Florence Retrospective
So...I feel like I really didn't share very much about Florence...so I'm going to do that now. I think all my blogs are going to be super non-linear...especially since it's a bit difficult to post pics right now. But those I will post when I get to Switzerland, when I have access to my computer and will be in a stable place for one month.
Anyway, about Florence or Firenze. It was good. I was there with my friend Ed for 3 days, and it took a while to adjust to the heat and my jetlag. Ed was also a bit sick, also not very fun...but overall it was very fun. (I think the heat in Italy and being in a constant state of sweat is killing all my brain cells. My thinking and writing abilities are definitely dulled...so sorry.)
Anyway, Florence was good! The highlight would definitely have to be the Museo de San Marco...where Savonola and Cosmo di Medici lived. Savonarola (spelling?) was this prophet-like monk who spoke out against the excesses of the Renaissance and whose efforts coined a the title to a 1990s Tom Hanks movie that I have never had (and still don't) have a desire to see: Bonfire of the Vanities. Savonola staged the first(?) modern book/art burning ceremony...which I suppose to our postmodern sensibilities is a very bad thing, but I think he meant well. Then again, he did rule Firenze for a while in this dictatorship, only to be dethroned, and then burned or something like that. Anyway....where he lived as a monk was amazing. Each monk's cell has a fresco in it, and they were really neat. Imagine meditating all day long on the Transfiguration, or the Betrayal of Jesus, or the Annuciation. Okay, I guess it would be really too intense; half of these frescos made me almost want to cry...but it was very cool.
Cosmo di Medici also had a cell there...but I don't know much about his significance other than he was a Medici....and they basically funded and ruled all of Florence....his family was so wealthy, in the family church (this huge thing) called Basilico di Medici (or something like that)...they buried him right before the altar. My Let's Go book jokes that they basically did this to ensure worship of Cosmo. I really hope not.
(A footnote is needed here: i got a lot of this info from guessing at some italian signs so...read my anecdotes here with a huge grain of salt.)
Highlight number 2: in the same square of San Marco is this amazing pizza shop. SO GOOD.
Highlight number 3: Ancient ruins underneath the Duomo. Remains of an ancient church...really quite amazing. The Duomo itself was okay; a very large building. Very crowded, women wearing sleeveless tops were given these blue things that is like a hospital gown you get at a doctor's physical exam. I was not wearing a sleeveless top that day; but I was very amused to see these women...
Anyway, about Florence or Firenze. It was good. I was there with my friend Ed for 3 days, and it took a while to adjust to the heat and my jetlag. Ed was also a bit sick, also not very fun...but overall it was very fun. (I think the heat in Italy and being in a constant state of sweat is killing all my brain cells. My thinking and writing abilities are definitely dulled...so sorry.)
Anyway, Florence was good! The highlight would definitely have to be the Museo de San Marco...where Savonola and Cosmo di Medici lived. Savonarola (spelling?) was this prophet-like monk who spoke out against the excesses of the Renaissance and whose efforts coined a the title to a 1990s Tom Hanks movie that I have never had (and still don't) have a desire to see: Bonfire of the Vanities. Savonola staged the first(?) modern book/art burning ceremony...which I suppose to our postmodern sensibilities is a very bad thing, but I think he meant well. Then again, he did rule Firenze for a while in this dictatorship, only to be dethroned, and then burned or something like that. Anyway....where he lived as a monk was amazing. Each monk's cell has a fresco in it, and they were really neat. Imagine meditating all day long on the Transfiguration, or the Betrayal of Jesus, or the Annuciation. Okay, I guess it would be really too intense; half of these frescos made me almost want to cry...but it was very cool.
Cosmo di Medici also had a cell there...but I don't know much about his significance other than he was a Medici....and they basically funded and ruled all of Florence....his family was so wealthy, in the family church (this huge thing) called Basilico di Medici (or something like that)...they buried him right before the altar. My Let's Go book jokes that they basically did this to ensure worship of Cosmo. I really hope not.
(A footnote is needed here: i got a lot of this info from guessing at some italian signs so...read my anecdotes here with a huge grain of salt.)
Highlight number 2: in the same square of San Marco is this amazing pizza shop. SO GOOD.
Highlight number 3: Ancient ruins underneath the Duomo. Remains of an ancient church...really quite amazing. The Duomo itself was okay; a very large building. Very crowded, women wearing sleeveless tops were given these blue things that is like a hospital gown you get at a doctor's physical exam. I was not wearing a sleeveless top that day; but I was very amused to see these women...
posted by graceh at 12:02 AM
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