Renaissance Rewind…

Ah! Firenze. Birthplace of the Renaissance and home to the stunning works of art and artists. The Duomo , Baptistry, and Bell Tower of Florence are imposing examples of Italian artistry and engineering. The beauty of the marble blocks arranged in stripes of sage green and peachy mauve, creamy white, forming layers. The expansive footprint of the cathedral and the height of the three structures are a marvel.

The surprise for us is that the inside of the Duomo is decidedly more plain than the elaborate exterior ( and far less ornate than the Duomo in Pisa) yet the dome is impressive. It was the marvel of its time. To pull off the feat of mounting a dome that size, a competition was held for plans to complete it. In the 1400’s Brunelleschi (the winner of the contest) constructed a three speed hoist, with a series of ropes and pulleys, gears, etc. powered by yoked oxen to lift the more than 4 million bricks eventually weighing upwards of 37,000 lbs. in an array that was supported only by the pillars on the edge of the 150ft. wide 180ft high dome. It is a wonder to consider the artistry, technology and imagination of the people of the time. Understandably, their names live on in history.

Before moving on to further explore the art treasures of Firenze, we venture to explore the gastronomic treasures dining at the 4 Leoni, a delicious restaurant we have visited several times on previous trips. With our friends along we sample the scrumptious options each feeling we chose the best! A beautiful afternoon, a table in the piazza, it doesn’t get much better than this.

And when in Florence you must stop by to see David. While you’ll find him everywhere from atop the Piazza di Michelangelo, to in the square at the Palazzo Vecchio, to blowing a pink bubble gum bubble on sweatshirts on carts everywhere, the one to must see is in the Galleria dell’Accademia.

The genius continues. Inside the long hallway of the Accademia , there are several statues of Michelangelo’s The Prisoners. These statues are blocks of stone each with a figure struggling to break free. It is documented that while most artists sketched, worked up plaster models and repeatedly refined their vision before taking to marble, Michelangelo let the stone speak to him.

His tender artist soul sought to discover the soul trapped within and set it free. The four prisoners are the glimpse into how that worked. The four prisoners never got free. We are left to speculate why. Did Michelangelo run out of time or sponsorship, lose interest, or feel these figures were doomed to live out history still trapped somewhat. Whatever the reason, they are a marvel.

At the end of the hallway in a rotunda with swarms of fans the majestic David stands looking off to set his sight on Goliath. David is impressive on steroids! As a human specimen, he is remarkable in detail and complexity. His veins seem to course blood. His muscles flexed or at rest are powerful and his skin is smooth softly inviting. This is a stark contrast to the prisoners who still carry so much rough hune rock around with them.

Perhaps Michelangelo knew what he was doing leaving us the before and after look. These works are only a few of the opus of Michelangelo Buonarroti. Not only had he left his mark on the art world, but he continues to draw us back to discover again his genius. Be sure to pre purchase your timed ticket when planning to visit.

The line still slips along the length of the building waiting for a possible break to jump in without planning ahead.could take hours and you would not want to miss it.