Day 15. The final day
The Palazzo Vecchio, the Bargello, Santa Maria Novella, and San Lorenzo
Palazzo Vecchio...another big fancy mansion. Ho hum. This time, the Medicis lived there- the premier family in Florentinean history. Something cool though is after one of the renovations, the rooms above the current bedchambers represented "the heavens" in juxtaposition with the occupant below. For example, the room dedicated to Jupiter, king of the Gods, is located directly over Cosimo de'Medici's room, who is attributed to be the Medici who jumpstarted the family's influence. Here's what I thought was the most impressive room:
Also in this museum: Dante's deathmask
Onto the Bargello, the most underrated museum in Italy. The original Mercury on Zephyr and an entire Donatello room with a few Michelangelos sprinkled in, among many Giambolognas. Highlights include Donatello's David, which might not actually be David. He's fully nude, has a sword, and a weird hat. Interesting.
Additionally, Brunelleschi's doors, which lost to Gheberti's for display on the Baptistry are housed here. One panel at least. Brunelleschi's (right) is much easier to understand with less "going on". It's interesting to compare the 2.
Onto the churches. Santa Maria Novella featured a very cool altar with stained glass
Finally, my second favorite Church (St Pete doesn't count) behind Santa Croce: San Lorenzo, the oldest church in Florence. Consecrated during the 4th century, this ****er is too cool for a facade
But is cool enough to house Donatello's final work: these pulpits of bronze
Interestingly, our friend Brunelleschi was commissioned by Cosimo de'Medici to build the original chapel, which Donatello decorated with doors and paintings. Yes paintings.
Giovanni de'Medici and Wife are interred here in this chapel. Gio was the one who founded the Medici's first bank and set in motion a dynasty.
Cosimo de'Medici the Elder is also buried here, in front of the main alter
And just like that, it's over. Lunch was the Inferno, just for
@landsbergfan.
We ate a fantastic dinner with my brother's study abroad program director (he was her only student this semester!) and had a hell of a time.
I was congratulated by our waiter after eating a full Italian meal, which isn't a challenge for me.
First meat + cheese. Second, tortella stuffed with pear and topped with almonds served with cream of leek. 3rd, pork and taters. Final wine count: 69 (nice) glasses in 16 days
As with all vacations, it's bittersweet. Of course I want to stay here and never work again (I go back Monday lol) and of course I miss my friends, my gf, my bed, the piano, and my Sunday roller hockey league back home. And normal sports start times, not 2am ones. Alas, all things must end. Until next time, ciao Italia! I had a ****ing awesome time and met some great people on the way to lifelong memories.
Next, the gf wants to go to Aruba...in due time, friends. In the meantime, I'll let this thread title simmer for a day or 2, then change it to a general travel thread!
