MUSEUM DAY IN FLORENCE

Friday, March 19, 2010

We started our day about 10:30 after a lovely breakfast in the hotel. We took a taxi from the hotel to the Accademia Museum for our 11:00 am appointment. This is a relatively small museum but very popular and one of two in Florence that you really need to buy tickets ahead of time. There was a small exhibit on musical instruments, several rooms of religious art, mostly Altar pieces. One room of statues and the piece de resistance: the statute of David by Michelangelo; considered one of his most important works and a must see in Florence. It was moved in doors to protect it in 1873 and a copy now stands in the Piazza della Signoria. This is the David of the David and Goliath story in the bible.

We then caught a taxi to the Pitti Palace on the other side of the Arno River; not an easy task since the elimination of traffic through the historical section. Purchased our tickets and headed for the top floor where we walked through the rooms of the former Medici Home in the fifteenth century. Then we walked all the way down the grand staircase….all three flights. Jim went on to find the Renaissance paintings on the first level while Barbara and I took a breather in the Café.

From there we walked across the Ponte Vecchio Bridge and continued to the Straw Market for some additional shopping. Found a wallet for Jim and scarfs for Barbara plus several other small items. We enjoyed an early dinner at the A Borsa Ristorante with a view from our table of the famous town hall in Piazza della Signoria by way of a narrow street.

After a short walk with geloto to the Duomo square where Jim had discovered a taxi stand; we got a Prius Taxi…and a wonderful driver who enjoyed speaking to us in English…for a delightful ride back to the hotel. Tonight we pack for our train trip tomorrow to Rome…….…Arrivederci from Firenze