We decided to do Christmas and New Years in Italy because plane tickets to get there were so cheap. N will be gone a lot next year so we wanted some quality time together, just us and a million passionate, funny Italians. Prior to this, I'd only been to Venice for a minute one summer, and I can't say I loved it. Too crowded, too hot, expensive for a backpacker. But I'd always wanted to see Florence and Rome, and N was game. We were off!
We flew into Pisa and hopped a bus to see the tower, of course. The sky was blue and there weren't many people around, which was heavenly. The tower is situated in an area with two churches, which were closed because it was a Sunday. The marble-filigreed (is that a word) doors on one of them was absolutely gorgeous, though. We took the requisite photos and headed back to the train station for Florence.
Our new Christmas toy, the handheld Garmin (thanks, Marjie!), got us to our hotel in no time. It was charming and within walking distance of everything. Hotels in Europe are kindof a crapshoot. You never know how tiny they're going to be, if you'll be getting an actual double bed or just two twins shoved together, and if breakfast will be more than just some cold cuts and bread. Ours was great- and only 75 Euros per night. A steal!
I loved Florence. Really loved it. Perhaps because it was our first stop and the two of us were just so danged excited to be on vacation. Perhaps because it was just days before Christmas and the whole city was dressed up in lights and there was music and roasted chestnuts. Maybe because people were rushing everywhere to buy gifts for friends and family. Or maybe it was all the chianti...who can say?
The highlights:
The Duomo: The big cathedral in the center of Old Florence is decorated in green, black, and red marble and is as spectacular at night as it is during the day. We climbed the 463 steps of the cathedral to get to see the incredible paintings on the inside of the dome, and then continued to the top for a beautiful view of the city. The cathedral was built by Brunelleschi, who drew on the architecture of Rome's Pantheon to erect a dome as large as this one. On the climb up, we could really see how he laid the bricks in order to support such a large dome. The paintings on the inside of the dome were...interesting, but vivid and enormous. Worth the heart-pounding climb.
The David: My favorite thing in Florence; it literally took my breath away when I first saw it. Begun in 1501 by Michelangelo and completed in three years, it stands alone at the end of a long hallway in the Galleria dell'Accademia. It used to stand outside in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, but was replaced by a replica. Critics have said that the David looks a little gangly and childish, even. His arms do look a little long, but everything else is so realistic. Leading up to the David are four other sculptures by Michelangelo, the nonfiniti Slaves (unfinished slaves). The other two Slaves can be found in the Louvre. These sculptures look as though they're trying their damnedest to get out of the marble, and are as beautiful as the David.
The Uffizi Galleries: These galleries house about a million pieces of Renaissance artwork from the 1400s to the 1900s. We spent a few hours here and I was tuckered by the time we left. The main hall is lined with busts and portraits- a who's who of early nobility and leaders. N studied a lot of European history in high school and made a great tour guide. Also here is Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, which we missed the first time through and trudged back through the whole museum to find.
Markets: N has needed a new belt for years, and Florence came through. He got two belts custom-fit in minutes at the street markets.
1 comment:
Loved, loved, LOVED Part Uno. Are you sure N was with you? Was he just being coy (goy?). Hope to see more of him in Part 2.
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