Today’s early start was for the Uffizi Gallery. Luckily it was less than 10 minutes’ walk from our accommodation so it was easy to get there to pick up our tickets before our 0815 admission time—if only we could find Door 2 to get them. But we did, poorly-signed as it was.
We managed to spend all morning there, with a short break for coffee on the terrace. (We’d seen the terrace with its big square umbrellas from the Duomo but didn’t know it was the Uffizi café.) By noon, though, it was time to move on and find a sandwich place for lunch. A few photos of artworks that caught my eye:
Sculptures, paintings, beautiful rooms. Galleria degli Uffizi has it all!
Sarcophagus from the early 2nd century AD. All the hunters’ heads except 3 have been replaced. The original head of Meleager (killing the boar) would have been a portrait of the deceased.
After lunch we walked a km or so to a bike shop; the little repair place near our apartment hadn’t heard of CO2 and that was Al’s intended purchase. Our walk took us through a different bit of Florence where there were still tourists (of course) but definitely a less affluent sort.
We saw this man and dog on our way to the bike shop. They were still there on our way back half an hour later, with the dog’s paws still daintily crossed.
Mission accomplished, it was time to get our bike cases over to Mailboxes Etc. for shipping. 75€ total included packaging of both cases and delivery to our hotel near Venice. Fingers crossed they will be waiting for us when we get there 7 weeks from now.
The rest of the day was free to spend as we liked. We started with a walk across the river for coffee in Piazza Santa Spirito and then decided to get more use from our Bruneschelli passes, which we’d needed to climb the Duomo. So we climbed the Campanile, visited the Baptistery, looked unsuccessfully for the entrance to Santa Maria del Fiore (that wasn’t to attend Mass), and finished our day with a visit to the Opera del Duomo Museum. The latter offered a very informative video about construction of the dome, along with exhibits of the originals of many architectural elements.
The viewing platform of the Campanile is enclosed by stainless steel mesh.
The sign to Al’s right describes the work that was needed to restore this bell. It had been placed here on display and subsequently badly damaged by graffiti, in addition to the effects of being outside for centuries.
Michelangelo’s Pietà. There were three on display, all different. The sign was only in Italian, but I think it said this was here for restoration. Is this the one that was damaged some years ago by someone with a hammer?
Jacquie GaudetHe’d already demolished a plate of gnocchi and half the salad we shared. I don’t know where he puts it all. Reply to this comment 1 year ago
Margie AndersonBeautiful stuff Jacquie. Too many to like them all. Just opened this today May 21… so better get at it! Happy May long weekend! Reply to this comment 1 year ago
