Cliff and Paula Lazar's
Classic Italy Tour
May 11 to 25, 2004

Sorrento, Amalfi Coast

Our view from the Brunelleschi Hotel in Florence.

We had the Bargello suite.

5/20/04

Santa Croce Cathedral, the burial place of many great Florentines and center for gold and leather.

Note the Star of David, and early Christian symbol place by a Jewish architect/builder.

At he Gold Shop, Paula checks out over-priced Roman coins mounted in gold bezels.

The tomb of my favorite Florentine, Macheavelli.

Tomb of Michelangelo, my favorite sculptor.

A knight’s tomb.

The copy of Michelangelo’s David, outside the Palazzo Vecchio.

David was the symbol of Florence, cunning, resourceful, intelligent, winning against stronger foes.

I tried to sneak a picture of the original, just cleaned, but the lady guard wiggled her finger and called, “No photo!”

The [Romans’] Rape of the Sabine Women

The guide chuckled that the women wouldn’t return to the Sabines.  In a perspective that they had been defiled and could not expect to be respected it it more than understandable.

In Muslim countries their fathers or brothers murder thousands of such women in honor killings.

The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) crossing the Arno river.  It had meat and fish shop, but the smell offended the Medici’s who crossed the bridge from the Uffizi to their home in the Pitti  Palace.  The Medicis ordered the butchers out and gave the space to moneychangers. 

Now the shops are all jewelry stores.

Arno River

Bobili Gardens of the Pitti Palace 
The lower gardens have the stadium seats so the Medicis could give concerts to 3,000 of their closest friends.

What is the story of this couple?  And his socks…

Cliff and Paula Lazar's
Classic Italy Tour
May 11 to 25, 2004

Sorrento, Amalfi Coast