It was a cloudy and gloomy day when we decided to take a walk trought the city. After having breakfast in a cute bakery near Pitti, we overpassed Ponte Vecchio, full of every kind of jewellery I loved like cameos, gold chains, crosses, coral, chunky necklaces . The great statues surrounding Piazza della Signoria create a stifling feeling, the disturbing and hypnotic Medusa’s head was looking upon us and everything had a particular livid tone between blue and grey.
The Orsanmichele church is like a jewel and a great exemple of gothic architecture with its 14 external niches. It was choosen by Gareth Pugh to present part of his 2011-2012 fall/winter collection during the last Pitti Immagine.
We also had some shopping at ANGELO, a vintage shop in white decor.
At Palazzo Vecchio is display, untill the 1st May 2011, the famous diamond encrusted skull “For the love of God” by british artist Damien Hirst. The masterpiece is placed in the Camera of Duke Cosimo, which visitors can reach by passing through the Studiolo of Francesco I de’ Medici, usually only viewable by prior arrangement. I can’t describe which was more incredible if the skull, shining in a small dark room or the studiolo, sort of ancestor wunderkammer where the Duke Francesco I used to collect his memorabilia and alchemical secrets.
We continued our visit of Palazzo Vecchio where we could admire the Vasari frescos and the sumptuous apartments. Lush forniture and luxurious decorations show the early symptom of a sometimes heavy mannerism taste, device of a royal Florence.
Lisa
