maddiegilmore-blog1

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

Beautiful, quiet Vagli Sotto!

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

For the past week, I have been staying in Vagli Sotto, a village in Tuscany on this man-made lake. In summer the lake dries up. This photo was taken early this week. By now, the water is thinning around those four slats.

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

View from the wall in Lucca. I wish I had given myself more time there!

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

Early fall in Lucca. I skipped Pisa and opted for this walled-in city instead. I’m glad I did. It was a beautiful day to walk around.

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

This bakery, S. Forno, had the best focaccia. Lots of other goodies too...

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

I sort of geeked out in the Old Sacristy at San Lorenzo, also designed by Brunelleschi. All the circles are played off by arches and squares.

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

Another Art History 101 stop -- Basilica di San Lorenzo. The interior is deemed one of the masterworks of Brunelleschi, who made good use of simple geometry and two contrasting colors. 

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

Michelangelo in the Medici Chapels. I forget if this is day and night or dawn and dusk. Either way, you have to admit for a coffin it’s pretty amazing. The description in the chapel notes how the weight of the figures on the lid make it appear as if at any moment the top will split open, releasing the soul of the deceased into heaven. I loved that.

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

Did you even go to Florence if you didn’t see the Duomo? I hiked to the top of the cupola, too, but the view from the tower might be better, just because you get a new angle on the architectural masterpiece. 

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

I love the cafes in Florence. This one is called Brac, a vegetarian restaurant / cafe / art book library. 

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

A couple of gals outside the Palazzo Pitti.

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

My favorite room in the Uffizi. These statues depict the story of Niobe. In Rome, at the Villa Medici, there are reproductions of these statues arranged in the garden. Seeing the real ones made me feel like I had come full circle.

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

It’s called San Bartolomeo a Monte Oliveto for a reason.

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

UNESCO World Heritage Site and Florence rarity San Bartolomeo a Monte Oliveto. You have to make an appointment with the caretake to be let in. On the morning I visited, he was cleaning up rice that was left over from the previous day’s wedding.

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

The back of San Miniato al Monte is a huge cemetery. The front is a beautiful view of Florence. 

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

San Miniato al Monte is turning 1,000 years old this year! I’m turning 25. Slight difference.

[maddiegilmore-blog1]

District flags flying in Siena. I stumbled upon some kind of parade as soon as I managed to find the right bus to get me up the hill. No matter where I walked in the town that day, I could hear the drums from the procession moving along.