PISA
For my birthday, Spence and I decide to take a quick get-away to Italy. We took 2 nights and saw some of the most amazing sites, ate scrumptious food and just enjoyed the time we had together to catch up.
It was such a fun couple of days (and if these are the kinds of things that come with getting older, I'm in!!)
For my birthday, Spence and I decide to take a quick get-away to Italy. We took 2 nights and saw some of the most amazing sites, ate scrumptious food and just enjoyed the time we had together to catch up.
It was such a fun couple of days (and if these are the kinds of things that come with getting older, I'm in!!)
The leaning Tower of Pisa is really, REALLY tippy!!!
The Tower was originally built as a bell tower but is today famous for its unintentional tip.
It stood straight for five years (starting in 1172) and after the third story was built, it started to sink in the swampy ground. The tower took almost 200 years to build, but is today seven stories tall and 183 ft high.
There are 296 steps to the top where the bell is located.
First gelato!! One of the VERY best things about Italy. xx
Pisa Baptistry
Looking over Pisa from the top of the tower.
Looking at the Cathedral from the top of the tower.
Can you see the 'cross' shape of the cathedral?! I love this photo!
Bell at the top of the tower.
The nave inside the cathdral
Fallen angel outside the tower. This picture doesn't do it justice, but it was really beautiful.
LUCCA
We took a train to Lucca that night for dinner.
You can't tell from the pictures, but the streets were SO charming.
Cathedral of Saint Martin on the edge of the city of Lucca.
FLORENCE
The Medici family, first attained wealth and political power in Florence in the 13th century through its success in commerce and banking. The family’s support of the arts and humanities developed Florence into the cradle of the Renaissance. The Renaissance was the "re-birth" era when the churches (corrupted Christianity and the ancient Pagan way of thought) of the time didn't continue to have the power they once did. The new school of thought i.e. of Scientific Theory and Humanism developed. The human body began to be praised and new ideas flourished in science, philosophy, economics and art. The printing press was also made and ideas were written down and distributed to the west. Mathematics and 3-dimensional art began to be used in paintings and other works of art. It was a truly an awakening time in the history. Florence was the heart-beat of the Renaissance Era.
FLORENCE
The Medici family, first attained wealth and political power in Florence in the 13th century through its success in commerce and banking. The family’s support of the arts and humanities developed Florence into the cradle of the Renaissance. The Renaissance was the "re-birth" era when the churches (corrupted Christianity and the ancient Pagan way of thought) of the time didn't continue to have the power they once did. The new school of thought i.e. of Scientific Theory and Humanism developed. The human body began to be praised and new ideas flourished in science, philosophy, economics and art. The printing press was also made and ideas were written down and distributed to the west. Mathematics and 3-dimensional art began to be used in paintings and other works of art. It was a truly an awakening time in the history. Florence was the heart-beat of the Renaissance Era.
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower is the main church of Florence Italy.
Il Duomo di Firenze, as it is ordinarily called, was begun in 1296.
This cathedral is ABSOLUTELY breathtaking.
From where this photo was taken, we were enjoying pizza and gelato.
Accademia Gallary
This cathedral is ABSOLUTELY breathtaking.
From where this photo was taken, we were enjoying pizza and gelato.
Accademia Gallary
This statue of David by Michelangelo is why people travel to Florence. :)
It is awe-inspiring. I love knowing that this is the moment when David believed, that with God's help, he could slay Goliath. This is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture created between 1501 and 1504.
It is made of marble and stands 5.17-metres tall (17 feet!).
His hand is over-sized to represent the right-hand of God.
I loved the determined and confident yet humble expression on his face.
Other works by Michelangelo..Incredible.
A view of the gallery.
These European streets slay me! They are narrow and charming and so fun to wander through and get lost in.
Another view of the Florence basilica. It is one of Italy's largest churches, and until development of new structural materials in the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. St. Paul's Cathedral and The United States White House were designed after this dome.
The baptistry
The entrance into the Basilica.
The Baptistry is renowned for its three sets of artistically important bronze doors with relief sculptures. The south doors were created by Andrea Pisano and the north and east doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The east doors were dubbed by Michelangelo the Gates of Paradise. (I'm not sure which one's these were. haha)
Palazzo della Signoria, also called Palazzo Vecchio. It is the focal point of the origin and of the history of the Florentine Republic and still maintains its reputation as the political hub of the city. There are replica's of the David throughout the city. None even close to compare to the original, but still add to the beauty of the city.
Uffizi Gallery
Spencer waited very patiently for me during the time I took to see the gallery's masterpieces.
The Birth of Venus is a painting by Sandro Botticelli thought to have been made in the mid 1480s. It has been suggested that Botticelli was commissioned to paint the work by the Medici family of Florence, Italy.
Renaissance Art
Giovanni Bellini - Lamentation over the body of Christ - really incredible in person.
Some picture views from the Gallery of Florence.
Annunciation by DeVinci~ This painting depicts Virgin Mary being visited by The Archangel Gabriel who has been sent by God to announce to her that she would miraculously conceive and give birth to Jesus, the Son of God.
I booked one tour this trip..a cooking class to learn how to make Italian Pizza and Gelato!
BEST IDEA! So much fun!
Really fabulous instructor
The beginning of making the pizza dough. It's SOOO much easier than I realized.
I have been making it too difficult all these years!
Is it too obvious to say, "Best pizza I've ever eaten?" But it WAS! haha - no seriously, it was...
We graduated (at least with a very satisfied pallet and full stomach) from the course!
The next morning we jumped back on the train and went back to Lucca.
I fell in love with this village. We learned the night before how to pick out
good gelato from average gelato...we found the BEST gelato!
Meanwhile...back at the ranch...
Our darling babysitter, Kimberley Brant, who is an intern at Spencer's office, came to stay with the boys.
She was SO great with the kids and they totally enjoyed her. She was boundless energy and even brought her dog, Ollie, over to play. THEY LOVED HIM!
This is Kim with Ty and Josh after the Red Nose Run - a Lower School fundraiser for a charity of their choice. Josh is on the Lower School Council and they picked a charity helping to train dogs for injured Veterans. You can see Josh in the orange sweatshirt when they got to meet one of the dogs.
She had them making their own pizza at home!
The next day they went out to her family's ranch and played with the
miniature shetland ponies and even saw guinea fowl.
Most of their day was spent on the green playing with Ollie.
Oh dear...I think we are in trouble...
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