The Uffizi and Walking the Streets – September 20, 2017 – Florence, Italy Today we had ticket reservations to enter The Uffizi art museum at 1:15 pm. Yes, you read that correctly: reservations. This museum is “home to the greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art”. I may have been trained as an engineer not an artist. I may not be able to draw a stick man. My favorite art periods begin with the Impressionists of the late 1880’s up through today’s most modern art painting. However, should you ever visit Florence The Uffizi is the one place you must make time for. We arrived early enough to spend a half hour walking the Piazza della Signoria. I have to say our walk in the Piazza and outside The Uffizi also introduced us to the tourist crowds parts of Italy are so (un)famous for.

For some reason I thought the lions were great but please note the much more famous Perseus holding Medusa’s head in the background.

Standing within the exterior of The Uffizi. I was attempting to take a photo of the building not the tour guides and their clients or the people standing in line to buy tickets or even the line for those with tickets and time reservations.

The exterior of The Uffizi has marble statues of famous writers, scientists, and artists. I found one of my favorite business writers, Macchiavelli. Macchiavelli wrote the business and political classic, The Prince. The statue has him deep in thought. He appears to me to be thinking about how to screw someone over!

Although my photo appears to show The Uffizi very crowded, Nancy and I both found it very easy to see the art. Once or twice a specific painting took a minute or two to get in a position to see it because of tour groups but overall the crowds were not bad and the lighting in the museum was great.

What makes this a great museum in my opinion is the early 1300 altarpieces. I have never before appreciated this art but the pieces they have on display are magnificent. Below is Simone Martini’s Annunciation with St. Ansanus and St. Maxima: the Prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah and Daniel. This was done with tempera on wood.

Piero Della Francesca’s Portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino. Not only a beautiful painting but that is the Duke’s real nose – a sword hit it and his other eye was destroyed.

And of course if you are in the museum you can’t leave without seeing Leonardo Da Vinci’s Annunciation.

I know not everyone enjoys art museums as much as I do but hopefully everyone will enjoy my next photograph.

Yes, that is the proverbial rock pigeon on the statue’s head. One of the reasons Florence is such a beautiful city is art is everywhere – even the windows are art.

Florence is a city of walking. Wide sidewalks, non-motorized streets, outdoor eating, and so much more.

Not everyone walks.

No ugly signs or golden arches.

And coffee is almost as important to the Italians as wine. This store only sells coffee machines and accessories.

May your morning begin with the aroma and taste of a fresh brewed cup of coffee.