Today Spencer and I put on our walking shoes and headed towards the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. This incredible museum houses some of the world's most famous art. I bought tickets weeks in advance to avoid the long lines of people who didn't plan ahead. This allowed us to go into a separate door and right into the museum. I knew Spencer would not appreciate everything in front of him and may burn out quickly, so we headed to the top floor. This is where you will find rooms dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo and Botticelli to name a few. Standing in front of such masterpieces as Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" can leave one speechless. Luckily since we arrived early we didn't have to fight for position to see the priceless painting.
Next we moved into the room housing Leonardo da Vinci 's artwork. The highlight of this room is "The Annunciation". Thought to be da Vinci 's first major artwork, the painting represents the story of Mary being visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who explains that she is destined to be the mother of the Son of God.
If you are looking for greater detail about all of the artwork housed in the Uffizi Gallery I recommend either a group tour or renting an audio guide. There are masterpieces everywhere you look.
Spencer was fading fast by the time we finished the top floor so we stopped by the cafe and took a short break. If you're looking for some incredible views of Florence this is a great spot.
At this point Spencer was ready to move on and since he dictates our schedule we headed out towards Ponte Vecchio and across the Arno River. This is where you will find the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. The palace, once home to grand-dukes of Tuscany and later the King of Italy, now houses more spectacular art collections. And it extends to the Boboli Gardens, one of the earliest Italian gardens. It's famous for its fountains and grottoes.
It cost 10 euro for adults to enter, but free for children. The Boboli Gardens are massive. Luckily on such a hot day like today there are many shaded paths to explore. Bring water if you plan a visit.
Spencer loved all of the twists and turns he found throughout the gardens. And he was intrigued by all of the statues. We enjoyed todays journey of art and nature. Tomorrow, off to Lucca and Pisa.
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