This post is dedicated to my fortnight in Florence. My history of art adventure. Two weeks that I'll never forget.
Having decided not to take a gap year before University, I thought about my options for summer and although I love just spending time at home - basking in the sunshine and swimming in the sea - I was keen to travel for a short time on my own and learn a new skill. Making the most of my freedom before University was and still is so exciting but I wanted to make sure that I remember this summer, which lead me to Florence - the most beautiful city in the world (in my opinion, of course)!
The idea to study history of art came from my Mum who, in her gap year, spent two months in Florence, studying at the British Institute. The prospect was too appealing to ignore, so I booked myself on for a two week course, sorted an apartment and let my friends know, so they could visit!
I won't recount every day, every church visited or every meal enjoyed because my two weeks in Italy was a complete whirlwind but I'll post some photos to give the general idea....my day in the city generally started at 10:00 after dosing up on coffee and peaches to give me strength for a long day of walking, lectures and museum visits!
(View from the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio).
(Santa Croce).
(View of the Duomo from the Bardini gardens).
(Ditto).
(The sun breaking through the facade of the Duomo).
(Breathtakingly beautiful and an incredibly building to pass by twice a day on my way to lectures).
(David in the Academia).
(Fra Angelico's "Annunciation" - I saw many versions of this during my time in Florence but this one trumps them all, hence the cheesy grin :)
These next few photos show Florence by night. Almost every evening I would wander over the 'ponte Trinita' at the end of my road to watch the sun set over the river Arno and disappear behind the hills.
(The ponte Vecchio - still crowded, even at 23:00)!!
(Late night gelato stops).