Our plans were to visit Michelangelo’s David at the Academy Museum and stroll around the Uffizi Museum. After that, we just wanted to enjoy the city, the sights, sounds, and probably the tastes.
We were staying at the Camping Village Panaramico in Fiesole, which overlooks Florence, in a clean and comfortable, but small and basic mobile home. It was costing just €45 a night.
We were staying at the Camping Village Panaramico in Fiesole, which overlooks Florence, in a clean and comfortable, but small and basic mobile home. It was costing just €45 a night.
There are several options to reach the heart of Florence. The campsite reception has it all figured out.
Then catch the no.7 bus into the heart of Florence.
They gave us a full bus timetable (to and from Fiesole) and another schedule for their courtesy bus, and a fistful of maps. I knew by the end of the day we’d be making use of their free bus up the hill, back to our accommodation.
Accompanied by twittering birds, the following morning we walked the 1.6 km into Fiesole centre for our first coffee. By now we craved coffee - Italian style. A strong shot of sweetened black tar and a croissant or panninni, at the bar, in just a few minutes - quick, tasty, and satisfying.
- Walk into Fiesole town centre before 8 am
- Via the scenic route (about 2 km)
- Via the quicker route (about 1.6 km)
- Catch the courtesy bus into Fiesole centre after 8 am
Then catch the no.7 bus into the heart of Florence.
They gave us a full bus timetable (to and from Fiesole) and another schedule for their courtesy bus, and a fistful of maps. I knew by the end of the day we’d be making use of their free bus up the hill, back to our accommodation.
Accompanied by twittering birds, the following morning we walked the 1.6 km into Fiesole centre for our first coffee. By now we craved coffee - Italian style. A strong shot of sweetened black tar and a croissant or panninni, at the bar, in just a few minutes - quick, tasty, and satisfying.
The no. 7 bus arrived on time, dropping us in Marco Square twenty minutes later with the Academy Museum literally around the corner. We joined the queue with just fifteen people standing in front of us. As we took our place, the doors opened and ten minutes later, around 8:30 am we were staring at David.
The statue is of David from the story of David and Goliath.
He is made of of one single block of marble from the quarries in Carrara in Tuscany, one of the whitest in the world. He weighs 5,660 kg or 12,478.12 lbs.
He is made of of one single block of marble from the quarries in Carrara in Tuscany, one of the whitest in the world. He weighs 5,660 kg or 12,478.12 lbs.
Many experts have tried to capture why this statue is so intriguing. But first let me confirm, it is utterly absorbingly and wonderfully intriguing. You cannot help but to stop and stare and stare. You walk around the proud man, (noting his particularly round buttocks) and stare once again.
What hit me was his frown, the crease between his eyes. I noticed the veins, the folds in his, ahem, private area - so real.
'I can't believe he's captured his fear so well,' Noel said.
I looked again. His actual eye-balls show fear and I cannot say how. I cannot fathom how it is done - this is marble, not a pencil where an eraser is handy - there's just one shot at it.
It is truly remarkable and worth every penny, effort, and motorbike-sore-bottom to see.
The remainder of the museum is full of plaster casts of other statues, remarkable in their own right. And three-dimensional paintings that leave me dumbfounded, capturing the silver light. But once again we returned to David and stared. Two hours soon passed and the museum was filling up.
What hit me was his frown, the crease between his eyes. I noticed the veins, the folds in his, ahem, private area - so real.
'I can't believe he's captured his fear so well,' Noel said.
I looked again. His actual eye-balls show fear and I cannot say how. I cannot fathom how it is done - this is marble, not a pencil where an eraser is handy - there's just one shot at it.
It is truly remarkable and worth every penny, effort, and motorbike-sore-bottom to see.
The remainder of the museum is full of plaster casts of other statues, remarkable in their own right. And three-dimensional paintings that leave me dumbfounded, capturing the silver light. But once again we returned to David and stared. Two hours soon passed and the museum was filling up.
We left with big grins, fighting through the throngs of people trying to enter.
