PhotoHunt - Hot Fashion

A few common fashion styles spotted in Florence. Bold, beautiful and hot.






Sandi's PhotoHunt

Gattina's PhotoHunting

Our World - Renaissance sculptures

One of the best things I love about Florence is that you don’t need to visit galleries and museums to see fine art especially if you’re running out of time or money. You can easily find art almost everywhere you go. This is one of the fine examples of an outdoor art gallery we came across at Loggia dei Lanzi. It houses a wonderful collection of thought provoking sculptures from the Renaissance period.



The first to stand out under the arcade is Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus (1545-1554) with the severed head of the Medusa complete with blood gushing from the neck. It's really gruesome and fascinating at the same time!



This is one of my favourite artworks and as seen here is the Rape of Sabine Women (1579-1583). It's an interesting piece that depicts two Romans fighting over the Sabine woman.



This is also another timeless masterpiece which depicts Hercules fighting with his opponent, Centaur Nessus. Hercules has him by the neck and is throttling him mercilessly.



The Rape of Polyxena by Pio Fedi (1866) is an illustration of Trojan War and it depicts the abduction of Polyxena by Achilles. Looking at his feet is her mother, Hecuba, clinging and pleading for her return in desperation as Achilles raises his sword, ready to strike her down.




and here's one of the two imposing marble lions that welcome visitors on the entrance steps.

Our World

PhotoHunt - Painted

Italy is particularly famous for its frescoes which are painted by many of the great Italian artists of the Renaissance. I've tons of photos that would work for this theme but the first thing that came to my mind was the cathedral I visited in Florence.


Here's a lovely illustration of "The Last Judgment" painted on the dome, in Duomo of Florence.



This enormous work, 3,600 metres² (38 750 ft²) of painted frescoes took 11 years to complete and was executed from 1568 to 1579 by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari. I truly appreciate the time, the thought, and the talent that goes into creating it. I also discovered that the painting was last restored in the late 1980′s and early 1990′s, so the colours are remarkably vibrant and the depiction so vivid.



The top level shows Heaven, with Jesus in the center and the apostles on both sides. Jesus is casting the Last Judgment.



The lower part portrays the doomed who will be cast into Hell.

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Wordless Wednesday - Shop windows in Florence

Wordless Wednesday

PhotoHunt - Male

The statues shown below were taken outside the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, one of the most famous art galleries in the world. Within the walls of the courtyard, there are 28 male statues of famous figures from the worlds of politics, science, art, literature, the judiciary and also religious figures. The sculptures are amazing and I love the intricate sculpted details of each piece.

Here are some fine examples of statues built in honour of these great individuals.



PhotoHunt

Skywatch - Sky Blue

Here are a couple of skywatch photos captured in Florence, Italy last spring.
Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella against a blue sky.

Ruby Tuesday - Window shopping in Florence

One of the best things about window shopping in Florence is the chance to see the attractive window displays where all the big names in luxury fashion can be found at Via de' Tornabuoni. I was fascinated by their designs and eye-catching shop windows and here they have Gucci, Prada, Pucci, Cavalli, Ferragamo, D&G, just to name a few. Each neighbourhood has something to show off and it never fails to draw people with its intriguing architecture, trend-setting fashionista and bustling colourful districts.



Prices are notoriously high and not everyone can afford to splurge on luxury designer clothes but what else can you expect from famous fashion houses that stands right in the center of Florence. Even though I can’t afford to shop, I enjoy window-shopping and people watching on this luxury-laden street. It's worth to take a look around and take some pictures, then brag about how you visited this place in Florence. The surroundings are absolutely gorgeous and inviting, so it's a trip I won't forget, even if I had to walk away empty handed.

In the meantime, here are some shots for your viewing pleasure.

Wordless Wednesday - Saint Statues on Duomo of Florence, Italy

WW - Decorative designs from A. Poggi, Florence

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RT - The Duomo in Florence

When in Florence, it will be hard to miss the Duomo which seems to dominate the skyline in every direction. It is incredibly huge and it is visible from the moment you leave the train station. With its imposing Gothic architecture and its amazing structures, I was awestruck by the glorious sight of the cathedral.



The facade of the Duomo is covered with intricate carvings, exquisite statues and inlaid marbles.



I love the fact that the enormous red brick dome can be seen in every nook and corner of the city. It's a great reference point if you get lost. Even though part of the building was still undergoing restoration when we visited, the sheer beauty of the cathedral was something to behold.

We didn't have to wait in line to get inside the cathedral, but the queue to climb up the stairs to the Dome was extremely long. We didn't go to the top as there are 463 stairs to climb and having had my fair share of climbing experience at the Vatican City, I thought I'll give this one a miss. It feels like climbing endless stairways when you see upward.



The interior of the Duomo is a vast space with high arches and contains only a few works of art. In comparison to the extraordinary exterior, the interior is a real let down. I was told that most of the art has been transferred to the Duomo museum, leaving behind an empty impression. The good thing is there's no admission fee to enter the cathedral.

There are a few notable art pieces to see though and here are a few shots that I took.


One of the many stained glass windows



Dante and his Divine Comedy by Domenico di Michelino



Vasari’s illustration of the Last Judgement under the dome



Christ Crowning Mary As Queen

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