Come on a weekend excursion organized by ISA to Florence, Italy, with me! We experience the Cradle of the Renaissance and have a chance to dine in the peaceful Chianti wine region.
Directionless in the streets after we had got off the train, our cohort turned a corner and was suddenly beholding one of the most legendary buildings in the world: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore!We all scattered and wandered around the streets surrounding La Piazza del Duomo which were so powerful and filled with history and life—and some of the best pasta I’ve ever had.We made it a mission to see the city’s famous carousel, where my friends and I took a spin and enjoyed the live music in the square!ISA organized a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery, and the riverside view along the way was stunning! On every corner, our tour guide would give us insights into the rich history of the streets around us.As we wove through the gallery-turned-museumof the legendary Medici family, we landed in front of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus (a lifelong dream, I must say). We learned all about the revolution that this painting was at the time.The Tribuna of the Uffizi was the center of the Medici’s collection—a room we could not even step into. You could certainly feel the grandeur and legend of the room radiating.The most stunning look out onto The Ponte Vecchio, and we caught it at sunset! Great end to day one.Our second day started with a quick entry into The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, where David is framed by the unfinished works of Michelangelo, The Prisoners.Photos truly cannot do David justice, but I can certainly say that the powerful story of the piece and the history it represents was felt by all of us.Adjacent to David was a long gallery lined with busts, statues, and paintings. To gaze upon the faces of history and regard them today is humbling and eye-opening together.One face stood out among the rest to me, however. Who was she?The rest of the day was spent wandering the intimate streets again, with views incomparable to anywhere else in the world!Near the bustling leather market, you can find Il Porcellino! If you rub his snout, you’ll return to Florence one day. Then, place your coin into his mouth and let it fall into the grate below. If it lands in the water, you’ve earned some good luck!Every street you turn down in Florence speaks to the city’s legendary history—this was just the walk back to our hotel!On our final day, we began the journey back to Rome, but with a detour into Tuscan wine country for a tour of Castello di Verrazzano!The Castle of Verrazzano in Chianti has over 1000 years of history, from ancient settlements to winemaking traditions, the birthplace of explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, and a functioning winery today!A beautiful tasting, meal, and weekend with an absolutely stunning view on the way out!