The day was bright, and the temperature rising. We were hungry, although it was only mid-morning. Back at Marco Square there are a couple of fancy eating places. But walk down a side street – namely in the opposite direction of the Museum from the bus-stop, passing a colourful patisserie on the corner, turning left, about five shops down there is a wonderful cafe that rotisseries chicken and beef. The roasted beef was ready exactly the same time as our arrival.
The day was bright, and the temperature rising. We were hungry, although it was only mid-morning. Back at Marco Square there are a couple of fancy eating places. But walk down a side street – namely in the opposite direction of the Museum from the bus-stop, passing a colourful patisserie on the corner, turning left, about five shops down there is a wonderful cafe that rotisseries chicken and beef. The roasted beef was ready exactly the same time as our arrival.
'You are early, but I like you, so you can have a sandwich.'
We munched on a freshly roasted beef and aubergine sandwiches, and thick, rich coffee and a bottle of water each – all for €6 in total - delicious.
We sat in the square and ate our feast, deciding where to go next.
Walking towards Uffizi museum we took in the buildings, the side streets, the way Italians live. It was a fascinating blur of grand architecture and passionate people.
We munched on a freshly roasted beef and aubergine sandwiches, and thick, rich coffee and a bottle of water each – all for €6 in total - delicious.
We sat in the square and ate our feast, deciding where to go next.
Walking towards Uffizi museum we took in the buildings, the side streets, the way Italians live. It was a fascinating blur of grand architecture and passionate people.
Of course there is the tourist side.
Noel and I joined the queue at the Uffizi Museum. By now, all the tourists were up and out and the queue was long – two hours long apparently. For a few Euros more you can buy ‘no-queue-passes’ so that is what we did, from the ladies carrying a sign offering this service.
We meandered through the massive building, awe-struck with heart-capturing alfresco paintings on the ceiling; Venus of Urbon by Titian, Madonna of the Goldfinch by Raphael, Doni Tondo by Michelangelo, Judith and Holofernes by Artemisia Genileschi and of course The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, plus so many more……
Enjoy the walk with us in these photos…
We meandered through the massive building, awe-struck with heart-capturing alfresco paintings on the ceiling; Venus of Urbon by Titian, Madonna of the Goldfinch by Raphael, Doni Tondo by Michelangelo, Judith and Holofernes by Artemisia Genileschi and of course The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, plus so many more……
Enjoy the walk with us in these photos…
With aching feet, a short stroll away we found the information centre, who pointed us to a ‘reasonably priced’, supermarket where we purchased our Mediterranean meal for the evening.
On the way to the supermarket, we came across an incredibly old olive tree in the middle of the city - with rather a poignant message:
The plaque says:
The olive, this generous and vivacious Mediterranean plant, mythological symbol of holiness and of great values, and has the emblematic capacity to regenerate its productivity although it has suffered events do (due?) nature or man.
The association “Georgofili – Lambertesca”, together with the collaboration of the Georgofili Academy, have planted this olive tree (250/300 years old) so as all passer bys will remember the barbaric act that took place on May 27, 1993, and that all those who suffered will be in our minds and hearts.
The plaque says:
The olive, this generous and vivacious Mediterranean plant, mythological symbol of holiness and of great values, and has the emblematic capacity to regenerate its productivity although it has suffered events do (due?) nature or man.
The association “Georgofili – Lambertesca”, together with the collaboration of the Georgofili Academy, have planted this olive tree (250/300 years old) so as all passer bys will remember the barbaric act that took place on May 27, 1993, and that all those who suffered will be in our minds and hearts.
A little more than one hour after midnight on May 27, 1993, a massive explosion echoed throughout Florence. It was a true case of domestic terrorism. Six people died and thirty-three were injured, you can read about it here.
Back at the bus stop the heavens opened as if to wash the day off. The bus was on time to Fiesole and the following courtesy bus carried our weary limbs up the last part of the steep hill to our accommodation.
Uffizi Museum costs/opening times: Note: The first Sunday of each month is free admission for everyone!
Academy Museum costs/opening times.
Next: Pisa!
Academy Museum costs/opening times.
Next: Pisa!
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