Firenze Journo 2

      This seems like a good time to mention that the breakfasts at our hotel are FABULOUS! They have the best things-- tiny pieces of pie with lattice that taste slightly like fig newtons, cereal, hard boiled eggs, and all the fruit you could ever want. They also serve great chocolata!
     This morning we visited the Uffizi, the large art gallery of Florence. We spent an hour with Sally discussing the development of the altarpiece by looking at Virgin and Child Enthroned images by Cimabue, Duccio, and Giotto (my favorite is the Duccio by FAR) as well as my favorite piece of the day: Martini's Anunciation, which is simply stunning in person. I also saw a great altarpiece by Gentile where I particularly liked the image of the bishop, whose painted robe was decorated with little detailed depictions of the life of Christ.

       We then had an hour with Meg where we looked at the Renaissance art including works by Botticelli like his Birth of Venus, the Primavera and several roundels that were very beautiful. Also the Portinari Altarpiece which I studied in Northern Renaissance art--it was HUGE in person.

       It was a beautiful day, and the museum offered a great view of the River Arno and the city!

       I saw some other great works on the way out, including Titian's Venus of Urbino, Raphael's Portrait of Julius II, and Carravaggio's Sacrifice of Isaac. 

For lunch, Olivia took us to this great sandwich shop that was clearly a Florentine favorite--the crowd went out the door! 

Meg gave us a list of mandatory churches, so that afternoon Alex and I set off on the substantial uphill walk to San Minuito, across the Arno from downtown. It had a fabulous view and was a beautiful example of Tuscan Romanesque architecture. 

We had the best pizza EVER for dinner at another local favorite called Gusta pizza--again, line out the door when it opened. We got the Capresse pizza and the Margherita to split and it was the besssst.