Carlo and I took a quick weekend trip to Florence last weekend. I have to say it is the most beautiful city I have ever laid eyes on! WOW!!! The duomo, cathedral Santa Croce, the sculptures, Ponte Vecchio, the Ufizzi... just breathtaking! Carlo had a business conference on a nearby estate which belonged to NYU. It was an old villa with numerous sub-villas for conferences and business meetings. I spent Friday wandering the city and fighting my way through the crowds of many tourists. They came in swarms, just like grasshoppers! If you weren't careful you were caught in the group and swept along. Nevertheless the many crowds, the weather was great and I decided to climb the bell tower of the duomo. All 414 steps! After a grueling stairmaster-like experience I reached the top and was rewarded with a spectacular view all over Florence.
Later I strolled across Ponte Vecchio and pressed my nose against every jewlery shop on the bridge. Amazing craftsmanship they have on display! At the very end of the bridge I spotted the gelato place with the biggest heap of ice cream. I believe I took a picture. Will have to post it.
Carlo and I spent Saturday walking around the city and visiting Boboli Gardens at Palazzo Pitti. It was a nice stroll through a wonderful park with great views of the city.
The highlight of Saturday (and it seems there were many) was the visit of Cathedral Santa Croce. It is a beautiful church with the same green and pink and white marble facade as the duomo. Inside it houses unbelievable treasures as the tombs of Dante, Galileo and Michelangelo. The many frescos on the interior walls are so detailed and beautiful that I was in complete awe.
I could not believe that inside the marble tombs just a few feet in front of my nose laid such famous Florentinians as Dante and Galileo and Michelangelo. It really was quite special to pay hommage to such great men, who have left such a big legacy behind.
Tired from hours of walking, Carlo and I settled into a small wine bar in an even smaller side street. They served an age-old chianti, prosciutto and cheese and we were able to kick up our feet and realx until dinner.
Dinner was at a small artsy Italian food restaurant (what else!) which specialized in recipes and specialties from Florence.
They served porcini mushroom Tagliatelle, wild boar ragu, a lovely tomato soup and the BIGGEST florentinian steak I have ever seen in my entire life! (Even in Texas this steak would have commanded serious attention). It was as big as my head and almost as thick as my arm!
After our dinner we managed to secure a cab and return to Villa La Pietra, where we were going to stay that night.
It was a very special experience to stay in an ancient house filled with many prized pieces of art as old as the United States and older!
The morning brought a glorious view onto the city. Leaving for Munich seemed like a silly idea, but reality has to catch up with all of us sooner than later....
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