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Florence – Amorino

After a busy morning of touring museums and galleries, it was time for an ice cream. Amorino is very well reviewed and centrally located, so seemed a sensible choice.

I had thought that the cafe might be quite busy. But it wasn’t. This is one of the joys of travelling out of season, comfort is far more likely to be assured.

The range of ice cream flavours, with many tempting options laid out in front of me.

For a little extra money, they put a macaron on top, in this case a pistachio one. The three ice cream flavours that I went for were black cherry, lemon and the lime & basil. The latter was one of the more unusual ice cream options that I’ve tried, but the combination worked well. It wasn’t the cheapest ice cream, costing getting on for £5, but it wasn’t an unreasonable price compared to other similar locations. And the quality was reasonably high, with the environment also being clean and comfortable. Perhaps my only complaint is that the richness of taste of the ice cream wasn’t as good as some other shops, but it was still pleasant enough.

February 26, 2020
Florence – Flight Home Looking Unlikely….

Flights from Florence are mostly cancelled for this afternoon, with the member of staff in the lounge warning me that all other flights are likely to be cancelled. The afternoon’s BA flight to London City Airport has already been cancelled, with mine being the evening one and that’s in some considerable doubt. I’ve been allowed in the lounge earlier than usual, with pretty much no-one here, entirely unconcerned as what will be will be….. But hopefully it ends up with me getting home having eaten a lot of crisps because that’s what travel is all about.

February 26, 2020
Florence – Museo della Misericordia (Misericordia Brothers Collecting the Wounded)

Further to my post about the work of the Misericordia Brothers, the below photograph shows them picking up a wounded person in Florence as one of their acts of charity.

It seemed to take a lot of people to collect the injured person, but there we go, I’m sure that it was a publicity shot. Not that any of the individuals would benefit from the publicity given they were anonymous, but at least the organisation’s work was highlighted.

February 26, 2020
Florence – Museo della Misericordia (Misericordia Brothers Offering Charity)

As a background, the Museo della Misericordia is a museum in Florence which highlights the centuries of charitable work from the Brothers of Mercy. The charitable work had to be conducted anonymously, which personally I’d consider a right nightmare, I’d at least want to be recognised for all my goodness. Although I suppose it makes it easier for those who get bored offering their charity, they can sneak off and they won’t be recognised.

Anyway, it’s that requirement for anonymity that is behind this painting of the charitable work which the members of the Brothers of Mercy were responsible for. To this day, the charity is still engaged in helping the injured and sick, providing social transport, medical help at sports matches and home care. This artwork is by Pittore Fiorentino and was painted in the second half of the nineteenth century. At first, it all looks a bit sinister, it’s only when looking for longer that the selfless acts of kindness are noticeable.

February 26, 2020
Florence – Rucellai Sepulchre

The Rucellai Sepulchre is the tomb of Giovanni di Paolo Rucellai, located in a private chapel which is known as the Rucellai Chapel. It’s part of the San Pancrazio Church, which has now been decommissioned and is used as a museum. Tours to this private chapel have only been available for a few years and it’s a quiet and dignified chapel.

This is the altar of the chapel. Rucellai obtained his money from the wool trade, although he also became involved with politics and the arts within Florence. He lived from 1403 until 1481, when he was laid to rest in the tomb which he carefully planned and funded.

This is the sepulchre itself, standing proud within the chapel. The chapel dates to around 1417, with work on the sepulchre lasting from around 1458 until 1467. The sepulchre was designed by Leon Battista Alberti, who was responsible for many other buildings throughout Florence.

The front of the sepulchre.

Inside the sepulchre, through the little door. There are frescoes inside the tomb, although I didn’t know whether I was meant to be prodding my camera inside, so I didn’t investigate too far.

There’s something a little sad that the owner of this tomb had thought that he would remain within an active church for eternity. Instead the main part of the church became a tobacco factory in the nineteenth century, although is rather more dignified today as a museum. At least though this chapel has remained intact, it could have easily been demolished or remodelled when the church itself became used for different purposes.

February 26, 2020
Florence – Porcellino

Porcellino means piglet in Italian and there has been a bronze sculpture at Mercato Nuovo since at least the early seventeenth century, although this is a modern copy from 2008. The sculpture is part of a fountain and initially this was part of the system to get clean water for the market traders.

The original sculpture by Pietro Tacca is now safely in the Museo Bardini and it was considered good luck, and would ensure a return to Florence, for anyone who put a coin in the sculpture’s mouth and then rubbed his snout. From the state of Porcellino’s snout, it’s clear that very many people take part in this tradition, although I decided against it as there was a queue and I had more museums to get to.

Actually, I rather suspect that some clever market manager at some stage many centuries ago thought that this was a marvellous idea, get people to come to the market, shove coins through their sculpture and then tell them that it’s good luck. I suspect that the people with the most good luck here are the market managers, but nonetheless, it’s popular with children at least. Incidentally, it’s only really those who put coins which fall through the grate who get the good luck and by fortunate chance, it’s the heaviest coins which are more likely to do this. To their credit though, the money is today given to charity, to the Opera della Divina Provvidenza Madonnina del Grappa, so it’s all in a good cause.

February 26, 2020
Florence – Bright Evening Sky

These photos aren’t edited, but do show just how bright the sky was during the evening…. Unfortunately, they’re also a bit blurry, but there we go, can’t have everything.

February 26, 2020
Florence – Rower

I can think of worse places to go rowing than on the River Arno through the centre of Florence……

February 26, 2020
Florence – Photos from South Bank of River Arno

Above is the River Arno, which flows through the heart of Florence.

The bridge to the far left of this photo is Ponte Vecchio, with the nearer bridge being the slightly less exciting Ponte alle Grazie.

All very peaceful, the building to the far left of the above photo is the Florence National Central Library, one of the largest libraries in Italy.

February 26, 2020
Florence – Lindt Shop

When we were meandering around in the evening, we stumbled across the Lindt Store, centrally located in Florence near to the Cathedral. It looked exciting with the vibrant colours and it was even more exciting when we got a free chocolate when we entered the store…..

Definitely colourful, although the prices seemed just a little combative…..

There were also bars of chocolate for those who preferred a more intense taste, especially that 100% cacao one….

A lovely shop though, which also has a cafe at the rear which we intended to come back to, although never quite found the time. Looking at the prices for the cafe, these seem very reasonable, so if I make it back to Florence one day I might pop in for a hot chocolate as these are apparently the pinnacle of liquid richness.

February 26, 2020