Wednesday 21st June 2023

Basilica Di Santa Croce : Central Market : Piazza Della Signoria

 

We set off  a little earlier this morning, walking along the river and over the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. The jewellers were just starting to open their shops on the bridge, some had bundles of keys hanging from a big ring like a jailer.

Our first stop of the day was the imposing Basilica Di Santa Croce.  The large square in which the basilica stands was full of temporary seating for an event.

 

Therefore, it was impossible to take a good photograph of its magnificent façade. The Basilica of the Holy Cross is huge, in fact it is the largest Franciscan Church in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The holy building is the final resting place of many famous people including Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli.

Colourful stained glass windows light up the huge interior.  There are various side chapels, huge frescoes and an interesting wooden ceiling.

A young group of students were sat sketching some of the holy icons.

 

Sauntering through the streets, we looked down one narrow road and there was a glimpse of the Duomo Square.

Keeping the Duomo Square’s buildings clean is a constant battle. There is a massive improvement to the parts that have just been cleaned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were ready for a bite to eat so we headed to the Central Market.

The fresh food market opens from early morning to mid afternoon.

 

The food court which has an array of eateries and wine bars is open from 10am to midnight. We were definitely spoilt for choice. There were huge displays of traditional Italian food including pizzas, pastas, arancini balls, salads, all of which tempted our taste buds.

The food hall had a colourful variety of fresh produce that you would expect in a market.  There were also, of course, stalls offering Italian cheeses and meats. Another stall sold a large variety of  dried mushrooms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking in the direction of our next stop, we commented on all the people sat in various places in the shade. All the churches’ cool concrete steps have individuals, couples and groups of people sat on them.

Groups of youngsters seem to gather to share a pizza or two or just to hang out together.  Some of them are reading, studying perhaps, a few are sketching the buildings around them and of course, many are on their phones.

Arriving at the  Basilica della Santissima Annunziata, we found a notice on the huge wooden doors advising us that it was closed and would open again  at 4pm until 6.30pm.

On the internet I had read that the basilica remained open all day. Occasionally, we have found that information on the internet is incorrect.  It is an excellent source of information but only if it is updated regularly.

The Carmine Church which is situated close to our accommodation has a separate chapel that survived a fire that raged through the main church.  Apparently the Brancacci Chapel has been recently renovated.  According to reviews, it is spectacular and has been likened to the Sistine Chapel.

The reviews mention stunning frescos  which illustrate the life of St. Peter, wearing an intense red colour.

The internet stated that the chapel was open daily apart from Tuesdays.  When we arrived, the arched door which we believed to be the entrance to the chapel was open and we walked in.

We were surprised to find ourselves in a small car park, and assumed the chapel was close by.   Then we heard “Scusi, scusi”, two Italian ladies asked in broken English what we wanted.  After explaining that we wished to visit the Capella Brancacci, they told us that it was closed and that it would be open on Friday but only for bookings on the internet.

It seems that the arched doorway adjacent to the Carmine Church is an entrance to residential apartments as well as the chapel.

We were a little disappointed but we have seen so much ..

The temperature had reached 35 degrees, we returned to the apartment for a couple of hours respite from the intense heat.

Later, we had a lovely walk by the river.  People were gathering on the bridges, many were sat on the walls along the river.  They were eating and drinking and admiring the views of the beautiful city on this longest day of the year.

We headed into Piazza Della Repubblica and sat in a bar opposite the grand Savoy Hotel, enjoying our aperitifs we watched life in the square.

Our dinner reservation (a treat for our last evening here in Florence) was in our favourite square, the Piazza Della Signoria, at a trattoria appropriately named ‘David’.

 

 

 

 

 

It was an enjoyable meal in a fantastic setting full of interesting architecture and sculptures.

After dinner we returned to our apartment, walking once more along the side of the River Arno.

Florence is a beautiful city and  we are so pleased that we have visited it.

 

It seems that on every corner, there is something to see, a beautiful building, a palace, a sculpture, a church or an artist painting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are also over 1200 tabernacles in the city, many can be found on street corners or on a wall in the city’s narrow streets.

They contain a fresco, often portraying the Virgin Mary. The artwork is protected by dusty glass and usually surrounded by a stone carved frame. Some contain small sculptures.

Tomorrow, we will travel to Genoa.

Hopefully, we will return to Florence, one day in the future. After all, we did rub the boar’s snout!

 

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