Day Five - Thursday

It was not planned or included in the tour, but I wanted another look at the Renaissance paintings in the Uffizi. More than thirty years since my first tour of the Uffizi, I wanted to know if they would make the same impression on me. Fortunately, Michelangelo's wife, Francesco was licensed to give Uffizi tours. Michelangelo delivered us to her about 10 A.M. and we made our way to the crowded narrow streets to the Uffizi. With tickets in hand, Francesco took us right around the crowds and in less than 5 minutes we were inside the long hall holding lined with Roman busts and statues. These were the same busts and statues, whose discovery led to the end of the middle ages and beginning of the Renaissance. In their number and perfection, they are awesome. Our main objective, however, was to see the great paintings of the Renaissance in Italy. The Uffizi has arranged its collection so that visitors move from one room to another and one period to another, able to see how one generation learned from the previous and how the science of perspective grew gradually in its perfection. The first room we entered had a giant portrait of Giotto's virgin and child (seen at right). With lesser but equally impressive examples from other early Renaissance artists on the side. Here Mary is not the grieving mother but the triumphant queen holding the chubby baby Jesus with its wise old face. Enough about the Uffizi. We couldn't take pictures, of course, But there are plenty of pictures of the treasurers on the Uffizi in books and on the internet.

Another long lunch in the heart of Florence and then off to Fiesole, the "mother" of Florenze. High on on the sunny side of the hill, Fiesole was once the Etruscan town which gave birth to Florence. Now it looks like a series of villas and homes for the very wealthy very much like something you might see in a prosperous part of California. In the center of Fiesole, Garibaldi and King Leopold II on horseback congratulate each other for having conquered and unified the scrapping Italian republics into the country of Italy - 1861.

Back at the Villa that night we prepared what Ron thinks was our most enjoyable meal. This was due in large part to making fresh Tagliatelle (pasta). That night the menu would include Crostini with Gorgonzola cheese and lardo (don't ask what it is). Tagliatelle (a thick form of spaghetti) with artichokes and leek sauce, Pork loin with Marsala and milk sauce served with potatoes roasted with rosemary (from the garden of course). The dessert that night was Ricotta tart with chocolate ganache. We all got involved in making the pasta and handed the camera duties over to Costanza who was happy to sit back and watch. The Crostini were wonderful as you can see.