A Trip to Remember

In early June 2007, Carol Bishop led a group of eleven art-lovers to see Renaissance works in Florence and explore some of the environs of Tuscany. For eight days it was "an experience of the senses"*: wine-tasting, olive-oil tasting, fabulous meals both at our hotel and out in the country and a visit to a winery. Seeing the architecture of the palazzos (palaces, many converted to museums) and the chiesas (churches) as well as sculpture at every turn in the center of Florence, you could get dizzy! Brunelleschi's Duomo of the cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore guides you like a magnet from every point on the compass of old Florence, dominating the landscape above the rooftops. Sketching was encouraged and each of us kept a visual journal, some even put candy wrappers (our teenager in the group) and photos they took and developed quickly! Sketching Michelangelo's David was a real test on foreshortening the figure (it is HUGE). Carol offered tips and demos early each morning and guided us through the many churches and museums.

As a first-time visitor I had done a lot of reading so I wouldn't be overwhelmed by the immensity and scope of ALL the ART!!! Thanks to Carol's selective eye the Uffizi Gallery became almost manageable. Learning to recognize symbols and allegories gave meaning to paintings and frescoes. I came away with great respect and admiration for the artists, who often toiled for years on various projects. The frescoes in the churches took your breath away with their rich colors and expressive faces. Some artists. like Masaccio only lived to be 26 and his work was completed by Filippino Lippi some fifty years later!** Nothing beats going to the source to bring this amazing period to life. Western art owes so much to the Renaissance.

Of course we walked in town as well as across the river Arno to Oltrarno, squeezing by other people on the narrow sidewalks and being buzzed by well-dressed business people (men AND women) on Vespas! Small cars are de riguer, even the produce and flower trucks are small, and have restricted zones for driving. The lovely Hotel Albion where we stayed is within 15 minutes of the Duomo. Several of us banded together to take short day-trips out to Sienna or Lucca by train, a real bargain, and to Fiesole by bus. Even a tourist who speaks 3 words of Italian can figure out how to get around at the train station! And the Italians will help you, especially if you DO speak at least three words (prego, grazie, and dove can get you pretty far)

Many meals were planned ahead, visiting local restaurants and enjoying the local Tuscan wines. Ah, the homemade pesto sauce, the Swiss chard risotto, insalata caprese ...the list goes on. Don't forget the gelato ... I only had it twice! Shopping at the Central market for food goodies to bring home was great fun. Our tour guide, Pam Abraham of Callisto Tours (who arranged all the bookings and meals) had recommended Sicilian salt ... what a find! Along with wine and cheese, some pasta and dried porcini mushrooms , I still had room for books in my extra suitcase!

Another Valley Art Guild member, Felicité Imam - who's watercolor from this trip is shown above - was part of the group, as well as others from the Los Angeles area, Florida, and New Jersey. I'm so glad I made the pilgrimage to see our artistic "ancestors." "Mille grazie" to Carol and Pam, our excellent guides. Oh wait! There was also the leather factory we visited AND the chocolate- tasting ... what else did I leave out??!! When did we sleep?

Ciao!!
Veronica Stensby

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*Title for our trip.

**The Cappella Brancacci at Santa Maria del Carmine.

Note: There are many good guidebooks on Florence. An excellent one on art is "Art & Architecture: Florence" by Wirtz, published by Konemann.