Day Six -- Florence

This is the first morning we did not set our alarms. We woke up at 11 a.m. What we obviously need is rest. We have been attacking Italy at a fast pace and our bodies are showing the signs of this abuse. We got ready slowly. I washed some clothes in the sink and hung them in the window. We headed out in search of adventure with no particular destination in mind. We ended up at the Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno. It was wall to wall people. It is the only bridge in Florence with shops on it -- well, except in the middle where everyone congregates to take selfies. We edged up to the edge of the bridge to take a picture of the scenery -- Florence, the Arno and rowers. 

 

While we were taking photos we noticed a little restaurant hanging over the river's edge. We were starving but, more importantly, in search of coffee. We found the restaurant and were seated so close to the moving water that each of us got a bit seasick. We ended our meals with family size servings of panna cotta. When we came out of the restaurant we headed south of the bridge. We found the Pitti Palace, the largest museum complex in Florence, which appears to have a current exhibition on Woman Power. We are museumed out. But we saw this curious sign pointing down a side street and followed it.

 

It led us to  Basilica di Santo Spirito, which houses Michelangelo's crucifix -- thus the sign. We paid 3E to enter the cloister to find the crucifix. It is in a side Chapel where an attendant makes sure no one takes a photo. It pales in comparison to Michelangelo's David. What we learned then was that the church was closed until 4 p.m. and it was only 3 p.m.

 

We found the Holy Spirit bathroom -- which costs 1 E.

 

Back across the river at Ponte S. Trinita, which has great views of Ponte Vecchio.

 

While Gayle answered her phone I wandered into the Palazzo Strozzi, which it turns out happens to house an art exhibit we have seen advertised on the sides of all the city buses. It is a modern, electronic (video) exhibit by an American named Bill Viola. He is inspired by masterpieces to create modern videos, some in slo-mo. Even though we are museumed out we decided to give it a try for 12 E. We saw the Crossing, the Greeting, the Path, the Emergence, the Deluge and more. I especially was transfixed by his series of four martyrs.

 

When we emerged back into daylight it was 6 p.m. We passed this bank of motorcycles. How does anyone find their own again? 

 

We headed back to the Duomo to do more gawking. We were astounded when we realized the facade is marble. How did we miss that the last two times we went by? We studied the Baptistery doors.

 

Then we went up to the Church of St. Lorenza and into the cloisters. 

 

We were looking for a way in but the Medici Chapel was closed. We headed for our hotel and stopped for a delightful dinner at the Fusion Bar around the corner from our hotel. We can't imagine eating any more pasta. Gayle had sushi and I had some Brazilian pork. The sushi was better. They also served us yucca and octopus. 

 

After finding a place that served sorbet popsicles we went back to our hotel, hoping we could actually lock our door. Luckily the elevator was empty.