Florence (Firenze) at Night

Let's start with a sunset shot from the terrace of my hotel, looking upriver.

A few hours later, looking down the River Arno, the Ponte Vecchio glistened.
It is loaded with silver and jewelry shops.

A reproduction of Michelangelo's David stands outside the city hall of Firenze.
The original is now in the Accademia.  This reproduction has stood here for about 150 years.

Cosimo de Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, sits astride his horse outside the city hall of Firenze.

An early 20th century carousel is in the Piazza della Republica, the place where Firenze began.

Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore is the Duomo of Firenze.  The best known feature is this 15th century dome by Brunelleschi.  The front was finished in the 19th century.
I expect you will see that when I show daytime images.

And, Il Porcellino (literally, the piglet, but actually a boar) stands at the end of the Marceto Nuovo ("new market").  The original bronze statue is in the Uffizi.  This reproduction dates to 2008.
Local tradition says that if you place a coin in its mouth and let it drop into the fountain,
you will have good luck.  If you rub its snout, you will return to Florence.

Vicenza

Vicenza is 15 minutes west of Padua.  The influential Renaissance architect, Palladio, worked there.
Many people flock to Vicenza to admire his remaining structures in the town.
Vicenza is gorgeous and very walkable.

The Basilica Palladiana on Piazza dei Signori is one of Palladio's foremost works, but, like most,

it also incorporates work done over the centuries by other architects.

The Loggia del Capitaniato is across the piazza from the Basilica.  It was Palladio's design

for the residence of the highest Venetian authority in Vicenza.

The Teatro Olimpico was designed by Palladio.  Construction started in 1580, just months before he died.  Another architect finished it but was true to Palladio's designs.  The stage floor and ceiling
are tilted toward the horizon, giving the visual effect of perspective. 

Loggia Valmarana is a good example of a Vicenza building designed later by a follower of Palladio.

It was a residence situated in Salvi gardens, now property of the town.

For more photographs with reflections, please visit James' website, Weekend Reflections.

A Marketplace and Two Giants

Daytime in the Piazza dell'Erbe, an active farmers' market in Padua.

Nighttime.  Very quiet!

And, here are two Florentines who did important work in Padua.  Each is shown two ways.
I am usually a color guy, but in these cases I might like the black and white images better.

Dante -- writer

Giotto -- painter

Padua (Padova)

Padua (or Padova in Italian) is the home of Italy's second oldest university, established in 1222, 

where Copernicus and Galileo were among the noted scholars.

Basilica di Sant'Antonio di Padova.
In Padua, just about everything is named after St. Anthony.
His jaw bone is on display.  (I skipped viewing it.)

The Prato is the biggest square in Italy and one of the biggest in Europe.

It has an elliptical island in the center and is ringed by two rows of statues.

During the day it is usually filled with market tents, but it is quiet at night.

On Monday it rained.  For a guy who spends the winter in sunny southwest Florida,

a rainy day is almost a pleasant change of pace.  (Not entirely a pleasure, but almost.)

A Little Bit of Italy

A store on the Tamiami Trail in Naples sells Italian pottery and statuary.  

It was closed the day I stopped, so I peeked in the window. 

Then I sneaked around back to take some photos in the yard.

Speaking of Italy, I will be in Italy for the next two weeks.  Breaking with my usual approach to trips,
I have not lined up photos for autoposting while I am away.  Let's hope I find good wifi
so I don't interrupt my perfect record of posting every day
since the blog started on July 6, 2010.

Masks

Carnevale masks from Venice found in Casanova, a wonderful Naples store in the Village on Venetian Bay, which carries Murano glass, paintings and masks.  You have seen it before here.

Brianna

Brianna is the marketing manager of the Village on Venetian Bay, an upscale shopping center in Naples.  She is statuesque -- nearly six feet tall -- even before the extra height from these shoes.