Week 2

This week marks the hottest temperatures we have felt since being here. Its HOT! But, I've got a nice suntan.

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z115/barnhabe/

16 July
Topographical Museum: a recording of the landscapes and their settings in Florentine times. It included a model of the city before the Duomo was built.

Casa Dei Tessuiti "House of Textiles": We had to switch around our day quite a lot today. We came here because the fashion students had raved about their experience here. This shop is located on the Duomo Piazza and across from the ACCENT center. The owner is very friendly and welcoming. He'll invite you right in and show you all his silks-crepe and jacqaurd among others. He showed us the fabric he sells to Armani. At the end, Stephanie from ACCENT took a group photo of us with him. The fabrics were gorgeous and he knew everything about them.

Casa Rodolpho Siviero: characterised as having a democratic interior. Though not as notable (in my book) as Casa Guidi. Siviero was likened to James Bond in the way that he was a kind of spy for Florence. He would gather intel on the Germans who were stealing Florentine artworks. In 1944, Italy was liberated and the stolen artwork was taken back to Florence. Artwork that had been exported for economical reasons were not returned to Florence. When Siviero died, he gave his home and personal collection of art to Tuscany.

17 July
Santa Maria Novella: (sorry no cameras allowed) This church is more square shaped, and not in the typical Basilica form. Decorative schemes come from the year after the plague in 1348. The church was assembled to bring together the reunion of the Greek and latin churches. There are 5 rooms frescoed from top to bottom.

Palazzo Vecchio: Built btw 1299-1314, an odd shaped building plan (trapezoid). Open areas symbolic of power and grandeur of government. The Medici family had lived here but decided it was too small and moved.There is a brilliant room here which is gold with tall mirrors along each side. Definitely a must see!

Incresso All'Officina Profumo-Famraceutica Di Santa Maria Novella: Originally a church in the 1300's. They sell a highly coveted Santa Maria Novella perfume at approximately 50E. Among other scents, you'll notice rosemary when entering the building and blue-spruce in other rooms. You don't want to spend too much time in here without clearing your nasal passages with either coffee or eucalyptus gum.

18 July
Palazzo Pitti: (Sorry, no camera allowed) Signs of rustication with rough boulders, giving a prison-like feel to the outside. It was designed by Brunelleschi, who wanted a forbidding-like exterior. The Baroque interior focusses on Florentine design. This was the home to Medici grand dukes. In most of the rooms you'll find that there is jacquard (silk) stretched on the walls. This gives a warm and grandeur feeling. Chandeliers in almost every room also show the grandness of the place. Rooms without chandeliers show and give feeling of immensity by the style of art and frescoes in the room. Palazzo Pitti was the first place where I found that the paintings have the illusion of stepping out from the wall. This is not a place to be missed when visiting Florence!

Brancacci Chapel: We were to look at the expulsion of Adam and Eve. (sorry no cameras, but I pulled a few links from the net to put on photobucket.

19 July
Synagogue: (no cameras allowed) Built to show that the Jewish community was fully apart of the Florentine culture. A statement of position, showing that they weren't going anywhere; that they belonged. The layout of the synagogue is a Greek cross (like a plus sign, equal on each side). It's the second largest synagogue in Europe (and fifth in the world), but the first with moorish design. It took 7 years to paint the entire place. I have never seen anything decorated like this from top to bottom. Every square inch is covered in geometric pattern with Stars of David included in every design. With blue-green domes, it can be seen for miles from the top of the Duomo and even from the viewpoint of San Miniato al Monte church. Unlike the other churches we've seen on this trip that have green or black horizontal stripes, this one has red stripes with very little ornamentation on the outside.

Church on Motor way: Michelucci wanted to make a space where one could react in their own way and have their own spiritual experience. The church was put on the motor way so passer-byes could stop in and pray before continuing on their journey. Inside is a very open space. Hallways/passageways connect to each other and lead you back to the center, to the first floor, and to a hidden baptistery. They are open, yet private. The shapes used throughout the structure of the church are organic. Different sizes of square and rectangle windows let in natural light, as there are no light fixtures. Rough marble and concrete made to look like wood help secure the feeling of an organic or natural space. Olive trees surround the outside. This is a very odd shaped building, non like I've seen before.

P.S. My roommate has taught me a yummier spaghetti recipe-I can hardly wait to make it at home!