First time to visit the Basilica…read more First time to visit the Basilica. Something to do when you visit Ravenna while waiting to get on the cruise. Beautiful cathedral and history.

The Accademia Gallery in Florence offers a focused, more intimate, and ultimately defined by a…read moresingle, overwhelming masterpiece, Michelangelo's David. Founded in the late 18th century as a teaching collection, it evolved into one of Italy's most important art institutions You slowly move through the gallery of Renaissance paintings and plaster models. You curiosity begins to build as you anticipate viewing this famous David. Quite impressive...the statue's size, precision details, and sculpture expertise lives you in awe. The Accademia's smaller size allows for a more intimate experience. It highlights Michelangelo's works as well as adding meaningful context.

You cannot visit Florence without visiting Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's David…read more Though I had a tour guide, I felt like the pace was too slow. It's a great museum, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather beat the crowds to see David, and then take my time strolling through all the other works of art. Seeing 17' of David in person is unreal-- a human made this out of rejected marble. The magnitude of David's height and attention to detail is incredible and the lighting under a skylight highlights every vein and definition of muscle even more so. If you're looking for a deep dive art history lesson, I'd recommend using AI. Note: try to book skip-the-line tickets in advance. If you're unable to, you can try to book through a third party booking system such as Viator, but you'll be paying more.

25th Wedding Anniversary trip alert (European vacation)…read more.. The Uffizi Gallery is housed in a long, elegant structure designed in the 16th century by Giorgio Vasari for the powerful Medici family, the gallery retains an air of purpose and grandeur, its corridors opening toward views of the Arno River and the city's historic skyline. The Uffizi collection is widely considered one of the finest in the world, particularly for Italian Renaissance painting, and includes works by masters such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Iconic paintings like Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera feel both familiar and astonishing when encountered in person. Their scale are beyond belief. The depth and breadth of the gallery is a bit overwhelming, with dozens of rooms and hundreds of masterpieces, creating moments where wonderment converges with a bit of tiredness. What lingers most is the sense of continuity: the Medici legacy encapsulated every wall, and the feeling that one is walking through the very cradle of Renaissance thought. The building itself is stunning...frescoed ceilings, eye-catching statues, and glimpses toward Florence's landmarks. Uffizi Gallery reinforces the idea that art, history, and city are intricately connected. Prepare to take adequate time to view the exhibits

November 6, 2024 3:45-6:45PM…read more We initially didn't plan to visit but was told this is a must do in Florence. I'm glad we did. I love art museums and thought this was more religious artifacts but glad to see some of my new favorite paintings in person. Silly me! Upon entering the museum, there a lot of stairs to climb. Get your exercise in for sure! I did see a very tiny elevator a little bit hidden to the side, so they definitely can accommodate those needing accessibility but plan accordingly as the elevator was tiny, probably one stroller/wheelchair at a time. The Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Spring are both so amazing to see in person. The works of Caravaggio were very powerfully presented. The da Vinci, the Michelangelo, the Raphael... so many great artist and their works are housed here. Lots of Sweet Baby Jesus and the Madonna, various Adam and Eve paintings.. My favorite besides Botticelli's, was from Pietro Perugino's a Portrait of a young man.. the eyes, the emotions, almost the sadness... what a great painting. The various views from the Uffizi Galleries of Florence was also pretty amazing, from Ponte Vecchio, along the Arno River and the view of the city... so glad we went during sunset as I caught some pretty great shots with just my iPhone. I definitely think this is worth the stop and glad to have this as an impromptu visit. Got in pretty quickly without a reservation either, we were very lucky.

In ancient times, to know the time, people used the sundial, a measurement tool based on the…read moredetection of the position of the sun. Sundials had a gnomon, the bar whose shadow marked the time on the dial. Standing outside the Museo Galileo near the Uffizi Gallery at the Palazzo Castellani in Florence, my partner, our friends, family member, and I stumbled on the Monumental Sundial on our way to find an establishment for lunch in September. Originally built in 2007, a tall bronze obelisk constitutes the gnomon of a modern sundial, which casts its shadow on the lines of travertine marble and brass flanked by the signs of the zodiac in glass and marble placed on the ground, indicating time and date. It was visually stunning.

