Great Expectations

Florence never fails to deliver the most exquisite of experiences to those who visit her. For this Unseasoned Traveler, Florence just happens to be my favorite city out of all. As far as I am concerned, there is no way that Florence could ever fall short in any way.

Since Florence is the place where the Renaissance got its start, there is no end of artistic wonders that one would expect to see….both in outdoor and indoor locations. The Loggia dei Lanzi is the home of many notable pieces of art. Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Cellini and Rape of Polyxena by Pio Fedi are two of the many. Not only can these works be seen for free, but if you choose, and if you are lucky enough to secure a spot, you can sit on the ledge below and gaze out upon the Piazza della Signoria.

The magnificent Neptune Fountain is located in this piazza. It was commissioned in 1559 and has been recently restored to its original beauty to the delight of all.

If expectations beckon indoors, seeing Michelango’s David at the Galleria dell’ Accademia is exciting no matter how many times you’ve seen it. Incidentally, David has stood in this spot since 1873.

Fans of Michelango can also expect to be wowed by the beauty of the Doni Tondo hanging in the Uffizi Gallery. This is a portrait of the Holy Family, but the nudes in the background cannot be ignored.

All are welcome at the Uffizi Cafe, including the pigeons who are fearless consumers of the tasty potato chips served there.

I was surprised to discover that Florence sometimes flips the art coin and becomes all about sports. Yearly, Florence hosts a marathon. This year, the marathon was held on Sunday, November 26. Hundreds of participants ran through the streets of Florence, passing historical landmarks and ending in front of the Duomo. For spectators, like myself, it seemed more of a party. The crowd cheered for everyone who crossed the finish line…with special enthusiasm and tears of joy for inspiring participants like this one!!!!!

New friends are waiting to be made in Florence; make them at every opportunity. This new friend is named Athena.

Look forward to running into someone you know, and do not be shocked when it actually happens. Ashleigh and I met this man the first time we visited Florence. He had four dogs then; his two remaining companions adore him.

Expect to want to sit still and enjoy the town and sunshine from a chair. Perfect!!!

Anticipate passing judgement on an enormous piece of meat. Surprisingly, this beauty failed the test and was sent back to the kitchen.

Find a restaurant where the chef makes the pasta in plain sight like Osteria Pastella.

Expect the sauce and the pasta to be “fire,”

and then eat the pasta….the sauce….and all the heady, pungent truffles.

This time of year, you can expect Florence to be all dressed up for the holidays….. ribbons and bows…all beautiful.

Expect to be charmed by the small towns surrounding Florence. If you travel 80.9 km southwest from Florence and happen upon the town of Volterra, the oldest city in Italy, you will discover that it is a medieval destination worth visiting. This town originated over 3,000 years ago. There is a central palazzo and a bell tower.

The town has a cathedral and Etruscan and Roman ruins. Ancient streets are fun to wander, and the town has found a way to preserve the old while introducing some modern homes and shops,

and because it is situated on the side of a Tuscan mountain, the town has some spectacular views.

There are a number of small “full of personality” shops in Volterra. When we stopped by this shop, it looked promising, but was closed.

It was our good fortune, that we went back and found the shop “open for business,” with the owner, himself, in charge. Easily, an amazing three quarters of an hour was spent in this tiny corner of the world; every nook held some new treasure….

and the host was more than happy to show us around as well as being hospitable in helping two American girls from Virginia practice their Italian…as well as charming their mother!

Our new friend spoke only Italian and somehow managed to tell us how he lives his life and meets his expectations. He loves his life, he loves what he does, and he loves sharing with others. Judging by the smile on his face…and the smiles on ours….I’d say he is successful.

May your New Year be bright and hopeful and full of marvelous expectations.

Love, The Unseasoned Traveler