Uffizi Art ~ 22nd March

After an hours drive we reach Florence, a city I have always wanted to visit.  It is an overcast day and a little colder than the last few days but still pleasant.  We manage to park just inside the city wall and wander through the quiet streets (it is Sunday morning) to find our way to the Uffizi art gallery.  After a short walk we see the duomo in the skyline and know which direction to follow.  We pause on the bridge to take a look at the city in all its splender.  There are a few more crowds once we reach the main streets and the usual vendors selling 'selfie sticks' which we have resisted so far!  We have a little time to explore before our timed tickets to the Uffizi and soon discover the magnificent Duomo.  It really is quite something, with its pretty pink, white and green colours and splendid frescoes above the doorways.  There are crowds of tourist taking photos and bustling around.

After a quick coffee stop (yes Zach the coffee is delicious and cheap!) we head to the Uffizi.  Nearby the building off the Piazza Della Signoria, Michelangelo's statue of David stands tall above us and is quite spectacular despite being a copy.  There are plenty of statues to view before we make our way to the gallery.  The building in itself is a work of art with frescoes on the ceilings.  We travelled through the huge building viewing a range of sculptures and paintings including works by Giotti, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Leonardo and Michelangelo (AKA the ninja turtles to the boys!).  The boys were great and didn't moan too much!  I think this is the most art they have ever seen in one place!  Afterwards Nick, Zach and Reuben had the finest (and I think most expensive) gelato Italy has to offer!  We left the city feeling a little tired but a lot more cultured.

Diane