Europe Trip: Day 5: Florence and Venice

We had planned for half a day more in Florence before driving on to Venice. So early today, we made our way to the Galleria della Accademia in Florence, home to one of the world’s most famous works of art – the statue of David by Michelangelo.
Giorgio Vasari describes David as : “Never has there ever been a pose so fluent, or a gracefulness equal to this, or feet, hands and head so well related to each other with quality, skill and design.” When you see David, you understand exactly what he meant.

The David statue is over 5 metres tall and to put it simply, breathtaking. The character of David, of course, is from the Biblical tale of David vs. Goliath. The sculpture is symbolic and holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Florence. In this sculpture, Michelangelo depicts David as a young boy with an innocent expression. His sling-shot is almost hidden, indicating that his victory over the giant Goliath was not due to his own strength or that of his weapon but more because of his intellect. David has for centuries been an inspiration for the Florentine people that one can win against bigger stronger foes, through just intellect and the blessings of God.

The Academia also houses some fine works of Allesandro Allori (painter), Lorenzo Bartolini (sculptor) and an exhibit of “La Geometria Della Forma” by Mapplethorpe. But needless to say, it is David and David alone that holds your attention and in fact, is the very reason the Galleria was built in first place around the sculpture of David.

That over, we started over long drive towards Venice, our final stop in Italy. We drove through the picturesque Tuscany countryside, over green hills and meadows under the warm July sun. Tuscan vineyards have given the world some of the most exquisite wines and life here is considered pure bliss.
As the Lonely Planet describes Tuscany, “People here are not catching up with the world; the world’s catching up with them.”

We reached Venice early evening and dropped off the car.
Traveler Tip: The GPS in your rented car is a very useful and almost essential device to find your way on foreign roads but it comes at a very hefty price. So make sure you do your economics right before hiring a car and GPS. Train travel, though offering less flexibility, might just be a more economical option.