While visiting Malta on the tour two weeks earlier, was listening to a lecture regard the ecology of the country. We were being told that fresh water is scarce on such a small island. This is unlike Italy, where the water comes from the winter snow packs on the mountains in the North. I “thought” I heard the water for Malta came from the “Reservoir of Moses,” which I wrote down on a note pad. When I brought this information up to a member of the group was told – I DIDN’T hear the correct information. Water was provided through “reverse osmosis” of the salt water all around the island. So goes my understanding. We all might have a similar issue, no matter what of our senses we think are the best source to help our understanding.
With that said, I go to the Hotel Rivoli meeting room to hear a lecture by Paola Vojnovic presentation on Welcome To Florence. Did I hear everything correctly? I don’t have any way to really know. I did appreciate though what I think I heard. More adventures in a new location.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence
After the lecture, Paola walks with us to her next presentation at the Bargello Museum. Since Paola is an art historian, helps us examine the development of sculptures from antiquity through the Renaissance. Emphasis was on the artists: Ghiberti, Donatello and Michelangelo.
From there, we have lunch @ Ristorante Baroncelli on Chiasso dei Baroncelli.
http://www.osteriadeibaroncelli.it/en/galleria.html
The food looked as good as the photos and tasted even better.
Next stop, a walk to the Centro Arte e Cultura. We get to see a 30 minute film about our next stop – The Baptistery.
We get our first good look at The Duomo (The Dome), a masterpiece of architecture by Brunelleschi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippo_Brunelleschi
This PBS link has many great references.
http://www.pbs.org/empires/medici/renaissance/brunelleschi.html
In case you missed the PBS video of 2003, try the local library for a copy
http://www.pbs.org/empires/medici/show/dvd.html
I know – whoa – TMI - too much info to look for. I take to heart the Road Scholar slogan – Learning Through Adventure. I may have said this earlier; I spend weeks, if not months, trying to learn more about a place I just came from. Feel free to skip the ones you think might get you off the easier day to day journal entries without using the links.
Our last stop today, before having some free time before joining members of the group for dinner is The Baptistery. Located across the Piazza from the Duomo. Even the doors have a special story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Baptistery
I was lucky to get invited to have dinner at a wonderful place, Buca Mario, just a short distance from the hotel. Florence is known for a special cut of beef. When we saw what was being served once inside the ristorante, thought – are they serving a pot roast? No, just a big piece of meat. Ned, our tour partner, decided to order the wild boar, thinking it might be a special treat. After seeing the lady at the next table over get a cut of the special beef served, suggested she trade a piece of boar for a small taste of the beef. She declined and ate what looked like a 24 ounce cut – with no side dish served with it. For me – forgot what I ate, but remembered drinking a “Bellini” named after a famous Renaissance artist. Later I find there were 3 members of the Bellini family who were famous artists.
http://www.wga.hu/html_m/b/bellini/
OK – time for a rest. More stories tomorrow (-:
Photo 1. Is title slide of morning lecture
Photo 2. Shows Cosimo Medici – The “Godfather” of Florentine Politics
Photo 3. Our eager group soaking in the art of the Bargello Museum (-:
Click below for today's online photo album.
https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/2013C2CDay21of28
