Florence's Treasures

Florence - Day 4

Out the door for actual sightseeing today! We've decided to do the Duomo and the Uffizi museum. We hit the train in to the center of town and bought some Firenze cards. They are like a fast pass to all the main attractions Florence has to offer. It probably isn't cost effective in terms of actual €'s saved but in terms of time waiting in line, more than worth the extra expense.

Unlike the Magic Kingdom and most other public places in the US, Florence makes you work a bit to find her treasures....as in virtually

no signs are posted to let you know where to que up for each attraction. The Duomo still requires a ticket for entry though with the Firenze card there is no charge. And that's fine by me....but TELL me WHERE to find my ticket and I'm good. After spending at least an hour waiting in the wrong line, we found the right line and we were on our way. I hasten to add that I realize that I am in another country and I do NOT speak Italian and that's no ones fault but mine....but a sign people...just a sign, even in Italian would have been welcomed.

We entered the Duomo and I was enthralled! We were about to climb to the top of the cupola!! I was so excited!!! Only its 463 steps....really narrow steps....463 steps with almost NO handrails...463 steps that spiral up VERY narrow staircases and have microscopic windows. I was actually completely fine because my excitement at being at the Duomo FAR exceeded any anxiety I may have had with an enclosed space. Leah was not so lucky. Poor thing had some serious issues with the confined quarters because there are SO MANY PEOPLE climbing the exact same staircase at the exact time. Once you start you cannot head back down! So we would stop from time to time to let others pass. It was more the number of people as opposed to the actual function of climbing. But we made it...and it was breathtaking. Words and even pictures cannot do justice to the ceiling fresco of "The Last Judgement". This work is phenomenal and words simply reduce it to far less than it is so I won't even bother....suffice it to say there was a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.

We pressed on and UP to the outside of the dome, and once there, Florence rewarded us with her beauty for as far as the eye could see. We saw huge Tuscan villas, orchards, vineyards, buildings, the train station and literally thousands of people on the ground, very ant-like from our perspective. I felt so incredibly grateful and a little emotional and I really didn't want to leave. But we did eventually

leave and mercy going down, though faster, was a little dizzying! All I kept thinking was that this building would NEVER be open to the public in the US. It would be an American lawyer's dream come true to litigate for every person who fell or stumbled or suffered "emotional" distress at the confined space and no handrails. Thankfully the Italians pretty much assume you know what you're getting yourself in to!!

After a wonderful lunch of spinach ravioli with asparagus, green beans and fresh cherry tomatoes (and wine!) we were off to the Uffizi museum. Unfortunately for us, it was very hot today and though we only waited about 15 minutes it was extraordinarily busy!!! As we made our way through the museum I realized that it was pointless to take any photos. I don't care what kind of camera one has, NO photo will EVER do these magnificent works justice. I spent the time just enjoying them and was a little taken aback in the knowledge that these awe-inspiring artists all lived in or a stones throw from Florence. I saw works by Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo, Botticelli, and COUNTLESS other artists. Again, I felt my emotions rise and make no apology for it.

Post museum gelato and home we went. Tomorrow the Accademia and The David....and maybe a little shopping!

Buona Notte!