Second stop!
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with Brunelleschi’s dome, begun 1296.
Florence the Artistic!
Day 4
On day 4 we arrived at the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence, Italy. We were in awe walking through a city where some of history’s greats such as Giotto, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, and many others had worked and lived. It was as if buildings and statues wanted to tell their stories and express their part in history. We remember coming around the corner and seeing the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with Brunelleschi’s dome, an engineering feat. Amazing!
The Tuscan dinner we all enjoyed that night will always be seared into our minds. We filled the back room of a small, family-run restaurant. Cecilia eloquently gave us background about each dish as the courses arrived at our tables. We all savored every bite and moment, becoming friends with wine glasses never empty.
The climax of the meal was watching our chef cook the most mouthwatering beef on a table of flames right before our eyes. Crazy! The feast was topped off with a shot of Limoncello! Ching Ching!
Day 5
A local guide joined us on day 5 as we walked the streets of Florence, marveling at Roman and medieval architecture and events that occurred there. Crossing the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) gave us a peek into life in the 1200's. Late morning, we all washed our hands and donned an apron to prepare our lunch together at a local cooking school. This was a highlight of our time in Florence. In addition to our top notch instructor, the joy of working together to make, learn about, and taste Italian culture was priceless.
During our free afternoon we meandered through the Boboli Gardens in warm afternoon sunshine. The views of Florence and rolling green hills surrounding it were stunning. It was definitely worth putting extra miles on our shoes!
We had a lovely evening on the outdoor terrace at our hotel listening to Cecilia talk about current Italian culture, education, and life. She invited us to ask questions while we munched on a tasty spread of fresh foods and sipped wine.
Day 6
In the morning of Day 6, we were guided through the Uffizi Galleries to observe iconic works by Leonardo, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and more. Once again, we appreciated how our local guide gave us full background on important pieces of art history.
In the late morning, Cecilia invited those who were interested to follow her to a local leather maker with exquisitely made goods such as coats, purses, wallets, gloves, and more.
After lunch we ambled at an easy pace savoring sights of the the past and present. After that, we allowed ourselves a rest break at the hotel. Free time on the tour gave us balance. Sometimes we sat at a gelateria eating gelato and people watching. Other times looking at city shops or buying a pastry to share hit the spot. It was a time to say to each other in wonder, “This is awesome. Are we really here?”
We excitedly anticipated the evening tour of the Accademia Gallery. Just a few steps in, and there was the mind blowing masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. We did not realize how tall the work of art was. In addition, we saw the incomplete Prisoners sculptures and learned so much history about the artist. We were able to check off one of the great pieces of art we have always wanted to see.
We ate our final dinner in Florence, at a restaurant near the cathedral named Le Botteghe di Donatello. History records that this is a place Donatello spent time. We enjoyed their delicious pizza, location, and atmosphere.
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