Scraps Of Mind

Next stop: Florence

Florence is such a beautiful city I just couldn’t wait to get back. I was here for a single day two years ago and that just whetted my appetite for more. Magnificent Renaissance sculptures adorn the city, taking art out of the galleries and into everyday life.

Neither Yvonne nor myself are big fans of large hotel chains and we always try to stay somewhere a little ‘different’ if we can. So the opportunity to stay in a Florentine Convent (Francescane Missionarie di Maria) was too good an opportunity to pass up. It’s a beautiful tranquil haven just a short walk from the Piazza del Duomo in the centre of Florence. The only downside is the slightly Cinderella-esque curfew of 11.30pm. But we can deal with that OK, if only for the pleasure of staying in this 15th Century Florentine Palace.

As soon as we arrived in Florence our first port of call was Vivoli’s Gelateria- this place serves Frank Sinatra’s favourite ice cream, which he had shipped to him wherever he was staying. In a country which makes the best ice cream, Vivoli’s is something special. As you can see, when arriving in a city steeped in history and surrounded with amazing architecture and art, we maintain a focus on the key priorities of life.

This time I actually got to go into the Ufizzi and the Accademia which I didn’t have time to do on my last visit. I love the art of the Renaissance and the feast of it that is available in these galleries is total sensory overload. And I have to say that the David di Michelangiolo in the Accademia has a radiance about it that the brilliant reproduction standing in the Piazza della Signoria does not seem to capture. There is something special about the ‘real thing’ that creates an atmosphere (even when surrounded by dozens of tourists). Although the abnormal size of his hands really freaks me out.

And of course, maintaining a sense of perspective, there’s the shopping. We hit the San Lorenzo Markets big time and enjoyed a shopping frenzy; returning to the Convent exhausted but satisfactorily laden with shopping bags, our minds racing as we worked out how we could fit all our stash in our luggage. In my experience, there is always a way.

Florence is a centre for beautiful paper but sadly (or should that be ‘fortunately’?) I’ve seen no evidence of Scrapbooking here. Ah well.

It’s been great to spend some quality time in Florence. Such a marvellous city and so steeped in beauty at every turn. Of course there’s the Art; absolutely everywhere you look. But let’s not forget the delicious Tuscan food. So delicious. And somehow I’ve found my clothes seem to be getting smaller. I think it must be the Italian air.

Other related posts:

I’ll Be Back
Venice - One of my Favourite Places on Earth
Idyllic Greece