Firenza (Florence)
The ship docked at Livorno, and then we were bused into town. The ride was about 1.5 hours, but it was through Tuscany. Once we were off the coastal plain, we drove through rolling hills, with villas on top, with vineyards and olive trees. We drove past a town called Vinci, who is very proud of their home boy Leonardo.
Florence has a very different feel than Rome. At only 500,000, it is a fraction of the size. Our first stop was the Academia Museum to see works by Michelangelo. Our guide was fantastic. She talked about his life and the Medici family that ruled the area in the 1500’s. The first sculptures we saw were called the prisoners and were unfinished. It showed men partially sculpted within the marble, hunched over. He was trying to tell two things apparently. One was that he was a prisoner of the marble. He was forced to create for the Medici’s and the pope. The other was the way that these men were trapped within themselves and were struggling to get free. She didn’t use these words, but gave the idea of each being trapped by their own sin, and our inability to free ourselves. After all, they have been trying for 500 years.
The next work was David. When we signed up for this excursion, we chose this one because we would view the original one, not just the copy in the piazza, where the original stood for over 350 years. We were not sure it was worthwhile to forgo other things, like seeing Pisa or not, but was it ever the right choice. David is looking over his left shoulder, which signifies facing evil. He is naked, showing that he had nothing to hide; he was pure. He is shown as a full grown man rather than a boy, but the reason escapes us at the moment. Everything is proportioned correctly and shown in fine detail…except his head and hands. The head is larger, showing the wisdom that comes from above while the hands are showing the hand of God. Seeing in person was very moving and powerful in a way that was totally unexpected.
Next we walked around town, saw some beautiful marble buildings, the Ponte Veccio (sp?) and then for an excellent lunch. We drove up for a view over the city before heading back to the ship.
A very good day, but exhausting.
The ship docked at Livorno, and then we were bused into town. The ride was about 1.5 hours, but it was through Tuscany. Once we were off the coastal plain, we drove through rolling hills, with villas on top, with vineyards and olive trees. We drove past a town called Vinci, who is very proud of their home boy Leonardo.
Florence has a very different feel than Rome. At only 500,000, it is a fraction of the size. Our first stop was the Academia Museum to see works by Michelangelo. Our guide was fantastic. She talked about his life and the Medici family that ruled the area in the 1500’s. The first sculptures we saw were called the prisoners and were unfinished. It showed men partially sculpted within the marble, hunched over. He was trying to tell two things apparently. One was that he was a prisoner of the marble. He was forced to create for the Medici’s and the pope. The other was the way that these men were trapped within themselves and were struggling to get free. She didn’t use these words, but gave the idea of each being trapped by their own sin, and our inability to free ourselves. After all, they have been trying for 500 years.
The next work was David. When we signed up for this excursion, we chose this one because we would view the original one, not just the copy in the piazza, where the original stood for over 350 years. We were not sure it was worthwhile to forgo other things, like seeing Pisa or not, but was it ever the right choice. David is looking over his left shoulder, which signifies facing evil. He is naked, showing that he had nothing to hide; he was pure. He is shown as a full grown man rather than a boy, but the reason escapes us at the moment. Everything is proportioned correctly and shown in fine detail…except his head and hands. The head is larger, showing the wisdom that comes from above while the hands are showing the hand of God. Seeing in person was very moving and powerful in a way that was totally unexpected.
Next we walked around town, saw some beautiful marble buildings, the Ponte Veccio (sp?) and then for an excellent lunch. We drove up for a view over the city before heading back to the ship.
A very good day, but exhausting.
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