Florence has been amazing so far, I can’t believe that I’ve been in a city that is so steeped in history and culture, especially one that seems to have something new around every corner.  I was most excited to the Uffizi Gallery because it is home to Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.  The Uffizi was created by a member of the Medici family in order to hold government offices for Florence but was later repurposed because of the amount of artwork that the Medicis owned and later gave to the city.  I had always wanted to see The Birth of Venus and was overjoyed I would finally be able to on this trip.  It was everything I dreamed of and more and was also breathtaking in person.  It was entirely worth waiting about ten minutes in order to be able to move through the crowd and get to stand right in front of it.  I was able to see Botticelli’s brushstrokes and all of the time and energy he clearly put into it.  It is amazing to me to be able to see the sense of pride a single painting is able to imbue in a city, even all this time after the Renaissance.  Following that there are many iterations of Botticelli’s Venus hidden around the city; spray-painted on walls, hidden on the sides of buildings, just about everywhere visible.  They all feature Venus in her signature pose with different colors/outfits on her and all are incredibly interesting to see because they give insight to the inspiration that the artist had found before creation.  The most recent Venus I found shows her wearing a swimsuit along with a snorkel and goggles.  Also while at the Uffizi I was able to see Botticelli’s Spring complete with his muse Venus.  This was another breathtaking painting that really showcases the beauty and love coming out of the Renaissance and so I created a quick sketch of Venus in my notebook (pictured).  

Ah, Florence! This city was a breath of fresh air compared to the packed streets of Rome! The apartment my group and I are staying in is absolutely amazing, with plenty of space for a complete kitchen, living room, and multiple bedrooms ( the only downside being the persistent mosquitos, which has left me with bites everywhere). The last few days have also been a tad bit rainy, but that certainly hasn’t stopped us from exploring this extremely picturesque city. There’s so much to see and do without the constant push of tourists groups, and that comes in handy when you get a chance to see the the elegant Baptistry up close. For the artistic traveler, there’s also some interesting graffiti plastered both on the streets and along the walls. And for those who enjoy the serenity of the countryside, the winery is a stunning escape. I enjoyed some of the best wines of my life while also learning about how they are made; this was one of my favorite parts of the trip thus far! But the drinks aren’t the only thing I’ve loved about Florence, of course. The other night, I had the most delicious ravioli, stuffed with ricotta and spinach from Trattoria le Antiche Carrozze. It actually had a quality price as well, so it was well worth the time traveling the city’s streets. My all time favorite, however, has to be David. When I came around the corner into the gallery, I was literally blown away by the detail and elegance! Some things just have to be seen in person, and David is a given.