View of the Duomo from Piazzale Michelangelo
Ponte Vechio with rowers on the Arno.
Our room at Camp Darby was just an hour outside of Florence, so we drove in and parked at Piazzale Michelangelo, a plaza overlooking the city. From there it was a short cab ride to the Uffizi with Michelangelo's only framed canvas, a roomful of Botticelli's, plus the art of Leonardo di Vinci, Titian, Rubens, Raphael, etc. Wow! I walked around with a smile on my face and my Ipod plugged in listening to Rick Steves explain the progression of art from medieval times thru the Renaissance. There is a great view of the Ponte Vechio over the Arno from the second floor of the Uffizi. Scullers happened to be going under the bridge as we watched.
The greatest thrill came next . . . the Accademia museum and Michelangelo's David and the Prisoners. On display at the same time were photos by Robert Maplethorpe. Remember the controversy when a Maplethorpe showing came to the Phoenix Art museum? The Accademia handled the display beautifully. They positioned a black and white Maplethorpe in front of and to one side of each Michelangelo sculpture. The juxtaposition of the naked, muscular David in white marble with a male, black, nude athlete photographed by Maplethorpe made a clear and powerful statement. Nudity is art, not obscenity (and has been for eons) . . . end of argument.
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