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I lost my train of thought here...
Right. So last time I covered Vatican City, the country within a city (Rome). The experiences were great in Rome and Vatican City, but spending around four days here was enough. From here, I did some last minute gelato-hoarding before I left Rome for Florence.
Right. So last time I covered Vatican City, the country within a city (Rome). The experiences were great in Rome and Vatican City, but spending around four days here was enough. From here, I did some last minute gelato-hoarding before I left Rome for Florence.
Man, that is the life in Italy. I was never big on ice cream related products, but gelato is just in another league in comparison to anything else I've ever eaten. Maybe it was because each day in Italy started at 90 degrees Fahrenheit, peaked at 98, and ended at 90.
Rome to Florence
Rome to Florence
The Eurostar is better known as the "bullet" train, although the Italian variety has no relations to the ones that connect the UK and France. Traveling at nearly 200 miles per hour, jumping from one city to another has never been easier. And since the distance between Rome and Florence is just under 200 miles, it only took about an hour to get to the city of Florence.
Florence, Italy
Unfortunately, my family and I left Rome a tad later than we originally planned so we did not have sufficient time to go to any major sites in Florence. Still, the first day in Florence was still amusing in its own ways.
Florence, Italy
Unfortunately, my family and I left Rome a tad later than we originally planned so we did not have sufficient time to go to any major sites in Florence. Still, the first day in Florence was still amusing in its own ways.
There is a great number of cathedrals in Florence. Technically, they are referred as Duomo, and one of the most famous of these churches is located in Florence. And guess what, I got to climb them. I'll get to that later since the Duomo wasn't the only thing to see.
Literally across the street was another well-known site: aptly dubbed "The Gates of Paradise" by Michelangelo. The giant doors are made entirely of bronze and depict various religious images. I could not get the closest look since hordes of tourists decided to take up most of the space.
Back to the cathedrals. There were a total of 412 narrow steps that coiled up a winding staircase. Thinking about it and actually trudging up the 412 steps would normally not be a problem. However, because there were no railings and no support added on top of heavy traffic and a lack of space that made going up and going down a living nightmare, a simple hike upstairs became a daunting test of endurance. Still, the view was amazing at the top.
Back to the cathedrals. There were a total of 412 narrow steps that coiled up a winding staircase. Thinking about it and actually trudging up the 412 steps would normally not be a problem. However, because there were no railings and no support added on top of heavy traffic and a lack of space that made going up and going down a living nightmare, a simple hike upstairs became a daunting test of endurance. Still, the view was amazing at the top.
After the short distance excursion that took way longer than expected, the family (excluding the underage brother) and I with something that surprised me just as much as the 412 stairs did.
You know, I figured vodka is vodka and rum is rum. But the first drink, Ben Hur, just felt like fire. the second one, Daiquiri, felt like fuel that was brutally added onto the previous conflagration. Gah, I'll admit, they were strong. Hell, if my father said it was strong... it's strong.
Thus concluded the first day in Florence... with a headache.
However, the following days in Florence were just as enjoyable as the days in Rome and Vatican City. For example, who wouldn't want to see the tombs of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Dante Alighieri, Niccolò Macchiavelli, and Galileo Galilei? The stop at the Church of Santa Croce provided all of the aforementioned sites. Actually, there is a minor lie in that statement. Cruelty, thy name is renovation...
Supposedly Macchiavelli's and Dante's tombs were stuffed somewhere behind all the contraptions...
Well, at least Michelangelo's and Galileo's tombs were available to the public. Everyone still had to stand around a 30-foot radius, but at least it was better than staring at metal poles and fencing.
The tombs of such famous historical figures were awing enough. However, once my family and I got into the Galleria dell'Accademia - yet another museum of art - there was something there that provided some more inspirational and sensational emotions.
Thus concluded the first day in Florence... with a headache.
However, the following days in Florence were just as enjoyable as the days in Rome and Vatican City. For example, who wouldn't want to see the tombs of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Dante Alighieri, Niccolò Macchiavelli, and Galileo Galilei? The stop at the Church of Santa Croce provided all of the aforementioned sites. Actually, there is a minor lie in that statement. Cruelty, thy name is renovation...
Supposedly Macchiavelli's and Dante's tombs were stuffed somewhere behind all the contraptions...
Well, at least Michelangelo's and Galileo's tombs were available to the public. Everyone still had to stand around a 30-foot radius, but at least it was better than staring at metal poles and fencing.
The tombs of such famous historical figures were awing enough. However, once my family and I got into the Galleria dell'Accademia - yet another museum of art - there was something there that provided some more inspirational and sensational emotions.
