Text and images (c) Robert Barry Francos
Images can be enlarged by clicking on them
We took the bullet train (200 mph) from Bologna to Florence, which took less than an hour. Interestingly, nearly the whole trip was underground, so we didn't get to see much of the countryside, other than a half a dozen times we were above ground for about 2 seconds each instance.
Florence is a city of art, including Michaelangelo's David at the Academia. the U-shaped Uffizi Museum, the Ponte Vecchio (bridge), the Piazza della Signoria, and the Florence Duomo. We were taken there starting as a group by a wonderful tour guide who had facial hair cut to accentuate that he looked like Robert Downey Jr. (photo below).
Later, after the tour, we waked back to cross the Arno River via the Ponte Vecchio in order to climb up and see the classic view of the city from the top of the hill, but we were part way up and were just too exhausted, between jet lag and having been walking all day. Instead we headed to the Vale della Meridiana garden to rest. Looking for the entrance, being tired, I missed a step down and landed on my knees and then palms on the concrete. Stung like hell, but other than my knees being black and blue and tender for a few weeks, I was grateful to have had my camera around my neck rather than in my hands. We found out that being part of a complex, it would have cost us over $50 just to sit there, so we said no. We then walked back to the Ponte Vecchio and luckily hailed a cab back to the train station. We caught our breath during the hour at the termini until our train, while we talked to some women from Africa.
Back in Bologna, we still had about a mile to walk back to the Hotel, so we stopped for some gelato.
In Florence, we started the tour with the Uffizi Gallery. There were so many amazing pieces of classic art here and throughout out trips that I have only included ones that interested me the most.
Views from the Uffizi rooftop coffee shop:
Out of the museum and to the Piazza della Signoria. After the Uffizi, we had the tour guide to ourselves.
The walk to the Ponte Vecchio:
The Ponte Vecchio on the Arno River:
The Walk to the Florence Duomo:
The Florence Duomo:
Walk to the Academia:
Inside the Academia:
We walk back to the Ponte:
Starting the unsuccessful steep climb to the top of the hill on the south side of the Arno River:
TAXI!
At the train station, two men with matching high-end shopping bags.
Images can be enlarged by clicking on them
We took the bullet train (200 mph) from Bologna to Florence, which took less than an hour. Interestingly, nearly the whole trip was underground, so we didn't get to see much of the countryside, other than a half a dozen times we were above ground for about 2 seconds each instance.
Florence is a city of art, including Michaelangelo's David at the Academia. the U-shaped Uffizi Museum, the Ponte Vecchio (bridge), the Piazza della Signoria, and the Florence Duomo. We were taken there starting as a group by a wonderful tour guide who had facial hair cut to accentuate that he looked like Robert Downey Jr. (photo below).
Later, after the tour, we waked back to cross the Arno River via the Ponte Vecchio in order to climb up and see the classic view of the city from the top of the hill, but we were part way up and were just too exhausted, between jet lag and having been walking all day. Instead we headed to the Vale della Meridiana garden to rest. Looking for the entrance, being tired, I missed a step down and landed on my knees and then palms on the concrete. Stung like hell, but other than my knees being black and blue and tender for a few weeks, I was grateful to have had my camera around my neck rather than in my hands. We found out that being part of a complex, it would have cost us over $50 just to sit there, so we said no. We then walked back to the Ponte Vecchio and luckily hailed a cab back to the train station. We caught our breath during the hour at the termini until our train, while we talked to some women from Africa.
Back in Bologna, we still had about a mile to walk back to the Hotel, so we stopped for some gelato.
In Florence, we started the tour with the Uffizi Gallery. There were so many amazing pieces of classic art here and throughout out trips that I have only included ones that interested me the most.
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| The staircase leading up to the galleries |
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| This piece looks like it could have been made last week. |
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| All the upper rims of the rooms were lined with portraits. These interested me because of the man's nose, and the way God is peeking between them |
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| I pondered about the models keeping this position for a long time |
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| The thinness and skill of the veil was stunning |
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| Reminded me of Milos Gloriosus from the film "|A Funny Thing Happened..." |
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| View across the Arno from a window |
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| In the Piazza degli Uffizi |
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| This and next few pics are the Ponte Vecchio, from a window. |
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| Some of the jewelry shops on the bridge (originally butchers guild when it was built) are bigger than some NYC apts. |
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| Back inside... |
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| Old tower / new tower (of sorts) |
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| Views from the North window |
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| I was amazed about how the colors were washed out |
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| This boar was immediately to the right of the feet of the statue above with the snake |
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| Old man fountain with bird |
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| Our Iron Man guide on the right. |
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| Baby Tim Curry playing sweet transvestite Jesus |
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| One of my favorite Michaelangelo paintings, done when he was a teen. |
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| Like the realism of this Doubting Thomas painting, as with the one below. |
Out of the museum and to the Piazza della Signoria. After the Uffizi, we had the tour guide to ourselves.
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| Square where the original David stood, until moved into the Academia. |
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| A version of this is at the Met in NYC,where I fell in love with it. |
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| Hercules is always depicted with a club ("Hey Herc, hey Herc!") |
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| Taken by the guide |
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| Imaginative street art |
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Shirtless person peeking through the window in the left window
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The Ponte Vecchio on the Arno River:
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| "Love Locks" by the statue in the center of the bridge |
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| These electric cars are common there. I've only seen one like it in Saskatoon. |
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| Detail of above. |
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| Detail of a detail of above. |
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| A mixture of the old and the new |
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| Human art |
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| We did not go to the top of the Duomo. |
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| Inside one of the Domes |
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| Heaven... |
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| ...And Hell |
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| I was impressed by the 3-D effect of the art |
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| The main alter |
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| The way clocks used to look, not starting at midnight straight-up. |
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| Detail of a door; self-portrait of the artist who designed it, commenting on how he was treated. |
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| Trike Bike taxis. |
Walk to the Academia:
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| Chain restaurant with a brilliant name; did not eat there because, well, it's a chain restaurant. |
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| Lots of leather stores there, most with classical names like Michaelangelo's and David's. |
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| I flew like an Eagle away from there. |
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| World's only known Stradivarius cello. |
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| The first piano |
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| Early tuba |
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| A Luge with keyboard hybrid! |
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| Intentionally partially completed, by Michaelangelo. |
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| I was always perplexed about David's large hand. |
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| Remnants of a hammer attack on the toes (hence the glass around it) |
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| A room o' busts. |
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| Basilica di San Lorenzo |
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| Selfie!! |
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| Store with a window filled with Ferrari paraphernalia and toys |
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| Uffizi from the south side of the river |
Starting the unsuccessful steep climb to the top of the hill on the south side of the Arno River:
TAXI!
At the train station, two men with matching high-end shopping bags.
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