Basilica di Santa Croce

On our way to the Uffizi, we were greeted with signs that said basically all museum employees were on strike because of a (pick one: pay, leave, it was nice out) dispute.  Despite the frustrating turn of events, Cara brilliantly suggested we visit a lesser visited basilica a few blocks away known as the Basilica of the Holy Cross (Basilica di Santa Croce).  It was, unsurprisingly, open.  Points to you, Catholic Church.

Seems like another Renaissance Church in a Renaissance town, no?  At first look, maybe, but it turns out this is the final resting place for some very famous Italians.  Legend has it that St. Francis founded Santa Croce, but I'm not sure there's any actual evidence supporting it.  

Wait, didn't you say something about famous people?

The photo above is the tomb of Galileo in full awesomeness.  Interesting story about this one: The church basically hated Galileo for introducing the concept of science to the world, and refused to have anything to do with him.  Well, some forward thinking monks hid his bones in the basement / crypts for 100 or so years until the church changed it's mind.  Afterwards, they built this monument and just happened to have him downstairs.  Well played.  Monks: Friends of Beer, Science, and Genetics.

Above is Dante's funeral monument (not tomb).  Another funny story: Dante was universally loved by Florentines, but (with the help of the Pope, no less), was kicked out between a war between those that supported the Church and those that supported the Roman Empire.  He's really interred in Ravenna.  After a while, the people of Florence stopped caring who was in charge and wanted his body back.  Ravenna's been telling them where they can go ever since.  The people (or maybe the Church) got fed up and just built this monument at Santa Croce anyway.

Wait, what the heck are those things on the ground beneath the monument?  Well, remember how we said that the place was supposedly founded by St. Francis?  Apparently St. Francis's legacy was popular all over the Church's reign, and especially Tuscany and Umbria.  As such, the people tried to incorporate Franciscan ideals in their life and afterlife.  Those things in the ground are graves of those wealthy enough to be buried in Santa Croce.  They're intended to be walked on and for the stone to wear down over time.  They form the floor for you to walk on so you can enjoy the church.  I don't know that it translates well.  Regardless, it's sorta creepy and they are everywhere.

How about some more famous people?  Below is the tomb of all around awesome guy, Michelangelo:

And everyone's favorite political analyst, Machiavelli:

The basilica also houses a shroud supposedly warn by none other than St. Francis himself that may be the start of the legend.  It was pretty awesome, regardless.

Of course, this is Florence at the height of the Renaissance, so there are a few features that St. Francis probably wouldn't be happy with.  The rest of us, however, can be in awe of their beauty.  For example:

Possible inspiration for the Statue of Liberty?

They also had a museum to the side of the main building that housed art that had been (or was being) reconditioned after the Arno flooded, as well as relics from the first Church that Santa Croce was built on.  Unfortunately, I didn't take many photos.  Here's one of what I think is an allegory of Jesus's word being spread through all the disciples.

- B

An Afternoon at Palazzo Pitti

After a rough day of buying priceless art, building Florence, and making enemies of the Pope, the Medici Family needed a place to kick back and rest their heads.  Enter Palazzo Pitti.

The Palace was originally commissioned the Pitti family and purchased by the Medici family in the mid-1500s. They used it as a residence close to the center of Florence (and of course, their bank).  

The building structure itself was impressive from a size standpoint, but the ground offered beautiful views of the entire city, landscaped paths, and relaxing areas hidden from the main group.

Think they had a thing for lions?

Humble and understated, no?

Interior courtyard, and part of the structure in the photo below.

The backyard.  Think of the cookouts you could have! 

View from the top of the hill behind the palace.

Tourists enjoying the view.

The view from the photo above.

The  "back 40".

Cara and I hid from a rainstorm under this arch.  That's her arm holding a book, btw.

Creepy grotto that I can't find any information about.

Close-up.  I told you it was creepy.

 - B

Ponte Vecchio

After leaving the Piazza, we headed further south past the Uffizi to the River Arno to see the famous Ponte Vecchio.  The span, constructed in the 1100s, is one of the few bridges to maintain the once common practice of housing various stores and shops along the span.

Initially, the stores were full of butchers and other blue collar tenants, but the Medici family moved their estate the the area south of the bridge (the business area is north), and decided that it was not befitting their wealth to have such businesses.  They removed the butchers and replaced them with jewelers who still make up the majority of tenants.

Walkway approaching the bridge.

Vertigo!

Wide view of the bridge, with close-ups below.

I'm going to frame this.

View through the windows of a jewelry shop.  Not bad.

All in all, a wonderful experience.

- B

Piazza della Signoria

After sneaking through the back alleys of Florence, we finally arrived at the Piazza della Signoria.  The Piazza, as you can tell from the first photo, is extremely popular with both tourists and locals.  It's basically in the center of historical Florence, has many displays of public art, and is a good place to meet up.  

The Piazza was once home to the David statue, but it was moved to protect it from environmental damage in the 20th century.  A copy of David stands in the same place.

"The Fountain of Neptune", hated by Renassaince Florentines for the lack of accurate proportionality (something of great importance during that time).

Flaminio Vacca's "Medici Lion" on the steps of the Loggia dei Lanzi overlooking the Piazza with the "Fountain of Neptune" on the left. 

A close-up of Cellini's "Perseus with the Head of Medussa".

"Portrait of Matidia"

Archway between the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizii.

Copy of Donatello's "Judith and Holofernes". The original is inside the building in front of which this stands.

Outside the Uffizi. 

For my brother.

 - B

Leaving the Duomo

After spending most of the morning exploring the Duomo, we exited into the back piazza and were greeted by great views of the buildings and ... almost no tourists.

We headed a few blocks south, weaving in and out of back alleys to avoid the tourist masses on our way to the Piazzo della Signoria.

Mmmm ... gelato.