The City of Flowers

This is Florence, City of Flowers, and it is BEAUTIFUL!

Though Siena will always have a special place in my heart and forever be my home here in Italy, Florence is my favorite city. The city just RADIATES a feeling of classiness, elegance, and luxury.

And for some reason, every time I've been to Florence, including when I came three years ago, Fate has that it will rain on me. Not to fear though, the rain just adds to its romance.  

View from the Ponte Vecchio

Luxury Jewelry window shopping along the Ponte Vecchio

Florence is not only rich in its shopping though, but in its history and culture as well! I was looking forward to this trip to Florence especially because our itinerary included visits to two of the top museums in Italy: the Uffizi and the Accademia.

Katie and I waiting to go into the Uffizi

So the Uffizi is pretty much the Italian Artist snobby museum. Which means that they only allow the best of the best of Italian artists. Which means walking that museum is like walking your art history textbook. It's pure joy.

The Uffizi is also home to two of my all time favorite pieces of art: Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera.

We couldn't take pictures in the museum so here are some Internet cop-outs :)

Primavera

Birth of Venus

So I know that to you they may look all weird and sensual and stuff but trust me, when you know the symbolism behind the paintings and see Botticelli's delicacy upclose, you will love them just as much as I do! It was definitely a pivotal moment in my art history nerd life to see these in person.

Later at the Accademia, we also saw this gem:

Michelangelo's David. no biggie.

 As you enter the Accademia, you turn the corner and all of a sudden, TA-DA there is a 15 ft. tall naked marble man looming above you illuminated by the glass dome above him. It was a pretty epic moment to say the least! (photo courtesy of Sharissa)

View of the Ponte Vecchio from the Uffizi

Also...I'm kind of ashamed to admit...but not really...that THIS happened:

Florence is home to the one and only American-style diner in Italy (all of Europe perhaps?). It was pure heaven. Home of free water, free wi-fi, free bathrooms, free candy, burgers, fries, milkshakes, and pancakes!! Did I explain more why we were drawn there after being in Italy for two months?

and this would be the ecstasy of an American

After our glorious dinner, we headed back to our hotel to get all dolled up to attend the Opera! ok not exactly a whole opera but a special concert held in a little church with the "best of" Italian Operas.

 

At the Opera!

It was the perfect cultural day in the cultural center of Italy!

and Day 2? Shopping Day of course!

At the San Lorenzo Market!

I found the bag of my dreams! (pictures coming in a later post) Yay for successful leather shopping!

Also I am only slightly ashamed that this happened for a second time....

I had to try the chocolate chip pancakes!!! and they were worth it trust me...

and the free ICE water was too tempting!! (water with ice in it is IMPOSSIBLE to find in Europe...they don't believe it)

The proof of our successful shopping day...we pretty much needed an extra table to fit in us AND our bags...

It was a lovely weekend in Florence to say the least :)