Today was a fabulous day in Florence! Eleanor and Mollie went to Venice for the day but I was not dying to go to Venice and it is really expensive so I decided to stay in Florence. In the morning I had breakfast at the hostel. The people I had met the day before were at breakfast so I was happy to have people to talk to. I learned that they live in zone six of London so they are having a much different experience in London and it made me grateful for the accommodations that Grinnell provides! We have housing in zone one, class in zone one, classes in museums, credits that transfer, and plays! Then, since I had not officially checked in with the owner, I checked in with Jonathon. He took me through the map and gave me suggestions for food, a supermarket, attractions, places for a good view, where to shop, etc. It was incredibly helpful. He also gave me a pocket guide to Florence which came in handy. With my maps, a general itinerary, and lots of enthusiasm, I set out to the Academia Gallery. I did not have a reservation but the line did not look too long so I waited. People were selling reserved tickets but I waited it out. It only took about 45 minutes and then I was in.
The gallery has lots of Renaissance art which I studied in my art class. It was amazing to see the art in person. Most notably, the original David is there. We had previously studied it but seeing it in person is absolutely fabulous. They have curated the museum so you enter a room and as you turn the corner there are statues on either side of the aisle with the David at the end. It is breathtaking! I enjoyed the gallery and was able to go at my own pace.
Afterwards I was hungry so I went to the Leather Market. It was overwhelming as so many people came up to me, trying to get me to follow them to their shop, yelling at me if I did not acknowledge them, etc. but I was not too worried because they were not actually going to hurt me. It was shocking how quickly all of the vendors knew I was American. There were some really cool things being sold. Lots of leather (belts, purses, wallets) and masquerade masks. I am tempted to get a mask (some were only a few Euro) and a wallet. Time will tell.
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| Leather Market |
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| Duomo, Cathedral, and Bell Tower (L to R) |
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| Baptistery |
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| Bell Tower |
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| Street Art |
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| Street Art |
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| All of the leather stalls! |
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| Lucky boar statue |
After some wandering of the ginormous market, I went inside to the food market and found the food vendor I wanted to go to! I got in line and then ordered pasta. I wanted water but it was overwhelming enough and although I was pretty sure I just wanted agua natural, the damn carbonated water makes life confusing. Oh well. The pasta was amazing; homemade noodles, beef sauce and cheese on top. Yum!
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| Delicious pasta! No idea what kind! |
From there, I wanted to go to the other side of the river via the Ponte Vecchio. I ended up wandering through the streets. Although I had a goal, if something caught my eye, I would go check it out. Now, if you have ever looked at a map of Florence, you will know that there are tons of churches and shiny objects so I walked in roundabout ways. I ended up walking by the Duomo, Plazza della Repblica, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi. There were lots of fountains, statues, churches, street performers, and vedors. I saw a replica of the David, and the statues The Rape of the Sabine Women and the Neptune Fountain. Sidenote: There were also people begging on the street. Someone had told me about the men who wear women's attire and pray with their head down and I actually saw it on the streets.
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Lots of statues!
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| Replica of David |
To get to the bridge, I walked along the river. It was a spectacular view! On the bridge there were lots of expensive jewelry shops on the bridge which were cool to look into.
After going across the bridge I continued walked towards a Piazza and got some gelato. I got mango and mixed berry in a cone. It was super flavorful and delicious! While eating my gelato, I planned what I would do next. I decide on going to the Piazzale Michelangelo, where Jonathon and Taylor (people at the hostel) recommended for a great view.
It was a hike to the top. There were tons of stairs but I made it. I rewarded myself with a water and then enjoyed the view. I was able to see some placed I had been and spotted some cool buildings so that is where I went next! The building turned out to be the Basilica di Santa Croce. It looked beautiful from the outside but I decided not to go in. Maybe I will later, it was on Eleanor's list of things to do. Interestingly, it houses the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Ghiberti. It also has frescoes by Giotto and Gaddi and crucifixes by Donatello and Cimabue so it may be worth a visit.
From Santa Croce, I decided that I wanted to go to the Doumo and go to the top of the Bell tower. I took my time getting there, once again wandering through Florence on my way there. I saw some of the same sites and started to get oriented to the city. When I got to the Duomo I realized I could go into the cathedral for free. It was really pretty and the dome was spectacular! Bruellechi's dome contains frescoes by Vasari which were of the Last Judgment. I then went to the crypt and bought my 24 hour ticket to all of the Duomo. I took advantage of this and went up the Campanile. It was 414 steps to the top but there were landings every hundred steps or so. Once I got to the top, there was a spectacular view. I had timed it right and stayed for about half an hour so that I could watch the sunset!
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| Crypt |
Afterwards, I decided I was exhausted and was ready to call it a day. On the walk home I got a mozzarella and proscuitto sandwich and then went to the grocery store. To get fruit, you put on a glove and then bag the fruit. Then you go to a machine and click on the icon of the fruit and place the fruit on the scale. Nothing was in English so I just watched people to figure it out. In addition to carrots, apples and bananas, I got some juice boxes (easy to carry and walking makes me thirsty), crossaints, chocolate, wine (less than 2 Euro for a bottle!), and cereal and milk. I was doing so well, found the check out, said ciao, but then she asked me a question. I then had to ask if she spoke English and realized she asked if I wanted bags. So close to fitting in perfectly. I quickly checked a map, memorized the directions and walked to my hostel.
Overall, it has been an amazing day! It is really warm (24 C, 75 F), sunny, and beautiful. It is overwhelming not knowing Italian, but my Spanish is helping me out and the streetsigns are starting to look more familiar. I was not sure how much I would like traveling by myself but it was really enjoyable. I hate seeing something and then not getting to check it out so I was able to take my time and look at what I wanted. I feel so fortunate to be able to come to Italy and am enjoying every moment.
Tomorrow, Eleanor, Mollie and I are going to the Uffizi and the duomo. Not sure what else we will do but hopefully we will eat some Tuscan food, see some pretty churches and art, and have fun!
It was a hike to the top. There were tons of stairs but I made it. I rewarded myself with a water and then enjoyed the view. I was able to see some placed I had been and spotted some cool buildings so that is where I went next! The building turned out to be the Basilica di Santa Croce. It looked beautiful from the outside but I decided not to go in. Maybe I will later, it was on Eleanor's list of things to do. Interestingly, it houses the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Ghiberti. It also has frescoes by Giotto and Gaddi and crucifixes by Donatello and Cimabue so it may be worth a visit. 
Afterwards, I decided I was exhausted and was ready to call it a day. On the walk home I got a mozzarella and proscuitto sandwich and then went to the grocery store. To get fruit, you put on a glove and then bag the fruit. Then you go to a machine and click on the icon of the fruit and place the fruit on the scale. Nothing was in English so I just watched people to figure it out. In addition to carrots, apples and bananas, I got some juice boxes (easy to carry and walking makes me thirsty), crossaints, chocolate, wine (less than 2 Euro for a bottle!), and cereal and milk. I was doing so well, found the check out, said ciao, but then she asked me a question. I then had to ask if she spoke English and realized she asked if I wanted bags. So close to fitting in perfectly. I quickly checked a map, memorized the directions and walked to my hostel.