First we found out the history behind David and his importance to Florence.
We went to the Accademia Gallery and sat and contemplated David. He is unable to be photographed -- no paperazzi! -- so this is the marble replica in the Piazza della Signoria.
The Accademia also had a collection of old instruments and music, including a Stradavarius and similar (why aren't they being played?).
Then it was time for some serious leather shopping, at a major leather family outlet. Even here there was only one wallet good enough for Don...
We met most of the others back at the Piazza, waiting in the loggia built by the Medici to puff up their power and influence. They were not originally part of the aristocracy but merchants and bankers who become wealthy.
The Medici family was thrown out of Florence a number of times and when they returned to power they commissioned this statue of Perseus killing Medusa. This symbolized the Medici vanquishing all the dissident Florentine families. (Yes, again actually this is a replica as the real bronze is in a museum.)
Many old Roman statues have been placed in the Loggia, together with a couple of relatively recent additions.
Heading the piazza is the Palazzo Vecchio started in1299, which was the first Medici palace, and was also used as the Italian parliament when Florence was the nation's capital, and now is the Municipality's offices.
The Uffizi Gallery, formerly the state offices, adjoin the palace. A street artist had fun with people walking past.
We went on a two and a half hour tour through the Uffizi. We saw the changes in art, mainly religious works, from the medieval times (flat, no perspective and much gold) to the paintings of Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo (the renaissance -- real looking people, depth and backgrounds).
Of course the only photos I could take were out the window! This is another photo of Ponte Vecchio with the houses and shops on the bridge and the Medici corridor going out of this building and across the top of the bridge.
Dinner? Small low key restaurant with a special entree -- dumplings to be filled with soft cheese and prosciutto.
- Posted when a new wifi card has been bought
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