Buon Giorno! Two weeks ago, we came back from our annual summer pilgrimage to Europe. This year, we decided to explore Tuscany and Milan! To be frank, I was a little skeptical about another Italian trip at first. I didn't really enjoy myself the first time we went to Italy (to Rome and Naples) five years ago. But boy, can I tell you how much I love, love, love Florence?
We pretty much concussed in bed after a room service dinner the day we arrived, thanks to the long flight and stressful train ride from Milan to Florence. But as soon as we recover from the fatigue, we wasted no time in exploring the town. Prior to departure, I booked a four-hour Uffuzi Gallery cum Vasari Corridor tour online. We kinda paid an arm and a leg for this visit but trust me, you learn so much about Middle Ages and Renaissance art that it is worth any ticket price. More importantly, you get to visit the famed Vasari Corridor built by the illustrious Medici family, which is only accessible via a guided tour!
I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone heading to Florence, especially if you are an art enthusiast like moi.
All Uffuzi/Vasari Corridor tours end at the Boboli Gardens. Usually, you are required to pay a fee to enter the garden. But our guide told us to just freely take a walk since the weather was so fine. And that was what we did. Although the scale and grandeur of the Boboli could not be compared to the Versailles Garden, I like it that the garden wasn't very crowded with tourists. If you like walking in parks and gardens like I do, this place is for you. For those who intend to spend a longer time there, you could even pack a picnic. I thought that would be quite romantic. Don't you think so?
The beautiful view of Florence from a higher vantage point at the Boboli.
Like all our trips, we like to take our day real slow. We walked a lot to explore the town, trying to feel and understand the pulse of this charming town. The Florentines are very friendly people and I love the relaxing vibe of the place. This trip has certainly taught us a lot about patience and the need to have time to smell the flowers as we go about the hustle and bustle of life. Here, I was so enthralled by how siesta is a daily reality for the Italians. Open the shop in the morning, close at noon for lunch and siesta and open the shop again from three to five in the afternoon. And we are done for the day. Such is life!
I love taking quirky pictures during travelling and recently I developed a penchant for shooting birds. Here is one tiny one resting on the hand of this statue! Too cute!
What's a trip to Florence without a visit to the Duomo? On the third day of the trip, we visited the Duomo. We were one of the earliest visitors of the day, which was a good thing especially if you plan to ascend the 400 odd steps up the bell tower. The stairway is narrow and going early ensures that you won't be an obstruction to others and vice versa. I'm not promising an easy climb but a wonderful view awaits at the top. I must admit I didn't make it all the way to the top but 3/4 of the way is good enough for me.
The Duomo ticket includes visits to the Bell Tower, the Baptistry and the Duomo dome. Visits to the Cathedral itself is free. Between the Duomo itself and the Baptistry, I like the latter better. Here, you see the awe-inspiring ceiling of the Baptistry.
No visit to Florence is complete without at least walking through the many glittery jewellery shops on the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence. I am actually more intrigued and curious of the traditional architecture of the store fronts of the shops on the bridge than the wares they are selling. The design of each shop is unique and unless you visit on a Sunday where most shops are close, one wouldn't notice this unique feature of the shops.
Besides the Uffuzi and Vasari Corridor, another one of the highlights of the trip is to see Micheangelo's David. The one outside the Palazzo Vecchio is actually a copy and not the real deal. The real man is now placed in the Academia. Standing in front of this amazing statue, 'wow' was all I could manage. 'This must be the ideal man', I thought to myself. No Rodin or Bernini could match the skill, technique or ingenuity of Micheangelo. He became my favourite sculptor instantly.
Besides David and other Micheangelo's masterpieces, one of my favourite room in the Academia is this converted hospital room that is now used to store original moulds of sculptures. They may not be works of famous artists but they are equally impressive too. Nicely put together, it gives off a nice arty farty feel to the place.
There is so much to say and document about Tuscany that I just can't do it in one post. While I reminisce the trip, it's cappuchino time for now. Ciao!
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