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Florence

Nestled in the Tuscan hills, Florence was home to Michelangelo and contains an amazing amount of art in its original setting. The few pieces shown here happen to be among those that most caught my eye (and were also accessible to my camera--the majority of museums were off limits to photography). You may click on any of the pictures below to see a clear enlargement.

Donatello Maddalena & crucifix.jpg (73250 bytes) Michelangelo's Pieta Detail - Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.jpg (71229 bytes) Piazza della Signoria David & Bandinelli's Hercules & Cacus.jpg (85835 bytes) Piazzale Michelangelo David 1.jpg (47337 bytes) Piazzale Michelangelo David 3.jpg (40088 bytes)

Donatello's Maddalena gazes upon her Lord

Detail from Michelangelo's Pieta

(Nicodemus)

Michelangelo's marble original of  David stands majestically in the Accademia, but he or his students cast two copies that are displayed outdoors, this one in the Piazza della Signoria, along with Bandinelli's Hercules & Cacus
The other full-size copy of David is in the Piazzale Michelangelo, across the Arno, overlooking the city.
A detail from the Piazzale Michelangelo David.

 Duomo and Baptistry

Baptistry East Door.jpg (108289 bytes) Duomo from Campanile 2.jpg (163026 bytes) Duomo Library.jpg (176040 bytes)
This is the famous East Door of the Baptistry, by Ghiberti, dubbed by Michelangelo as the "Gate of Paradise." These, however, are copies; the originals are in the museum of the Duomo. On our climb up the Campanile, we took this view of the Duomo, averting the camera's eye from the scaffolded top of Brunelleschi's famous dome. Behold the library of the Duomo.

Palazzo Vecchio

Palazzo Vecchio - Michelozzi Courtyard - Cortile & Putto Fountain 2.jpg (81106 bytes) Palazzo Vecchio at Night.jpg (27063 bytes) Palazzo Vecchio Salone dei Cinquecento 2.jpg (97252 bytes)
The Michelozzi Courtyard - Cortile & Putto Fountain  Illuminating the skyline Salone dei Cinquecento

Scenic Florence

Ponte Vecchio 1 despeckled.jpg (50093 bytes) Giardino di Boboli Neptune.jpg (84241 bytes) San Miniato al Monte from Giardino di Boboli.jpg (109297 bytes)
Ponte Vecchio at dusk  Neptune fountain in the Boboli Gardens behind the Pitti Palace San Miniato al Monte viewed from Giardino di Boboli

Siena

About an hour's bus ride from Florence is the picturesque town of Siena. Yep, that's where Crayola's "Burnt Sienna" comes from, as will be evident from the brown in the rooftop view below.

Siena Pan Pt 2.jpg (54886 bytes) Campo 2.jpg (57339 bytes) Duomo Sienna.jpg (121961 bytes)
This rooftop view includes at the far left a glimpse of the famous Campo, a slanted piazza, the town center. A closer view of the Campo Siena's Duomo carries on a color scheme similar to Florence's.

Milan and the Alps

Our entry and exit for this Italian journey was Milan:

Alps, in the thick of.jpg (63159 bytes) Milan's Piazza del Duomo during Pope's Funeral.jpg (118879 bytes) Milan Castello Gate.jpg (59939 bytes) Milan Castello Mus Instr Museum.jpg (76274 bytes)
Milan is situated within view of the Alps, which separate Italy from Switzerland. Our visit to Milan happened to coincide with the Pope's funeral. Shown are some of the spectators in the Piazza del Duomo. One of Milan's main attractions is the Castello Sforzesco. This is a view out the back on a rainy day. The Castello is now the home of several museums, including this one of musical instruments.