Renaissance Rendezvous

So what Italian city is known for its monuments to the Renaissance, has the Ponte Vecchio bridge (that's it above), was once ruled by the Medici family and is birthplace to Dante and Michelangelo's David? Still need another hint? How about the home to the designer Salvatore Ferragamo? If you still don't know then there is no hope for you.

Just north of Rome is her little sister, Florence, smaller in size but not in artistic or cultural monuments. It is a beautiful city that is steeped in the Renaissance. Paintings and sculptures are eye candy throughout this medieval city on the Arno River. Throw in the magnificent churches such as Santa Maria del Fiore, Santa Croce and the Santa Maria Novella which each are home to fabulous frescoes, ornate chapels and the Bapistry with its famous bronze doors.

And when you get done with all that then there is more!! The Galleria dell' Accademia which is home to one of the Renaissance's most magnificent works; Michelangelo's David. It is a huge nude marble statue of the hero from the Bible that killed the giant Goliath. David recently underwent a major cleaning and he is whiter and brighter than ever before. You can see the veins rope down his hands, the bulging biceps and the ripped abs. It's the type of body that I think most people would be very happy to have. I know if David had followed a weight loss program back in the Renaissance it would have been with Self-Size. Or maybe he would have followed my fitness tips.

In addition to David, there is the Uffizi which is one of Italy's leading art museums or in my opinion (and I am unanimous in that) of the world. Plus across the historic Arno River is the Pitti Palace and the beautiful Boboli Gardens. Then there is the shopping. Everything from the fabulous Florentine leather to the big bling, bling on the Ponte Vecchio to the fun touristy straw market.

I had a memorable time in Florence. If you haven't been, then you must go and experience this enchanting city of Tuscany. If you've been, then relish the time you spent back in the Renaissance.

Stay tuned for more travel stories and fitness tips. Summer is fast approaching so that means getting your body in beach, boating shape.

Ciao,
Angela

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