From David to Goliath

David

Today we got up bright and early to make our appointment at the Accademia. Back in the day, the Accademia was a school of the arts. Music, painting, sculpting. Now it is the home of Michelangelo's David.

I have decided I am more of a sculpture person (rather than paintings). They intrigue me more.

The first room is surrounded on all walls with paintings, but in the center is Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Women. While the subject matter is not very pleasant, the sculpture is amazing. The composition creates an eternal energy that draws you all the way around. That was the artists intention when he carved it in a spiral shape. You can see it here, if you want: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_of_the_Sabine_Women_%28sculpture%29

To the right is a little wing featuring musical instruments, particularly some of the first pianofortes. You should see the first upright piano. It's shaped like a harp, sitting on top of the box with the keys.

To the left of the first room is the main attraction: David. The corridor is lined with Michelangelo's Prisoners. They are four seperate, incomplete statues showing men struggling to escape the stone block. The original theme was to show the struggle from paganism to Christianity. Now, you can attach your own personal significance to it...like the struggle to overcome trials and weaknesses and become a masterpiece...ok, that was a little corny. But if you can make unfinished statues so thought provoking...

And centerstage, at the end of the corridor, is David himself. It is so different seeing "him" in person. He's almost real. Every muscle. Every vein. Every curl of hair. With the exception of his pale coloring and extreme size, he could be alive. I could almost imagine him shifting his weight onto the right foot and setting down the sling and stone.

His eyes and face have such an expression of determination. Whether you interpret the pose as happening before or after the giant, he looks like one who will do anything to protect his people.

One other room on the ground floor is the plaster room. The room contains plaster models various artists made before they started carving in stone. There were several statues I liked in here, but unfortunately, I can't remember their names or the artists.

There was one of two sisters, walking and laughing together. They just looked like they truly liked and enjoyed each other. It made me miss my sisters.

There were several funeral pieces. One depicted a lifesize replica of a young mother on her deathbed. One hand clutched her rosary beads, the other rested on the head of her young son.

Another, called "Inconsolable" showed such raw emotion. It portrayed a woman, inconsolable at the death of her husband. There was also a young angel, her hands held out in prayer. Her eyes were closed and a soft smile played on her lips.

Goliath

I'm sure this doesn't look like any Goliath you're used to, but when Terri got in the line to go up to the Duomo (Dome) of Santa Maria deil Fiore (church), I figured she knew what she was getting us into.

Apparently, she thought we were just going into the church to gaze up at all the pretty paintings, say a few ooohs and awwws and be on our way. No. 463 plunges on a Stairmaster later, we reached the top of the church's dome for an incredible view of Florence's red-tiled roofs.

Man. That was one heck of a climb. We climbed in narrow staircases. Got dizzy ascending spiral staircases that felt like you were putting your hand on a pole and just spinning around and around and around. We climbed between the domes (Brunelleschi built one dome [maybe for stability?] and then built the real one just above it.)

We hope you enjoy the pictures because they took a lot of effort to get :)

Ponte Veccio

After our giant accomplishment, we went to the Ponte Veccio to see where the rich and famous shop...well, I don't know about famous, but you would definitely have to be rich to shop there.

A long, long time ago, when the ruling government decided to put an extra tax on any buildings built on land, some clever paupers decided to build their homes somewhere else. The somewhere else was the Veccio bridge, spanning the River Arno. The buildings were not on land, and therefore could not be taxed.

Today, it is filled with high-priced jewelry shops and tourists.