Training to Venice
We had a slow morning. While some work was being done by the rail line between Roma and Firenze, a World War II bomb was discovered. They decided to detonate it during the time our train was to arrive, so we were delayed two hours. But, we finally got our train and got to Venezia. […]
April 8th, 2000 by alephnaught
Comments Off on Fiesole
Fiesole
When the weather is clear and warm, you must take the number 7 bus from the train station out to Fiesole. Fiesole is an old town (it dates back to the original Etruscans that settled before Firenze existed) on a hill that overlooks Firenze. Its small and charming. We ate at Ristorante Aurora overlooking Firenze […]
April 7th, 2000 by alephnaught
Around town
We did the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, which was another Medici residence. There is a dynamite chapel upstairs in this building with a full-surround frescoe in exceptional condition. The frescoe tells the story of the Magi, with various real-life participants (including a portrait of Lorenzo Medici) and vivid color. We went back to the toy store […]
April 6th, 2000 by alephnaught
Comments Off on Shopping and the Cappella Branccaci
Shopping and the Cappella Branccaci
What’s a trip it Italia without shopping, so we shopped in the morning. Then, after a delightful lunch (they almost all were), we went back to see the Cappella Branccaci. This is a large chapel across the Arno river from the main part of Firenze. The most famous work inside is Masaccio’s Expulsion from the […]
April 5th, 2000 by alephnaught
Comments Off on San Marco and the Academia
April 4th, 2000 by electricbob
Art day
Today we did the Uffizi; the word uffizi means office, and it was the office of the government of the Medicis in Firenze. They have a whole room of Botticellis, who is one of my favs. The square inside the Uffizi is packed with artists selling their wares (we bought a small watercolor of the […]
April 3rd, 2000 by alephnaught
April 2nd, 2000 by alephnaught
Comments Off on Duomo and Santa Maria Novella
Duomo and Santa Maria Novella
Our hotel is a very short walk from Santa Maria Novella, an old church right by the train station. There are some fine images on the walls of this church, whose square was dedicated in 1287. Below is a detail from one of the works. The Duomo is the center of Firenze and its huge. […]
April 1st, 2000 by alephnaught
Comments Off on Training to Florence
Training to Florence
The train to Firenza (Florence) was uneventful and very comfortable (pay for first class, its not that expensive and the seats are nicer). We checked into the Albergo Pensione Centrale, which was not as clean as we would like and, gasp, lacked a TV in the room! The bathroom was so tiny they put the […]
March 31st, 2000 by alephnaught
Comments Off on Churches, churches, churches
Churches, churches, churches
We saw Benini’s greatest sculptures, a church designed by Michelangelo to match the ruins of Domician’s bathes, which the church adjoins, etc., etc. For my benefit we went to the Museo Napoleon; he spent a few years fighting in northern Italia and installed his son as the King of Roma. Our feet hurt, but we […]
April 9th, 2000 by alephnaught
Comments Off on Training to Venice