Art Overdose in Florence

Still being lulled and coddled here in the cradle of the Renaissance--ah!

Last full day in Florence--we had to pack it all in. So...we toured the Palazzo Vecchio with frescos and carvings galore--those Medicis really loved their art...and themselves apparently. Lorenzo the Magnificent? The elaborate and gorgeous frescos mostly focus on the celestial gods, the theory being that the stories of the celestial gods are a nice complement to the lives of the terrestrial gods (the Medicis). Too bad that Savonarola came in and rained on the parade with his Bonfire of Vanities. He was, of course, burned himself in the same spot sometime later.

At the Palazzo, we made sure to hang for a bit in Machiavelli's office (the Chancery) to absorb some practical politics. Maybe we should adopt a more Machiavellian style of parenting...

So, against the protestations of a child or two, we took in Casa di Dante on the way home for the daily siesta, passing the church where Dante first glimpsed Beatrice and got a sense for the Florence of the Middle Ages.

Later that afternoon, we explored the Uffizi Gallery (Da Vincis and Botticellis mostly, but also the occasional Carravaggio for a bit of drama) and had a beer (kids had waters) on the roof where the Medici family would listen to concerts on the Piazza below. It was a gorgeous evening, so we walked across the Ponte Vecchio. So lovely!




Did you know that Florence Nightingale was born in Florence (hence her first name)? She's one of the few women commemorated in this city (although I can't say where--it is just noted somewhere). Just saying. I realize the Middle Ages and Renaissance weren't exactly good times for women, but still. And in the sculptures we get David, Neptune, Hercules, etc... and then Judith beheading Holofernes. Nice. Botticelli is refreshingly kind to women in his paintings, though. You go, Sandro!