Firenze - three fun days in photos!

Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Metropolitan City of Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Florence was a blur of beautiful architecture, leather, scarves, mind boggling art and history and of course David. I knew that a highlight of this trip for me would be seeing the Academia again after 37 years - yes it has been that long since Maile and I caroused around Europe - and it did not disappoint. Things are different now of course. You buy timed entry tickets in advance and there are xray machines to get in, but once you're in - it's Michelangelo! I especially love the prisoners breaking out of the stone in the long gallery leading up to where David stands, more than 17 feet tall. And, the last time I was here I didn't have my very own David so that is pretty cool. 
There is a ridiculous amount of shopping that can/must be done in Florence. In between (and often quickly darting in and out during walking tours) cathedral visits, museums (the Uffizi and Academia!) there was SHOPPING. We loved all the small specialty stores for linens, leather and food, and the shops with craftsmen making stone mosaic art or paper. 
I spent several hours in the 13th century Church of Santa Croce where Michelangelo is buried. It was overwhelming in the best way. There are sixteen family chapels in the Basilica, considered the largest Franciscan church in the world. In addition to Michelangelo, there are the tombs of Rossini, Machiavelli, and Galileo Galilei, (who was tried by the Inquisition and was not allowed a Christian burial until 1737, 95 years after his death.)
We haven’t taken many taxis but the other night on the way home from the opera, it was SO treacherous going in the tiny alleys among bikers and pedestrians. I couldn’t help squeaking and yelled ”whoa!” a couple times. Then the taxi driver said, “it’s okay. sometimes I hit them.” 
The Internet has been spotty and uploading photos and publishing has been dicey.  Whenever I get good Internet I try to quickly send these out. Sorry about the lack of detail but don’t want to bore you!  Please enjoy all the photos!!!

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2025-02-10

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