Florence is like the birthplace of STEM, so when visiting here, going to the Galileo Museum is a…read moreMUST! Learning of not only Galileo, but his followers who came after him and the benefactors - the Medici family, was inspirational. It made me realize how bravery is foundational to how science evolves a society, and how essential loyal benefactors are to helping with the change. Truly amazing.

Well documented and impressive displays of Etruscan artifacts from the Cortona area. Italian and…read moreEnglish placards. Everything pre-dates the Romans, with most of the artifacts dating back to 900 BC to 600 BC. This museum serves as a beautiful example of how civilization has grown and developed over the centuries. To see the works of art in the jewelry, or their skills at making metal helmets or the pottery which held wine, water and assorted other elements. The artifacts from their funeral discovery's are impressive as well. This is well worth a 2 hour visit.

Great discovery! We were absolutely blown away by this museum. Presented here is an outstanding…read morearray of artifacts with historical notations in Italian, most of them translated into English. We spent nearly three hours roaming this old historical building that was once a palace. You'll see amazing artifacts here from the 5th century BC, onward. Be prepared to soak up culture, history, and vast information as well as be inspired in the artistic visual curiosity that the place invokes.

3.5 rounded up to 4…read more I booked the early morning factory tour for 9:30 AM. I was the only person on the tour so it was essentially a private tour of the factory, sounds good right? Well no cameras or phones allowed on the tour, but OK. The problem when I went the main factory was closed due to a new production model of Lamborghini being set up so I got to see the SUV factory. It was interesting to see the entire vehicle stations from frame to finish, I think about 20 stations total. All the custom colors, configurations like left or right drive, custom interiors, and wheels/rims. An interesting tour, just would have been better if it was one of the sports model of Lamborghini. On to the museum. The first floor was older more historic models. The second floor was newer models. I had been to the 2 Ferrari museums the day before and liked how they were set up with the model name and info on an easy to read place card. It wasn't until I finished touring the first floor and was about halfway through the send floor that I finally realized that the info on each model was on the stanchions, and not all of them exactly near the car. Not very obvious and the grey lettering on white background doesn't really standout. Overall an interesting museum, especially if you are a car fan. But if you only have time to tour the Lamborghini museum or one of the Ferrari museums I would recommend a Ferrari museum.

After visiting the Modena Italian Luxury car museum, we couldn't leave without stopping here given…read morethey were so close. About a 1/2 hour Taxi ride from Modena. We inquired about the factory tour but unfortunately they were fully booked so advance booking is recommended. About 20 cars in the collection and looks like it rotates. We arrived soon after they opened on a Tuesday (9:30) and not a lot of traffic but started to pick up when we finished around 11:15. Would recommend planning for 1.5 hours. A Simulator is available and the shop, next door, had a good selection of merchandise. I was impressed with the collection and really enjoyed the first floor which showcased the early years. I only remember the Countach and after models. 65 350 GT is the one! Staff was friendly and helpful with our questions. They had lockers for luggage which was perfect. Well worth the detour from Modena!

The Duomo di Siena is one of the most visually appealing cathedrals in Italy...a place where art…read moreand devotion converge in extraordinary harmony. Towering over Piazza del Duomo in Siena's historic center, the cathedral immediately commands attention with its distinctive dramatic blackandwhite striped marble façade, a color scheme that reflects the ancient symbols of the city itself. While we have seen many beautiful Italian cathedrals, this one is one of the most unique ones. Stepping inside the cathedral is awe-inspiring and completely breathtaking. Unlike many cathedrals whose beauty lies primarily on the exterior, Siena's Duomo interior is splendid and grand. The interior is lavishly decorated with striped marble columns, gilded details, sculptures, and frescoes that make the space feel more like a grand art gallery than a traditional church. While indelible photographs are forever etched in our minds, our tour guide discouraged us from taking photos inside the cathedral. One of the cathedral's greatest highlights is its marble inlaid floor, created over several centuries by dozens of artists. Often described as one of the most beautiful cathedral floors in the world, it features intricate biblical scenes and moral lessons created in marble mosaic. When you view such beauty, it feels bigger than yourself. Majestic!

We were lucky enough to see the cathedral in October when the floors were uncovered and it was…read moretruly a sight to see. Absolutely worth the visit and make sure to go to the top of the bell tower during your visit for a spectacular view and a great photo opportunity.