Europe Bound: Finally We’re in Florence

Posted by Katrien Vander Straeten Jun 30, 2006

We did well! No more means of transportation rejected us or broke down, though to be fair the only means of transportation we relied on were our feet and the stroller. Though we had been disadvised to take a stroller into a medieval city, it actually did greatly come in handy. It was a sturdy one, though: a borrowed six-wheel, double-strutted, cruise-control, SUV-type of affair (but without the exhaust).

The beauty of Florence surpassed all our expectations. Ever a student, I had read up on the history and the art and could now feast my somewhat educated eyes on the facades of palazzo's and churches, the squares and parks.

I revelled in the oldness of the culture - I sometimes miss that, in the States - its manifestations in Florence going back to the Renaissance, the Middle Ages, further back to Rome and even further still to the Etruscan era.

There is too much to mention. Also, having a baby with us, who is becoming very vocal (and loud) about both her likes and dislikes, we put aside any desire to go inside the churches and museums. This is exactly what made our stay in Florence so relaxed: we didn't have to rush from one museum to the other, trying to see each of the millions of art works. We just strolled through the town, taking in the facades, resting on the steps of churches, savoring the wonderful cuisine, enjoying the sun and cheer.

Most importantly, we got to enjoy the people in the city: tourists and Florentians alike! And the Italian people adore little children. Both men and women voice their admiration: "Ciao Bambina!"

We did get to see the David in the Academia Dell'Arte (we went in about an hour before the museum closed, just as the end of the previously long long queue had dissipated). On our last day we saw the Fra Angelico frescoes in the San Marco monestary: the only museum I really couldn't bare to miss.

Now you wonder: how did we get back to Belgium...

Articles related to Florence elsewhere on Suite101:

On Florence as the art capital of Italty

The Duomo really is an amazing feat of architecture!