Days 2-3 of the Florentine Renaissance!

Hey everyone!

Sorry I wasn't able to post last night. Actually, I could've easily posted but decided to go to bed instead as I was exhausted from walking around the entire city yesterday. As such, this post will be a blend of the last two days.

Yesterday morning, we walked around the oldest part of Florence, which is home to some important figures, such as Dante. The area now is quite residential with little hidden churches all around. Afterwords, we had a delicious lunch at a ristorante not far from the hotel. Boar is frequently hunted around here this time of year and is a delicacy in the restaurants. Naturally, Dad had to order it as soon as he heard that information. I tried a little bite and it was delicious but I enjoyed my spaghetti with clams and garlic just as much :)

In the afternoon, we visited the Uffizi Gallery, which is home to a number of famous paintings including Botechelli's Birth of Venus. No photos were allowed in the Uffizi, so the one at the bottom is something I copied from Google. Botechelli's work literally took my breath away and gave me chills. The Birth of Venus was by far the highlight, but the rest of museum was incredible as well.

For dinner, we just had pizza and gelato:) Not too shabby a meal.

Sidenote from Day 2: interesting factoid:  our guide said the height of renaissance beauty according to Florentine standards was a strawberry blondish hair color, similar to Patty Abell's hair color.  She's riding pretty high after this comment.

Day 3
This morning, we went to the Conventto San Marco and the Pallazo Medici Chapel. The convent was ok and did show though distinction of the religion, but the Medici Chapel was incredible. It appears that the Italians were not too different from other societies. They used their art as propaganda and painted themselves with leaders and religious figures.

In the afternoon, went to the Church of Santa Croce, which is famous for housing the tombs of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo and has a shrine to Dante.

Interesting fact about Dante, he was exiled to Ravenna and wanted to return to Florence all his life. After his exile, he wrote the Divine Comedy, which is composed of three books: The Purgatorio, the Inferno and the Paradisio. He declared before his death that his body should not be returned to Florence. If the Florentines did not want him in life, they should not get him in death.

For lunch, I had a delicious plate of carpaccio and then ravioli. Delicious:)

Dinner was proscuitto w/ melon and then pizza pizza pizza followed by gelato! The food here is insane so it must be consumed.

Tomorrow, we are going to the Church of Santa Maria Novella. The evening is being occupied by New Years Dinner and then ringing in the New Year in the Palazzo Vecchio. So excited!

House of Dante

Prosciutto con melone

Me and Lil SRA at the Ponte Vecchio

Spaghetti w/ clams and garlic:)

Duomo

Church de Santa Croce

Carpoccio con arugala y mozarella

Florence at night!

The most delicious GELATO!

Check back tomorrow!

Annalee

Arrival In Florence

Hi everyone!

After a long day of traveling, I have arrived in Florence!

We had a connection through Paris this morning and got to Florence around noon. Our hotel is extremely centrally located and is one block from the Piazza Republica and 2-3 blocks from the Duomo. Fantastic spot! There are so many shops, restaurants and gelato hot spots that are to die for.

Today, we arrived at our hotel and then went out to lunch at a local spot. Dad and I split a cheese ravioli w/ ricotta and spinach filling as well as a eggplant cucumber carpaccio. I went for the lasagna as my main dish, while Sara had pork, Dad had lamb stuffed with artichokes and Mom had a white fish with vegetables. A great first meal in Florence!

Later this evening, we gathered with our academic group for a welcome drink to Florence. Tomorrow, we are going to take a walking tour of Dante's Florence and visit the Uffizi Galleria in the afternoon. The Uffizi is one of the best art museums in the entire world and I can't wait to learn from Dr. Ambrosio. Botticelli's Birth of Venus is arguably the most famous painting in the museum so that is the one that I am most excited to see.

Tonight, we are back in the hotel to get a little extra sleep so we can be fresh for Italian adventures in the morning.

Check back tomorrow!

Annalee

Another Year...Another Trip!

Hi everyone!

After a short discussion with some family members, I have decided to resurrect my blog for my upcoming trip to Florence, Italy!

This will be my second trip to Florence but this one will contain an academic perspective. I am lucky enough to still be studying at Georgetown University but am now in the Liberal Studies Graduate Department. Dr. Ambrosio, who teaches Dante to undergraduates and graduate students is leading a tour focusing on Dante and the Florentine Renaissance. The tour goes for about ten days through several museums and Florentine landmarks. At the end, I have to write a 25 page paper to get credit for the class. My parents and little sister are also coming on the trip but do not have to write the paper, obviously.

The last time I was in Florence was about a year and a half ago with some of my friends. As some of you know, I went on a tour with EF College Break and met some great people as we toured through Turkey, Greece and Italy and Florence was one of our stops. Cera, Tara, Michelle and I wandered around the streets of Florence until the wee hours of our last night there after a lovely dinner. I miss those girls quite a bit and returning to the city will bring back fond memories that we had there.

Either way, I am excited to return to Florence and to be there for New Years Eve! I am also hoping that the academic side of the trip will also prove to enlightening.

Nonetheless, I am looking forward to great food, wine, gelato, learning and Italian culture.

                                  Michelle, I guess the pig does work. I am returning to Florence!

The last time I was in Florence...the last meal!

Tara at the Ponte Vecchio Bridge