Under a Tuscan Sunset

After several days in Rome, we headed north to Tuscany for a stay in Florence. It is a city of incredible architecture and art, along with beautiful scenery. A must-see visit on any Italian itinerary.



Michelangelo's David is one of the many amazing sights in Florence. The original is kept in the Galleria dell' Accademia, but we were not allowed to take pictures of it. A copy is displayed in one of the town squares, the site where the original statue was displayed until 1873. Other Renaissance art in Florence includes Botticelli's The Birth of Venus and paintings by Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.



Florence's Duomo is one of the world's largest cathedrals. The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore was begun in 1294 and was completed in 1436. The building catches you offguard, since you turn a corner and it's right there in all its glory. There is no large plaza in front of the cathedral that you walk into that allows you to greet the Duomo. Instead, BAM -- there it is.

These candle trees inside the Duomo are the opposite of birthday candles. If you blow one out, someone loses their wish.

The ceiling of the dome was covered with paintings of Biblical figures and saints, as well as the addition of a skeleton or two. To us, this was one of the more surprising images, along with skulls and statues of the Angel of Death, to see depicted in many of the churches and cathedrals we've visited. It is understandable, however, especially when one considers that Catholicism, along with other religions, focuses considerably on the afterlife.

The size of the Duomo was impressive, as was its intricately detailed facade. It is covered in red, green, and white marble in beautiful designs.

We took a trip from Florence to the nearby town of Pisa, where the main attraction is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which, we are pleased to report, still leans. We were surprised to see how white the exterior of the tower was, having seen pictures of it before it was recently restored.

There was a little trouble when a worker accidentally knocked over a support beam, but luckily Justin, being an expert in size transformation, was able to step in and hold the tower in place while they refitted the beam. Why he didn't just straighten it out while he was at it remains a mystery.

Back in Florence, the riverfront is part of its magic. There is something about water that just draws people to it. Maybe it's the way the sun reflects off it, or the sound of rushing water, or maybe just the fact that people need water to be able to live.

We think it's all about the light.