Firenze (Florence)

"Why wasn't I born here?  Why aren't we Florentines?" 

Romain Roland

 Florence has a unique ambience - a relaxed cadence that sweeps me in each time I go there. True, the shopping is every woman's dream.  The Ponte  Vecchio (a bridge spanning the Arno) is the "bright and shiny" mecca for all things gold (silver and gemstones, too).  Fine leather goods are in abundance everywhere in the city.

And the gelato is the BEST in the world.

Having said that, there is something more here that always makes me smile.  I think it must be the rich history resonating from every building, piazza and paving stone in this city.  The Medici family, the medieval and renaissance architecture (Brunelleschi rules!) and, of course, the man himself, Michelangelo are just a few of the (at last, an appropriate use of the word) awesome influences in this special place. 

The Piazza della Signoria (sporting a fine replica of Michelangelo's David;

the original resides in all his splendor at the Accademia, a few steps away, where they built him his own wing and gave him a gorgeous light-giving cupola) is where one can sit outside at the historical Cafe' Rivoire and ponder what occurred there in the late 15th century...the original bonfire of the vanities.  Not too long after that, Mr. Nasty, the notorious monk, Savonarola, was charbroiled,
crispy on the outside and, a first for him, tender and juicy on the inside.  Today locals, tourists and long skirted gypsy girls (guard your pockets and purses because, as children, they can't be prosecuted) move through the same space as if it were their own backyard.

There is so much to see here, the unbelievably stunning Duomo, Santa Croce Basilica where Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and Marconi are buried, the Uffizi gallery, the Accademia (in case I didn't mention it, my favorite piece of art in all the world is there, the statue of David.  Ahh, David, awesome to the 10th power.)  The food ain't bad either (that's Robert & Karen from L.A. who had lunch with us.)

Sculling anyone?
                      The city is now decorated beautifully for the holiday season - Italy seems to favor tiny blue lights.  Enchanting.

Coming back to earth (almost) for a moment.  Even the mundane is special here.  Witness the before and then during of Florence's talented Sahascia.  Allora , I had my hair styled by another artist!

Good to go,
Susan

ps  More coming on Florence during Christmas week.