What did we learn in 2010? That Christine fails at blogging!
Don't worry, I forgive myself.
Florence, Italy is the next stop of my Italian adventure. Florence was quite the Renaissance city and much of its charm is a holdover from that era. Beautiful architecture and art, delicious food, and historic scenery is prevalent.
The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, or more simply, the Duomo. We were walking down a street and we turned the corner and this unexpectedly popped into view. My initial reaction was, "Oh shit!" In a good way, of course.
Duomo
Duomo
The Last Judgment, a series of paintings on the interior dome.
Battistero di San Giovanni, built in the 11th century, is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It is across from the Duomo. Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy, was baptized here.
Bronze doors on one side of the Battistero, dubbed the "Gates of Paradise" by Michelangelo. Each section of the door is an elaborate depiction of a biblical scene.
Closeup of the "Gates of Paradise" on the Battistero
Top of the Palazzo Vecchio, built in the 14th century. It now serves as the town hall of Florence.
The Ponte Vecchio, a Medieval bridge over the Arno river
Close up of the shops on the Ponte Vecchio bridge
Picture by Chris Wee. The Uffizi Gallery at night with the Palazzo Vecchio in the background. Built in the 16th century, the former palace is now one of the most famous art museums in the world. Inside we saw such masterpieces as Caravaggio's Medusa, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and other works by da Vinci, Titian, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Dürer.
Street performer along the Uffizi, dressed as one of the many statues that line the interior courtyard
Sharing a moment with a living statue
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