May 2015 - Florence, Italy

Florence must have one of the greatest concentrations of man-made beauty in the world. The pictures here cover famous sculptures like David and the rape of the Sabine, beautiful paintings like the birth of Venus and Da Vinci's Annunciation, and the impressive Medici and Pitti palaces.

The Arno river slicing through the city		David
The Arno river slicing through the city		David
Us and the man	Michelangelo's St. Matthew, one of the prisoners trying to break free from the stone	The rape of the Sabine
Us and the man	Michelangelo's St. Matthew, one of the prisoners trying to break free from the stone	The rape of the Sabine
		Perseus
		Perseus
	Hercules	The birth of Venus, Botticelli
	Hercules	The birth of Venus, Botticelli
Da Vinci made very few paintings, this is his Annunciation	Absolutely the most ridiculous nativity scene I've ever seen, by Lorenzo di Credi	It wasn't exactly _in_ the stable...
Da Vinci made very few paintings, this is his Annunciation	Absolutely the most ridiculous nativity scene I've ever seen, by Lorenzo di Credi	It wasn't exactly _in_ the stable...
Admiring Botticelli's Annunciation	Venus, by Titian	The Medici Palace. Pretty luxurious.
Admiring Botticelli's Annunciation	Venus, by Titian	The Medici Palace. Pretty luxurious.
Room after room, painted floor to ceiling (and ceiling)	A typical ceiling	One of the ugliest things I've ever seen
Room after room, painted floor to ceiling (and ceiling)	A typical ceiling	One of the ugliest things I've ever seen
A beautiful Venus wall	The Medici chapel	The beautifully painted dome. Quite the private church!
A beautiful Venus wall	The Medici chapel	The beautifully painted dome. Quite the private church!
	The Pitti Palace. Built in the 15th century, but would feel very at home in the 1980s. It looks like it could've been a model for the Casa Poporului.	Palatial ceilings
	The Pitti Palace. Built in the 15th century, but would feel very at home in the 1980s. It looks like it could've been a model for the Casa Poporului.	Palatial ceilings
	Another ceiling	Painted like a cloth roof
	Another ceiling	Painted like a cloth roof
	Art over the interval [floor, ceiling] (note inclusive on both ends).	Ecce Homo, by Ciseri.
	Art over the interval [floor, ceiling] (note inclusive on both ends).	Ecce Homo, by Ciseri.
A really grand staircase		The gardens behind the palace
A really grand staircase		The gardens behind the palace
The gardens, featuring the Boboli obelisk. Made in Egypt 3000 years ago, brought to Italy 2000 years ago.	A European goldfinch. I probably like this bird because it looks like my favorite state flag, Maryland's.	A bluebird
The gardens, featuring the Boboli obelisk. Made in Egypt 3000 years ago, brought to Italy 2000 years ago.	A European goldfinch. I probably like this bird because it looks like my favorite state flag, Maryland's.	A bluebird
The hedge maze in the garden	Il Duomo, from the gardens
The hedge maze in the garden	Il Duomo, from the gardens
Florence is pretty crowded in May	The sun setting over the Arno river
Florence is pretty crowded in May	The sun setting over the Arno river