Florence

12 July: A morning guided tour of Florence, included the Academia and Michelangelo's "David," Duomo and Baptistry, the medieval Palazzo Vecchio, a tour of the Uffizi Gallery, the tombs of Italy's famous in Santa Croce, and more.  Some time in the afternoon in Florence to explore, shop, and to view the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Signoria, Piazza Santa Croce, the Duomo and Campanile.   We stopped in on the Florentine Leather School inside Santa Croce for a demonstration of this Renaissance art, as well. 

The Madonna by Giotto (86kb) Info on Madonna (73kb) Tapestry (#1) by Giotto (170kb)
Another shot of Tapestry (#1) by Giotto (163kb) Info on Tapestry  #1 (69kb) Tapestry #2 (343kb)
Info on tapestry #2 (110kb) A different tapestry #3 (383kb) Michaelangelo's David (59kb)
Another tapestry #4 (210kb) Detail of #4 (394kb) Detail of #4 (410kb)
Info on David (153kb) ??? painting (134kb) Madonna painting (153kb)
Info on Madonna (141kb) Working chair (96kb)  The guard, who had been sitting in it, yelled at me for touching it! Tree of life (219kb)
Info on tree of life (162kb) Brass etching on baptistry. Notice the tents. (206kb) Etching on baptistry.  Notice the tents. (302kb)
Duomo (264kb) Weather vane ornament in Castel (96kb) Fresco in duomo 208kb)
Cool book with tent picture (172kb) The painting is on the ceiling of this room.  Here is a little bit of info on the original painting from inside the book (124kb) Neat church (137kb)
Torchholder (272kb) Tracery (187kb) I don't remember what church has these inlaid wooden panels... (213kb)
Baptistry ceiling (261kb) Baptistry ceiling (305kb)

To Orvieto | On to San Gimignano and Siena