surprise when I tried a door, and ta da, there I was in the library for the Societa Dantesca Italiana...the Dante Society. They have books and paintings of the Divine Comedy going back to the 1400s. Not first editions by about 100 years, but beautifully antique and well preserved! Spectacular...what a great place to work and just spend a little time. The librarian was nice enough to open one of the truly huge books, at least 3 ft by 2 ft, and over 4 inches thick. Each page has a hand written canto on the lefthand side and a painting of the scene it describes on the right leaf. No photos allowed, but etched in memory.

Two of the library reading rooms

There was a large class of students in the main church when I got there, so I opted for the museum first, two floors of sculptures. This is the 'first floor' with all the bigger sculptures lining the walls and standing in the middle of the room - from floor '0' it's 87 steps in a spiral staircase to the first floor, and then another 72 steps to the second floor. Legs don't fail me now!

The view from one of the second floor windows!

Time to head to the school...

One of the students volunteered to paint the front of the school's doorway...46 R is the street address.

After painting for about an hour, Kristina arrived and told me that tonight there is a wine tasting for students who want to come along....wine you say...say no more! So at 6:15 we gather at the school and walk to Pozzo Divino...the most truly unique wine cellar I've ever been in. Pinto, owner and proprietor, told us the story of his shop. The store front upstairs is very nice, and then you descend a couple of staircases to what was once the tunnels connecting two of the main prisons in Florence. Dante and Machiavelli were both imprisoned here. Enough words, the wine was mouth-filling and palate-pleasing to the max!

(L to r) Ricardo, Kristina, Katarina, Anna at our table...we've not yet begun

After a few wine samples, cheese, prosciutto, salami and bread, there is less room on the table

Heaven...I'm in heaven

The bottle in the box is decorated with Swarovski crystals...Happy New Year perhaps...

A walk about Sunday

After the long day yesterday, I lounged around a bit this morning. But, not too long, after all there are still so many things to see and do! Today, two things on the roster...Santa Maria Novella - where Masaccio's fabulous frescos can be seen- and then to the Palazzo Strozzi - where a wonderful exhibition of Pontormo and Rosso Fiorenino are on special display until the end of July.

But first I happened upon San Lorenzio, I think I mentioned that the Medeci crest is everywhere...even emblazoned in gold on the cathedral ceilings!

The facade of the Santa Maria Novella...which doesn't begin to hint at the vastness that stretches out behind and to the side.

Just a few of Masaccio's frescos - scene after scene, stacked up in the Brancacci chapel...

This fresco, a stand alone on one wall, was a ground breaking painting as it introduced a form of perspective that artists hadn't used before, but which revolutionized painting and paved the way for more perspective advancements.

And then it was on to the Strozzi...

The draping and the colours ... wonderful!

Cosimo il Vecchio (the Elder)...the beginning of di Medici dynasty, by Pontormo

On the walk back, I went through the square in front of the arch marking 'L'Antico Centro Della Citta' - the ancient centre of the city. Street performers were set up, the merry-go-round was working and the shops were open...Sunday in Florence. Tomorrow, Monday, most everything is closed, museums, galleries, etc., but Sunday...it's party on!

It was slightly overcast for parts of the day, but it only rained when I was in the Strozzi, and by the time I came out, the streets were wet, but the showers had passed and it made for a warm, fresh and delightful walk back to my apartment.