July 12, 2019- Florence-Day 2
After a great day in Florence yesterday, we returned again today, We visited The Florence Cathedral ( Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore). This basilica is one of Italy's largest churches. Work on the cathedral began in 1296 and was completed in 1436 with the dome designed by Brunelleschi. Piazza Duomo includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile or Bell Tower, These buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites which covers the historic centre of Florence. Students had time to shop and get lunch. In the afternoon, we made our way to the Accademia delle Belle Arti, where students were left in awe gazing at the David of Michelangelo, one of the most beautiful sculptures in the world. Giorgio Vassari, an Italian historian stated, "no other artwork is equal to it in any respect, with such just proportion, beauty and excellence did Michelangelo finish it”.
They also viewed Michelangelo's unfinished sculptures, or Michelangelo's Prisoners or Slaves. They are in various stages of completion. We see how the sculptor worked with blocks of marble. It seems as if the figures are breaking away or freeing themselves from the heavy blocks of marble. Some scholars feel that Michelangelo deliberately left them incomplete to show humans' struggle to free themselves from their material belongings. We left Florence, enjoyed a delicious dinner and the Piazza del Campo once again.
It was a special day for Simona as she celebrated her 17th birthday in Siena! Simona and her friends enjoyed a Caprese cake from one of the specialty bakeries in Siena. It is a flourless chocolate cake, typical of the island of Capri. Happy Birthday Simona!!!
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