26 July

The 26th of July is the feast day of St. Anne, the mother of Mary. This is celebrated with a procession in Florence, a procession that moves through the Piazza Signoria.

One of our group rented an apartment in the Piazza Signoria, the one in the center with the balcony.

From there we could look down on the activities below.

If you want to rent the apartment, it looks something like this.

The procession went right below his window.

He was a gracious and very generous host.

Street Performers

The first two performers are taking advantage of the captive audience in our street.

In other parts of town are this excellent singer near Piazza Republica.

This guitarist in Piazza Signoria.

This dancer who stands still until you give her money.

These two guys serenade your table until you give them money.

All the way out of town are this group in San Geminiano.

And I see the Statue of Liberty Lady is still working the same spot in the Piazza Navonna.

Interiors

Basement of the Pitti Palace.


Piazza Santo Spirito.


Sorrento.

Is the Colosseum falling over?

More People with Dogs

Looks Like Joseph Mallord William Turner

This, of course, is the burning of the houses of parliament.

Santa Maria Novella

The church Santa Maria Novella is near the train station and has the only original facade of the churches of Florence.

The treasures inside include the crucifix by Giotto,
and the Trinity by Masaccio. These two paintings have been recently restored and photographs of them are strictly forbidden. Oops.  They're really bad pictures, so maybe it's OK.

The crucifix hangs at exactly the spot where it would have stood atop the rood screen of the middle ages, a barrier that prevented ordinary people from seeing the mass. The only church I've seen that still has a rood screen is San Marco in Venice.

The Masaccio painting is considered the first Renaissance painting for its use of perspective.