Friday was another "free day" for doing "whatever". Carol flew back to the USA; Jan, Ron, Doug, Suzi, Linda and Joe took the train to Rome and had interesting experiences in the "Eternal City"; Earl, Audrey, Sandy and Mike roamed the streets of Florence enjoying the culture of being in this wonderful city.
Saturday was a "home day" too and we went out as a group to visit the Medici family. Well, actually the last living members of the family expired in the mid-1700's but we took a look at the palace the first Cosimo Medici built in 1444 where the family lived for about 100 years. The most remarkable aspect of the palazzo (which now houses offices of the Province of Florence - think county government - and is also a museum) is the lovely chapel with its fantastic wall paintings. Other rooms in the palace are interesting to see and are furnished in the style of the mid-1600's when another family - the Riccardi - bought and renovated the house. The ruling Medici family had moved across the Arno river to the Pitti Palace by that time after living in the Palazzo Vecchio (now the city hall) for a hundred years or so. All in all the family was the most powerful in the city for almost 300 years. The last survivor, Maria Louisa, left all the holdings and art collections of the family to the city of Florence and for that reason we now have so many treasures to see when we visit. Next we went around the corner to the chapels where the family members are entombed in magnificent surroundings. Michelangelo designed and sculpted the tombs in the newer chapel (1500's) and it was quite amazing to see his works of art and architecture. The photos do not do justice to the opulence of the final resting places for the wealthy and powerful Medici. The afternoon was free for our own pursuits which included naps for most of us! Linda and Joe had spent the night and another day in Rome and we were glad to see them return this evening. Be sure to come again for our next adventures. . .
Check out all the photos here: https://plus.google.com/photos/106242844572593515289/albums/6198851726744456945/6198851865836625474?pid=6198851865836625474&oid=106242844572593515289
Saturday was a "home day" too and we went out as a group to visit the Medici family. Well, actually the last living members of the family expired in the mid-1700's but we took a look at the palace the first Cosimo Medici built in 1444 where the family lived for about 100 years. The most remarkable aspect of the palazzo (which now houses offices of the Province of Florence - think county government - and is also a museum) is the lovely chapel with its fantastic wall paintings. Other rooms in the palace are interesting to see and are furnished in the style of the mid-1600's when another family - the Riccardi - bought and renovated the house. The ruling Medici family had moved across the Arno river to the Pitti Palace by that time after living in the Palazzo Vecchio (now the city hall) for a hundred years or so. All in all the family was the most powerful in the city for almost 300 years. The last survivor, Maria Louisa, left all the holdings and art collections of the family to the city of Florence and for that reason we now have so many treasures to see when we visit. Next we went around the corner to the chapels where the family members are entombed in magnificent surroundings. Michelangelo designed and sculpted the tombs in the newer chapel (1500's) and it was quite amazing to see his works of art and architecture. The photos do not do justice to the opulence of the final resting places for the wealthy and powerful Medici. The afternoon was free for our own pursuits which included naps for most of us! Linda and Joe had spent the night and another day in Rome and we were glad to see them return this evening. Be sure to come again for our next adventures. . .
Check out all the photos here: https://plus.google.com/photos/106242844572593515289/albums/6198851726744456945/6198851865836625474?pid=6198851865836625474&oid=106242844572593515289
