Nilhotel Florence

... through that particular medium. In addition to sculpture, the City's architecture also reached back to try and capture the spirit and skill of the ancients. The Duomo was the first dome of its kind built in 1000 years, and Brunellechi studied Rome's Pantheon in preparation for his crowning achievement. <br><br>In addition to providing us with a great tour of the Uffizi, Rick Steves also put together a fantastic walking tour of the ...

It was our first full day without rain!! What a wonderful way to see the Pantheon, Colosseum, and kiss Rome goodbye. And we even made it to breakfast today...that hasn't happened since London. :) Check out our pitcher of steamed milk! I'll take that over half and half any day. <br><br>After seeing the closed Pantheon at night, and it's beautiful yet stark outer image, we didn't know what to expect once we walked through its huge iron doors. I ...

... spoke English perfectly (of course!). Plus one of the women had lived in Italy for nearly fifty years, so she spoke Italian and helped me with the menu. The food was good, though the dessert rather disappointing as it was clearly store bought and not homemade (pear and chocolate tart, but not very chocolatey, or pear-y for that matter).<br><br>The next morning I got up feairly early and walked to the Uffizi to be there for my 9:15am booking. I probably didn't really ...

... one looked friendly. I get this little feeling in my stomach, a little black pit growing. I think, "Oh my god, I don't feel welcome here in Firenze. I am stuck here for one month in this city of unfriendliness and rudeness". If I had been standing anywhere else for the past 40 minutes, say Lecce or Siracusa, I'd have probably said "buon giorno" at least 20 times by now and feeling so happy. It is a beautiful day in Firenze, I am in Firenze and I am feeling sick in the stomach.

Rented an apartment in a villa which was at the top of a mountain (like most villas in Tuscany), however, our journey to the top was not on a paved road which made for some challenging driving. The villa was really nice with its own pool and great view over the countryside. The owners also provided fabulous meals in their other ...

... a couple more just for good measure. Oh and speaking of ties, i discouvered a thing called a 'sexy tie'... you have to search a little for these, but quite entertaining. I won't spoil it by telling you exactly what it is, but if your interested, make sure you get me to show you when i get back home!<br><br>Not much else happened in Florence, which was not a bad thing as it was nice to have a more relaxed day on tour!<br><br>until tomorrow!

... Once a school for the teaching of the arts now is the house of the most famous man in all of the Arts world. My David, I knew to expect his size, to expect is presence but was terribly dissapointed by the crowds. I know that despite the crowds David knew that I was there just for him!<br>Back at the hotel, our minds reaching overload with all that we have seen and done. We shower and clean up for dinner. Trying a new resturant also recommended by the hotel. <br>

... the arts. What they did not commission they bought or married into, and their private collection now makes up the most important collection of rennaisance art in the world. Works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Botticelli, Caravaggio, and Rubens practically litter the place. Our guide did a great job at both a technical and an art history level of explaining how the pieces related to each other and to the people and politics of ...

... of fruit-peaches-necterines berries(i,m in heaven) -tell bella and yasmin the hotels bird(like a myna bird) squaked AND meowed !!! lol was a real hoot ...next day we,re off to parma-for foody tour-I,m NOT scared , tho our pipi car, may not understand this extra weight... ttfn G

... or sculpt, or science accept the status quo; Florence and its people were moving ahead into the age of modern thinking. At this time Florence was governed by elected representatives who consisted of merchants and bankers (a democracy) and the great minds of this period such as Giovanni Boccaccio, Filippo Brunelleschi and Leonardo Da Vinci met here and changed the path of history. Florence then proceeded to conquer foe greater in number than itself which ...