July and August 2016
Tuscany
Scheduled Events:
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Walking Tour of Florence
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Uffizi Gallery Museum Tour
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Acacdemia Gallery Tour
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Tuscan Dinner
Rick Steves Tuscany
 Centuries of Architectural Innovations |  Inside Notre Dame |
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 Notre Dame Apse |  Wine barrels at Clos de Langres |
 Clos de Langres |  Burgundy Countryside |
Our bus ride from Venice to Tuscany passed by Florence. We could see Brunelleschi’s Dome in the distance, but had to wait until the next day to visit it. That was a little frustrating. We had an idle day today, so there was time to relax around the pool. We also had a Tuscan cooking demonstration, and dinner was served outdoors under a tree. It was delicious food in a beautiful ambiance.
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The next day we had many scheduled tours. The day started with a walking tour of Florence. We had yet another local guide and yet again, it was a very informative tour. We walked through Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, and on to the Duomo.
Looking at the Duomo from Piazza della Santissima Annunziata
A statue of Ferdinando I de' Medici at Piazza della Santissima Annunziata
Bernelleschi's Dome as seen from the roof of the Uffizi
Another interesting angle of the Duomo
One of many great angles for Florence's Cathedral
A close up of the Dome
More angles for the Duomo
Artwork above one of the doors
These are the famous doors to the baptistery that showed scenes in three dimensions
Pictures of the Duomo have always been some of my favorites, but standing there next to it is amazing. Its size is hard to gauge from photographs. We were given lots of history on its construction. It’s hard to imagine the cathedral was in use without a roof for 18 years. We also walked by the Baptistery and learned of its impact on the Renaissance.
Next we walked to Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. The tour of the Uffizi was outstanding. The collection beautifully demonstrates the progression of art history from a flat two dimensional plane to a deeper, more humanistic art form.
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After a break for lunch, we rejoined the group for another museum tour at the Accademia Gallery. Its most famous piece is Michelangelo’s David. What a fantastic sculpture! But the Michelangelo pieces leading up to David (called The Prisoners) are just as amazing. They are unfinished sculptures. Their struggle is so expressive that it's hard to divert one's eyes from them.
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We had another tour dinner that night and celebrated a birthday of one of our tour members.
Michelle's Tuscany
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Doug'sTuscany
Tuscany is an ideal place for an early riser. There is some-thing very peaceful about the solitude of the Tuscan countryside.
Bart and I were the only Breakfast Club members in Tuscany. Taking morning pictures at a Tuscan Villa is hard compared to the Venice Fish Market, where there is beach ball after beach ball being thrown at the photographer. And although this is a
The sun rising over the Apennines
Florence Police on Ponte Vecchio
Looking down the lane from our Agriturismo
Looking out over the Tuscan countryside
Looking down a row of grapevines
Our agriturismo from across the lane
This is a building across the lane from our agriturismo
Olive trees in Tuscany
Another building across the lane
working farm, the only person up and working was a guy weed whacking in one vineyard. I think I got several good shots though.
The second morning in Tuscany was very similar. I didn't see Bart, but found a dilapidated building that provided several good shots.
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I didn't see much in the way of municipal work in Florence, but my time in the countryside will stay with me.