Shona wasn’t able to book our reservation at the Academy of Arts to see my boyfriend, “David”, so it was scheduled for the following day. Today’s agenda included a walking tour of the city. And shopping! (finally!)
After meeting our guide, we first went to Piazza di San Giovanni to see the outside of the Duomo and the Baptistry, two magnificent buildings. The dome, along with Giotto's Campanile, is the landmark that defines Florence. On the east side of the baptistry, facing the Duomo, are the famous bronze doors, dubbed the "Gates of Paradise" by Michelangelo when he first saw them. The doors on the baptistry are replicas, with the originals on display at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo not far away. The doors are comprised of ten panels that depict stories from the Old Testament. Simply put, the work is stunning!!!
Florence is a great city for walking. There are little shops of every stripe lining streets and alleys, from fruit stands to jewelry stores. So we walked through many scenic alleys on our way to Piazza della Signoria, the original location of Michelangelo's David, now replaced with a replica. We also viewed the other statues which commemorate the major historical events of the city, such as the famous "The Rape of the Sabine Women" by Giambologna, which is a fascinating story on its own. The Fontana di Nettuno, or Fountain of Neptune, dominates the plaza, which was essentially the epicenter of the tour. Everywhere we went subsequently was routed from this center.
Statue of Cosmos
Statue of Neptune
Statue of David (replica)
Statue of Hercules and Cacus
Statue of Perseus with the head of Medusa
Statue of the Rape of the Sabine Women
The tour ended at the Santa Croce Basilica where we met Shona, after which we were coerced to watch a leather demo. We walked a short distance to the Peruzzi Leather store and were shown how they stamp gold leaf on leather. The leather store certainly has beautiful products. What’s yummy is the way it’s been laid out and presented. Besides, you can just gawk and enjoy and not buy a thing as their goods cost an arm and a leg. Ricky and I didn’t stay long as we wanted more time to explore the city.
But first, we went for a quick lunch at a cafe along the way, eating outside in a cool alley. We paid 400 euros for a salad and pizza. [Nah… Just checking to see if you're paying attention.]
If you’re in Florence for the first time, you may be overwhelmed (as I was). It’s the crowd! It’s the handbags! Or the leather jackets and boots! And if you are combining art, culture, and shopping on time constraints, you will most certainly be dizzy (as I was).
Since we hardly had time to do any shopping on previous days, that was exactly what we had planned to do while in Florence. I couldn’t disappoint my credit card company, right? But as it turned out, we were in for a big disappointment. The leather jacket and leather shoes that we sought were beyond my reach. Their prices were simply outrageous! Would you be willing to spend 900 euros for a leather jacket or ….. 600 euros for a pair of leather boots? I don’t think so! We’re talking about euros here, folks, not dollars. Besides, we are allowed to bring back goods to Canada worth only C$750 each. And I wasn’t prepared to pay more in taxes!!! But we didn’t come back empty handed, though. We did make purchases for the kids and Ricky bought some shirts for himself. So far, I behaved myself and didn’t succumb to my weakness for splurging. Florence didn’t succeed in tickling my extravagance bone. Not one bit…
After fulfilling my gelato (nutella flavor) obligation, we all then assembled at the Santa Croce Basilica, after which we trekked back to the bus which was parked along the Arno River and back to our hotel to prepare for dinner.
About an hour later, we boarded the bus for our optional dinner at Pietre Cavete, a restaurant on top of the mountain. It is a beautiful property and you could see the rolling Tuscan hills down below and lots of medieval walled cities in the surrounding hills.
The meal was a true Tuscan Feast – best bruschetta I have ever had in my life, a different kind of pasta, Florentine steak that melts in your mouth, and a yummy dessert. I just have to mention one thing that really impressed me about this tour. When I checked in online with Insight Vacations, I mentioned that I’m allergic to dairy and shellfish; so guess what, without me saying anything to anyone, a dish of pasta with no cream (just tomato sauce) was put in front of me and I got a different kind of Italian dessert (Shona thought of everything!). I was really impressed! During dinner, the wine was ever flowing, because as soon as one bottle was emptied, it was immediately replaced. It was also my first time to try the much-touted drink, limoncello, that delectable lemon vodka brew that makes one tipsy after a thimbleful. I loved it! It was simply a magical evening, full of camaraderie and fun!
All too soon it was time to head back to the bus, and music was put on and we were all singing to the tune of “Amore”. On most vacations, you get one or two nights that are truly memorable, but it seems like every night has been like that. The days are going by too fast! Way too fast, in fact.
As you can see, the dinner was not of the "Macaroni and Cheese" ilk. It was gourmet, it was generous, and it was exceptional. It fit the mood and tone of the day -- classic, refined, and one for the ages. It was the exclamation point to an incredibly memorable day. You gotta love Italy!!!
……to be continued
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