Saturday, April 5, 2014

Day Six - Italian Treasures - Florence

Up early for breakfast and off to meet our tour guide for the Florence tour! Yet again we realise the value of the tour walking directly in to see Michelangelo's masterpieces. Starting near the door we were wowed by five 'work in progresses' discovered shedding a lot of light on the working of Michelangelo! I love hearing the history learning of how he persuaded his friend to let him enter morgues at night to cut up cadavers to study, learn and memorise the exact human anatomy!  To see the pieces he carved from pieces of marble he travelled up into the hills to select exact pieces which he marked with an m to be bought  to him! Also to learn that unlike other sculptors he did not work from a model or a cast but from  his own drawing. And to learn that he said all he did was reveal the masterpiece that already existed inside the slab of marble - what a true legend of a man! The part sculptures also reveal that Michelangelo worked solely from the front to the back of the sculpture not all around it as did many of his contemporaries! Then it was time to view 'David' WOW! Nothing could prepare you for the magnitude nor the perfection! To learn that at the age of 23 he spent two years working alone in private sculpting David is almost impossible to believe! To see face to face the size and the detail... Speechless really!  To learn that when the sculpture was revealed he was realised as a true Maestro and rhe sculpture which was commissioned to be displayed high up in a cathedral in Fkorence was instead displayed in all its glory outside the main square on view for all. To also learn of the deterioration andthe  break in the arm which has been masterfully repaired and the relocation of Davud inside over a oeriod of weeks inching down a specially prepared railway track to allow it to be on display in the museumbuilt  around it! WOW a true highlight! 



A replica on display in the piazza



We then toured the centre of Florence visiting many churches, squares and sculptures before a gold jewellery and leather display. Our afternoon was free to explore the town and shop! After shopping we returned to the hotel for a well needed siesta before a wonderful traditional Florentine dinner at a stunning restaurant! Oh MAMMA MIA so much food and wine... Even Grant is becoming a red wine lover! Then unbelievably after dinner they bought out limoncello shots! Well who would believe they could taste so good.... Many many shots later I think I was declared the shot champion... The photos tell a bit of a story! Oh what a night... 









Fabulous food...
Stunning courtyard dining



It seems no meal is complete with an after....


Aida and I debating the merits of yet another Limoncello shot!!!

Skipping our way home...


Eventually Irene, jim, Alex, grant and I sang and skipped and stumbled our way back to the hotel... In time to meet the young ones all changed and off out for a night out in Florence! Straight to bed for us oldies....

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