Florence 2023

Published by

Digger Deb

September 30, 2023

We’re heading to Venice to board our Viking ship today (Saturday, September 30). But 3 days ago we checked into a villa, high on top of a hill outside Florence. We arrived 20 min before dinner. Whew!

The next morning we spent most of the day in Florence, starting with a guided walking tour.

The five major historical landmarks are: the Basilica of Santa Croce; the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower (Santa Maria del Fiore) which is the cathedral of Florence; the Uffizi Gallery art museum; the Palazzo Vecchio which is the town hall of Florence; and the Ponte Vecchio, the bridge that spans the Arno River.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral)

The famous pair of gilded bronze doors on the Baptistry just next to the Cathedral were designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti. They took 27 years to finish, are 17 feet tall and weigh 4-1/2 tons!! Michelangelo described the doors as the “Gates of Paradise,” and that’s how they are known to this day.

Wasn’t able to get last minute tickets for the Uffizi Gallery. Disappointing, but Joe and I had been there before, though decades ago. However we saw several of the 28 statues of famous Renaissance celebrities in the niches of the Uffizi colonnade.

**Niccolo Macchiavelli**: diplomat, author, philosopher and historian, best known for his political treatise The Prince

**Dante Alighieri**: poet, writer and philosopher, author of The Divine Comedy, considered to be the greatest literary work in the Italian language

**Leonardo Da Vinci**: he was a scientist, philosopher, architect, painter, sculptor, designer, treatise writer, set designer,
mathematician, anatomist, botanist, musician, engineer and designer. Whew!!

**Benvenuto Cellini**: goldsmith, sculptor and author. Best known for his Cellini Salt Cellar and his bronze sculpture of Perseus with the Head of Medusa (see below)

Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini (1545-1554); it’s in its original location in a square outside the Palazzo Vecchio

**Donatello**: the greatest sculptor of the early Renaissance

**Giotto**: introduced the technique of drawing figures accurately from life. His work became the model for Renaissance painters.

6 responses to “Florence 2023”

Daisy L

September 30, 2023

Wonderful! Wonderful! Brings back pleasant memories. Hope temperatures are less sizzling compared to June.

Reply
1. diggerdeb39gmailcom
  
  September 30, 2023
  
  Thanks, Daisy. Love the immediacy of this blog. It almost feels like you’re traveling with me! Tomorrow is the island of Murano. Can’t wait!
  
  Reply
  1. Daisy L
    
    September 30, 2023
    
    I missed Murano–can’t wait for your fotos!
Morgan Craft

September 30, 2023

What fantastic pictures and what an amazing city and journey!

Reply
1. diggerdeb39gmailcom
  
  September 30, 2023
  
  Thanks, Morgan. It took a while for me and Joe to figure out how to navigate this website software, but it’s finally coming together. It’s so fun to be able to post in real time, so that friends and family can follow along on our adventures. Deb
  
  Reply
Randal C.

October 2, 2023

Thanks so much, Deb and Joe, for figuring out the website and sharing these treasures with us–what beautiful pictures!

Reply