Florence, May 2009

During our study abroad trip with Angelo State University in 2009, we decided to take a short train trip to Florence. We left early Saturday morning and spent all day Saturday and Sunday in Florence - absolutely the gem of Tuscany. We didn't have a lot of time to explore, but we really got a feel for the beautiful piazzas, sculptures, frescos, and cuisine.

We spent about 4 hours in the Uffizi where Botticelli's The Birth of Venus and the Four Seasons stand. I did not expect Venus to be as captivating as she was. Botticelli's art is in one of the first rooms you walk in to in the Uffizi and The Birth of Venus is huge. She stands 5'8'' x 9'2''. She is mesmerizing. Right next to her is Primavera, which is also huge. Primavera stands 6'8'' x 10'4''. Make sure to give yourself enough time to just be in the presence of those magnificent pieces.

We never made it into see the original Michael, but there are two other exact replicas throughout the city which are easy to find. I feel like we got a very good taste of Florence, though we were there for about 36 hours! Tuscany is where my Pierangeli family is from, so it was a joy to get some views of my roots.