Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore - The Duomo is an amazing experience from both downstairs and upstairs (all 463 of them). On the ceiling of Brunelleschi's dome is the Last Judgement completed by Vasari and Zuccari. Once you reach the top and catch your breath, the view of Florence will take your breath away again. The sea of red roofs and nearby hills present in so many Renaissance paintings are postcard perfect.
“Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else." Lawrence Block
WOW moments in Florence
Florence is a much bigger city. We were ready to explore, have adventures and (you guessed it!), eat more gelato. Coming from Venice to Florence also means keeping an eye out for cars, bikes and scooters, but there are many pedestrian only areas. Florence is an easily walkable city.
Our tour included a cooking class at the 'In Tavalo' cooking school. Learning to cook in Italy and then eating the delicious meal you prepared with a lovely glass of wine is a MUST DO! This was one of our favorite experiences on the trip. Lunch gave us a moment to slow down, chat with fellow travelers and listen to their adventures (which only added to our "must see" list). Our new friends and new experiences have given us lifelong memories.
TIP: Buying small art prints by local artists is a wonderful way to remember this city. Finding local items is easy and have so much more meaning. Being flat, they also fit nicely in luggage.
Later in the afternoon we found ourselves in a small cafe where we had the best chocolate drink that was warm and thick like pudding. Gina took time to sketch and we enjoyed people watching.
We are always impressed when getting to see famous art in person. In Florence we got to meet David. He is more breathtaking than any photo can convey. An unexpected wow moment was Michelangelo's unfinished Slaves or Prisoners. The details of these works are like Michelangelo's sketchbook created in marble.
Italian word/phrase of the day:Rinascita - Renaissance. Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance.