A Quick Stop In Florence 1

  Though now in Venice for a bit, I am trying to post from a few days ago.

  The internet connection here could be better...

  Totally happy, anyway.

  Venice is always a dream.

  We had some rain in Florence, just spent one night before catching the train to Venice. It was beautiful...

  Our room had a view of a favorite piazza...and there was a market going on. Too bad about the rain.

  

  We'd always wanted to visit the Museo Degli Innocenti, and on a rainy day, it was a perfect thing to do.

  It was beautiful....the design of the building is so gorgeous, and has been recently restored throughout.

  Nice details added to the feeling of peace and tranquility.

  It has been a place to bring babies to, if you could not care for them yourself...often by young unwed women, back in the day. They would be raised and educated, then many became members of the helping staff.
  There are images of babies in swaddling all over.

Beautiful piece from the Della Robbia workshop.

  Some rather creepy relics, too...

Speaks to my days as a Dead Head.

    We needed a break, so stopped into a little spot that specializes in cecina, an amazingly good flatbread made with chickpea (ceci) flour. Yummy.

Cecina with onions, and an arugula and mozzarella piadini.
Yes, please.

As we munch away.....

  The rain cleared out, so the walk to the Palazzo Strozzi was just what we needed.

Though crowded in the mid-day, Florence was empty that night.
Nice.

  

On to the see the show we came for...

Pontormo, a favorite of Johnny.
An artist that came after Michelangelo.
This show was about the period known as 'Mannerism', after Michelangelo's time.

  I was quite taken by the sculptures, and spent time just enjoying the play of shadow...

Michelangelo's piece "River God" was the start of the show..
Like giving birth to all the rest of the artists represented.

This was my favorite...
Apollo and Hyacinth from sculptor Benvenuto Cellini.

Leda and the Swan.
Always reminds me of a scene in "Harold and Maude".

  I couldn't help thinking about what's to come over the next few days...The Venice Biennale and all the uber contemporary art we will be experiencing.

  Nice bookend to this part of our trip.

  Here is a good site to learn more about the CinqueCento show:

  ArtTrav


  Later that evening, after dinner (post coming soon!), we strolled the near empty streets of Florence by the light of the full moon....

  More soon, kids.