Florence Day 5

Day 5

The Mrs. has finally recovered somewhat from the bout of stomach flu, and is able to do some museum visiting. Armed with the Firenze Card, we visited 4 museums in 1 day. Yup, some small some big. We will continue from here. First thing in the morning, new our hotel, we went the the Medici Chapels, €6/-. In here are the tombs of the Medici's. Ruler of Florence, they do know how to make nice tombs. Though upon entry the basement is somewhat disappointing. Checking out the guide, realise these are just not so important of them, then up one level and you have a sprawling large area where 4 of them were buried (I suppose), this place is under restoration at the moment. From there proceed to another room, where the highlight is. Michelangelo's Dusk and Dawn, Night and Day. Though he never did complete Lorenzo the Magnificent one which is very simple.

Medici Chapel Entrance

 Do note that the Chapel entry do not allow you entry into the church. These are 2 separate entries. Anyway next to the Chapel is the Palazzo Ricardi-Medici, Inside the the Chapel of Magi and some rooms. If you do not have the firenze card, the entrance is at €7/-. Photos are allowed inside except the Chapel of Magi. A small room but with excellent Frescoes.

Ceiling of the Palazzo

Madonna & Child

After which we proceeded to our 3rd Museum, San Macro, €4/-. There are paintings at the ground floor and frescoes cell on the second. There is a short history of the monk and short-time ruler of Florence, Savonarola. Again no pictures. Try to get a guide-book here.

Exit of San Marco

Lunch is a florentine affair, manage to try out their tripes (slurps), Mrs stomach still not feeling well, so it is veggie soup again.

Vegetable Soup

Cow Tripes

Finally after lunch, we get to see the Duomo, it was like another OMG moment. St Mark's was big but this was bigger. The facade was quite dirty IMO. But still we wander around the area, looking at the queues. It is November, but there are queues? Oh well, went into the Duomo and was not so impress about the inside. The dome is huge from the inside, the fresco is very high up, hard to see. There is another church that they excavated downstairs but it is not free.

Inside of the Duomo, Dome

Duomo Outside

Giotto Tower

The next stop, 4th Museum. Is the Uffizi Gallery. This is a really large art gallery, do note that those famous art works are always crowded out with people like the Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera. And also for the Leonardo Da Vinci work, annunciation in the next room. There are actually alot of works from others that are quite nice, Filippo Lippi is one. 3 hours is not enough, had to rush thru the baroque paintings. One of my favourite paintings have to be "Judith Beheading Holofernes". 

Uffizi Gallery Outside

Uffizi Gallery Entrance

After so many museums, dead tired, dinner was terrible, had a dry piece of chicken. Urgh, but had gelato which was good and back to hotel. The next day is another museum day. Have to make good use of the Firenze Card.