The very famous statue of David is a colossal sculpture by Michelangelo. I think it was something close to 20 feet tall. And because it is so big, all the anatomical details that the Renaissance master carved into the old marble made the work of art all the more astounding. It's actually a really simple sculpture... concept-wise. It shows the biblical figure, King David of Israel. He has no pants, much like all humanoid sculptures during Michelangelo's time. But there was just something about the sculpture that made a ton of tourists, including me, look on without end. I even recall my parents staring at the statue for five, ten minutes straight, turn around to see what was happening around them for a couple of seconds, and then spin back to resume staring at the statue. Obviously, not much can be found in just a photo, the real experience lies in physically staring up towards the masterpiece.
On a side note, much like the Creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel, photography was forbidden. But you know me, I had to do something about this. I went behind a pillar and had to wait until three different security guards had their backs turned to me before I could snap a quick one. Yes, I know, the quality of the photo is below decent, but it's good enough for something that took around three seconds.
Following the Galleria dell'Accademia, the Galleria degli Uffizi was next. Prior to the visit, I've only heard of the Uffizi Gallery and knew it as this really big, old museum in Europe. Well, it's located inside a palace, so no surprise to it being huge. Unfortunately for me - and all other foreign tourists - photography was not allowed anywhere inside the gallery. In fact, I had to stow my camera within a bag at a bag-checking counter. Furthermore, besides photography, portable music players, cellphones, food, drinks (including water), any kind of headsets, and video-capturing devices were forbidden inside the gallery. Talk about protecting and respecting the art...
So there are no photos of my experience in the Uffizi Gallery. Truthfully, it was not so impressive for someone with limited knowledge in Renaissance art and art history in general. All I do know is, the only painting that I recognized right away was The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. Look it up somewhere, maybe you will recognize the painting as well.
Finally, to cap off one final, long day in Florence, the family and I headed off to a highly recommended restaurant. Supposedly, one of their spaghetti dishes (actually most or all of their spaghetti dishes) is famous around all of Italy. And supposedly, their cheesecake is the all-around best-tasting, ever. Really... sounds a little extreme.
On a side note, much like the Creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel, photography was forbidden. But you know me, I had to do something about this. I went behind a pillar and had to wait until three different security guards had their backs turned to me before I could snap a quick one. Yes, I know, the quality of the photo is below decent, but it's good enough for something that took around three seconds.
Following the Galleria dell'Accademia, the Galleria degli Uffizi was next. Prior to the visit, I've only heard of the Uffizi Gallery and knew it as this really big, old museum in Europe. Well, it's located inside a palace, so no surprise to it being huge. Unfortunately for me - and all other foreign tourists - photography was not allowed anywhere inside the gallery. In fact, I had to stow my camera within a bag at a bag-checking counter. Furthermore, besides photography, portable music players, cellphones, food, drinks (including water), any kind of headsets, and video-capturing devices were forbidden inside the gallery. Talk about protecting and respecting the art...
So there are no photos of my experience in the Uffizi Gallery. Truthfully, it was not so impressive for someone with limited knowledge in Renaissance art and art history in general. All I do know is, the only painting that I recognized right away was The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. Look it up somewhere, maybe you will recognize the painting as well.
Finally, to cap off one final, long day in Florence, the family and I headed off to a highly recommended restaurant. Supposedly, one of their spaghetti dishes (actually most or all of their spaghetti dishes) is famous around all of Italy. And supposedly, their cheesecake is the all-around best-tasting, ever. Really... sounds a little extreme.
Entrance to the restaurant - "Garga"
The "Spaghetti Magnifico" and the world's best-tasting cheesecake
The spaghetti was actually quite nice and certainly deserved some props. But the cheesecake... you bet I have something negative to say about it after the compliments to the spaghetti... but no, it was honest-to-God delicious. Maybe I haven't tasted enough cheesecakes, but this one had nothing bad about it. Especially when combined with the strawberries, it could very well be the world's best-tasting cheesecake.
This marked the last full day in Florence. Before departing for Venice, the final city of the 10-day Italian trip, a detour was necessary. If you figured something like the Leaning Tower of Pisa was missing, then you're sharp. And correct, for that matter. The small city of Pisa will be the next stop, though there really isn't that much to see besides the infamous tower. I'll get to that another time.
This marked the last full day in Florence. Before departing for Venice, the final city of the 10-day Italian trip, a detour was necessary. If you figured something like the Leaning Tower of Pisa was missing, then you're sharp. And correct, for that matter. The small city of Pisa will be the next stop, though there really isn't that much to see besides the infamous tower. I'll get to that another time.
