the David

We don’t leave Firenze without visiting one more Art Gallery, the Accademia. We are not permitted to take photographs here, although several ladies chanced losing their cameras by stealing a picture of Michelangelo’s David. The larger-than-life sculpture depicts the confident David ready to slay the torturous giant, Goliath. A section of the museum devoted to Michelangelo shows a number of his unfinished sculptures, never to be released from their marble form. They are appropriately called prisoners

The gallery displays numerous plaster sculptures by 19th Century artist, Lorenzo Bartolini. Many of his works have been reproduced in marble. Also of interest is a large number of Tempera on Wood paintings retrieved from pre-renaissance church altars.

Even Monica has taken in enough art admiring for one day. After a quick sandwich lunch and a gelato, we navigate the maze of narrow streets – suitable only for pedestrians, motorbikes and pint-sized cars. We come to a crowded piazza known as the San Lorenzo Market, a blend of honest merchants and junk peddlers.

A policeman approaches a busy corner and an unlicensed vendor quickly folds his makeshift table of sunglasses and disappears into the crowd. Monica examines a leather purse and barters for a better price. A merchant tells me a brown corduroy hat will suit me. It’s an endless charade.

Our final taste of Firenze is an evening meal at Il Perione, a trattoria close to the Arno River. I have an antipasti of spinach risotto and a secondo of grilled lamb chops. Monica’s appetite is not quite as voracious, she has a primo of spinach and ricotta ravioli. We both raise a glass of Chianti to our good health and good fortune. Buono appetite!

NOTE: Image of David is from http://www.romaspringbreak.wordpress.com/