The key to Florence is to make reservations for entrance into the museums. If we had not made on-line reservations, we would have been in lines all day long. In the first picture you can see the line to get into the Galleria dell'Accademia (Academy Gallery). The Galleria dell' Accademia is most notably known for Michelangelo's sculpture David, which is considered the most famous sculpture in the world. We were not supposed to take pictures inside so we do not have a picture.
After seeing David, we walked down the street to the Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiori), which is one of the most famous landmarks in Florence. Directly across the street is Campanile di Giotto (Giotto's Bell Tower). We decided it would be a good idea to climb the 414 steps to the top of the tower.....what we were thinking???! The climb was terrible, but the view was worth it. From the top of the Giotto's Bell Tower, you can see the famous red roofs of Florence, the Baptistery, and a close-up shot of Brunelleschi's dome. After our descend, we went to the Baptistery, home of the famous Baptistery doors. In 1425, Ghiberti began work on 10 Old Testament scenes in gilded bronze, and these doors are considered one of the greatest treasures of Renaissance art. The panels on the door are copies and the originals are displayed in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. The doors are so beautiful that they have been nicknamed the "Gates of Paradise."
The Duomo museum exists mainly to house the sculptures removed from the Duomo for restoration and preservation from the elements. Two of my favorite moments in the museum were seeing the "Gates of Paradise" and Michelangelo's second Pietà . Michelangelo began this work for his tomb, and the face of Nicodemus is a self-portrait.
Our afternoon included a tour of the Uffizi muesum. The Uffizi Gallery contains some of the most famous works of the Renaissance, including Giotto's Maesta, Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Allegory of Spring, Leonardo da Vinci's Annunciation, and Michelangelo's only panel painting, the Holy Family.
After the Uffizi Gallery, we walked across the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge). Along the way, we passed the many vendors and shopping stalls on the bridge. Then, we made the hike up to Piazzale Michelangiolo for "the best view of the city" and we rewarded ourselves with a gelatto (Italian ice cream)!
