Florence loveliness...

Just pictures this posting - i.e. no story as per the last posting... hopefully they will have captured the essence of Florence for you. As before with each picture, best to click on them to view them full screen for your viewing pleasure.  Then just click to move to the next.

Some notes - not in order of pictures, but you'll figure it out.....

Of the "Rape of the Sabine Women" by Giambologna.  This has been in the public's Piazza della Signoria's Loggia dei Lanzi since 1574 or so. (Side note:  in the 16th century this title meant 'abduction' and represented a time in legendary Roman history when the first Roman men needed brides and abducted them from a nearby settlement of the Sabine people.)

Of the Michelangelo -  he had intended this for his own tomb and shows a self portrait in the figure of Nicodemus. He carved some of it, but some was carved by his assistants.

Of the "Gates of Paradise" by Ghirberti. This is a picture of the original, now in doors.  Replica's are on the Baptistry where they were intended.  When Michelangelo saw them he called them the "Gates of Paradise".  My eyes are viewing what he did! - and we came to the same conclusion!  Incredible work of art. 

Of the Bernini portrait bust of his mistress Contanza Piccolomini.  I was so excited to see it (almost missed it but fellow traveller Donna pointed it out - THANK YOU DONNA!)  The museum guide came up and whispered, "You can take a picture of it."  I was surprised.  Pictures weren't allowed in this museum.  She kept nodding.  "Yes.  Take it."  So I did. 

Story:  Bernini did this bust of her before she had an affair with his brother.  He almost beat his brother to death and in a rage scarred her forever by slashing her face.  Then she was arrested and served 4 months as an adulteress before being released back into her husband's care.  Bernini didn't suffer any punishments because???.... Because he was Bernini.

Of the Fountain of Neptune:  It was done by Bartholomeo Ammannati in 1563. (I don't think this is the original.)  In any case, Michelangelo hated it and thought it was a waste of good marble.   (And he told Ammannati so, too.)

Floor of the Baptistry:  Incredible.  Couldn't capture its outside, though because all in scaffolding.  

Of the wild boar:  Shiny nose from everybody petting it.  The legend (mirroring the one re: Trevi's Fountain in Rome) is if you place a coin in its mouth and it falls into the grate below, you will return to Florence.  I did and it did.  :)

Nicodemus

Nicodemus

Nicodemus

Hope you enjoy.  I did.