Maybe just living in Florence inspires your inner artist as you can see from the sidewalk artist above.
Our stay in Florence was far too brief to take in the enormous array of architecture, sculpture, fresco, and painting that you find literally every few feet in the old city. I was in a continuous state of awe as I walked the streets trying to take it all in. Every building seemed to have sculptures and carvings and frescoes. If you were to just look at one individual piece you would be amazed with the ability of the artist but to have so much to take in had my mind overloaded with details.
Another sidewalk artist recreating a painting.
David outside the Palazzo Vecchio. The Palazzo Vecchio is the "Old Palace." This statue of David is a copy, also made by Michelangelo, of the David housed in the Galleria Dell Accademia.
This is the Duomo, or cathedral, of Florence. The green, pink and white of the cathedral are not painted but are the colors of the Tuscan marble. The inside of the Duomo was designed by Michelangelo and the pulpit by Donatello. The top of the Duomo has a large dome that is the city's landmark, visible for miles around.
I zoomed in on one small panel carved on the door of the Baptistry. The details are lovely but it is easily overlooked because it is just one panel on a door with 19 others of equal detail.
The Putto fountain in the courtyard area of the old palace, Palazzo Vecchio. (1500's)
A covered sculpture garden outside the old palace in the Piazza Della Signoria.
One of the many amazing sculptures in the covered sculpture garden.
The Ponte Vecchio built in 1345 is the oldest bridge in Florence. Those are colorful shops built onto the bridge so you can shop as you cross the Arno River. Bob and I had our second favorite gelato ice cream at a shop by this bridge. (We felt it was our duty to sample the gelato frequently.)
Needing a change of scenery from the cultural overload of the heart of Florence, we took the city bus 15 minutes outside of town to Fiesole. Fiesole is built on a hill overlooking Florence. It is the site of an Etruscan and Roman temple, bath and theater.
Behind Bob are the ruins of an Etruscan Temple that was later enlarged by the Romans.
Roman Theater
We walked from the ruins further up the hill to a small church and cloister. From there we had a lovely view of the country side and Florence.
Entrance to the monk's courtyard.
Fascinating and lovely Florence. Thank you Susan for taking good care of us while we were there and for showing us around. It was a wonderful visit!
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