Underfoot- Firenze

This is a new quilt coming together, the first in my Underfoot series.

Underfoot- Firenze detail. The printing from our Italian trip last year is making an appearance on my design wall and quilts are being completed, which is a wonderful feeling!

 

Fresh

Loved the food markets in Firenze. So much colour, freshness, vitality, visual delights for the eyes and senses.

Porcine mushrooms.

Wild boar prosciutto, complete with hair.


 

David

Probably the most famous son of Firenze, David, seen here as a copy of the original, now in the Academia. No photos allowed. This is the original position for the statue, made by a young Michelangelo.

Neptune keeps him company as well as quite a few other impressive pieces in the Piazza di Signore.
 

Firenze street art

Lots to discover as we walked the little lanes and streets of central Firenze.

And these modified 'no entry' street signs keep turning up.

 

Baptistery

The breathtaking mosaics in the Baptistery. One tickets gets you into all of this, the Dome and Campanile.

Floor details.

And from one of the doors.
 

From the Campanile

This shiny telescope was a great reflective surface, as we looked back towards the Dome, where we had been a short time before.

Back down on street level the repetition of parked motorbikes made a good composition. 

Dome climb

We got up early to beat the crowds that line up to climb the 300+ steps to the top of the dome. It was worth it for the views across Firenze, with storms and rain circling the city. Smiling before the climb, which wasn't as bad as we had imagined- must be all the pre-practice we were getting.

In the dome now and closer to the paintings.

Looking across to the Campanile [bell tower] which we did next.

Some little details at the top. I don't understand the need to write your name here.

Looking down.

On the way down, as different route from the up one.

Duomo

I don't think the travel book description quite prepares one for the first sighting of the Duomo. My goodness, so unique and different from any we have seen so far, a real confection of pink, white and green.

The colours don't show up so well in the photos. It is impressive for colour, size and of course the famous Brunelleschi dome.

As you walk down the streets you get little peeks at the splendour.

Very impressive inside looking up at the frescos on the dome.

And the marble floors!


 

Ponte Vecchio

This is the famous old bridge across the Arno. It is lined with gold shops and can be viewed from many angles as you approach it. I rather liked the base of the lamp with the resting feet.

Seen from the other side, from the Ufizzi.

We oggled all the jewellery, had a pizza and by the time we walked back the shops had closed. In their closed state they reminded me of treasure chests and had interesting closures.

And not an oil stick in sight.

 

Best pasta

 Enjoyed the best fresh pasta, we think, in Firenze. My truffle ravioli with asparagus was divine and Bob loved his ricotta ravioli in lemon sauce, below.

 

Happy diners enjoying the house white.