Italy - Florence
About This Journey
Art and culture exploration through vibrant Italy - Renaissance masterpieces and modern creativity
📅 Daily Journal Entries
Florence - Renaissance Capital Awakening
Arrived in Florence this morning and immediately fell in love with this Renaissance jewel. The terracotta rooftops and the Duomo dome dominating the skyline create the most romantic cityscape Ive ever seen.
First stop: Uffizi Gallery. Standing before Botticellis Birth of Venus was overwhelming - the delicate brushstrokes and ethereal beauty that Ive studied in books suddenly real and tangible. Spent 2 hours just in the Botticelli rooms.
Walked across Ponte Vecchio at sunset, the jewelry shops glinting in golden light. Street musicians playing classical pieces while the Arno River reflects the medieval buildings - Florence is living art.
Dinner at a tiny osteria where the owner recommended local Chianti Classico paired with ribollita soup. Every meal here feels like a cultural lesson in Tuscan traditions.
Michelangelos David and Artistic Pilgrimage
Early morning visit to Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelos David. No photograph prepares you for the scale and perfection - 5 meters of marble transformed into living, breathing humanity.
The detail in Davids hands, the tension in his muscles, the determination in his expression - standing before this masterpiece, I understood why Florence is considered the birthplace of Renaissance humanism.
Afternoon exploring Oltrarno district - the artisan quarter where traditional crafts continue. Watched a leather craftsman hand-tooling a bag using techniques unchanged since medieval times.
Evening climb up Piazzale Michelangelo for panoramic city views. Florence spread below like a Renaissance painting come to life - every building, every street perfectly composed.
Tuscan Countryside - Art Beyond Museums
Day trip to Tuscan countryside via vintage Vespa - the most romantic way to explore rolling hills dotted with cypress trees and vineyard geometric patterns.
Visited San Gimignano - the medieval Manhattan with 14 remaining tower houses. Walking these ancient streets while church bells ring feels like time travel to the 13th century.
Wine tasting at Castello di Verrazzano where the same family has made wine for 1000 years. Learning about terroir while sipping Sangiovese among vineyards that inspired Renaissance landscape paintings.
Sunset dinner in the vineyard - wild boar ragu with pici pasta, pecorino cheese, and local honey. The simplicity and quality of ingredients reflect the same principles that guided Renaissance art - perfection through essential elements.
Venice - Floating City of Art and Dreams
Final days in Venice - arrived by train and took vaporetto down the Grand Canal. The city rising from the lagoon like a mirage still seems impossible after centuries of existence.
Explored Doges Palace - the pink and white Gothic facade hiding rooms decorated with Tintoretto and Veronese masterpieces. Walking through the Bridge of Sighs while imagining its historical significance.
Got lost in Venices labyrinthine streets - the best way to discover hidden squares, tiny bridges, and neighborhood osterias where locals still gather for cicchetti and spritz.
Final evening: gondola ride at sunset with gondolier singing traditional Venetian songs. Floating through narrow canals as golden light reflects off palace walls - Italy taught me that art isnt just in museums, its woven into daily life.
Shared By
Zeynep Özlü
Travel Enthusiast