Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Tuscany, Assisi, Florence


Spent a relaxing day (mostly) at the apartment. Bought some groceries. Visited a small castle. Did some laundry (washed then dried on line). Read a bit. Started planning our Rome itinerary.

Next morning we picked up Hannah & Nick and drove to Assisi. What a nice day. While many of the cathedrals we have visited feel either cold or opulent, The Basilica of St Francis retains its reverence and (more) simple beauty. Greg and I were moved. It was also good to spend time with the adult offspring.

Today we drove into Florence early and walked in the Academia Gallery (Michelangelo's David) without a reservation! There are some definite advantages of traveling this time of year. Picked up Hannah & Nick and drove to The Piazzale Michelangelo where we had a picnic while enjoying the panoramic view of Florence. She had to go to work so we three crossed the Ponte Vecchio bridge to the Uffizi Gallery. Were able to get a reservation less than an hour out. Wandered around the Piazza della Signoria before spending a couple of hours in the Uffizi. Pretty overwhelming to me.

Nick is a da Vinci fan so we drove out to Vinci (Leonardo of Vinci). Went to an underwhelming museum and then out to his home place. Greg and I stayed in the car while Nick had a much more enjoyable experience than he had at the museum.

Tomorrow on to Sienna, a midieval walled city, then Elba, island of Napoleonic exile fame.

Pictures!

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