The Beauty of Art and Delicacy
Upon arriving in Florence, we were greeted by waves of tourists. On top of being a very popular city to visit, it's also the Gelato Festival weekend.
In the city of Florence, the allegedly most beautiful man on earth resides in Galleria dell'Accademia - the David by Michelangelo. Walking down the hall way in the gallery, the David stands under a dome with natural light shining down on him. He's tall, majestic yet delicate. Every muscle and vein visible on his body is carefully crafted and presented to perfection, resembling the meaning of man to Michelangelo during the Renaissance times.
The next stop, we worshipped the artistic creations by Botticelli, Da Vinci and more at the Galleria degli Uffizi. Being able to stand less than 4 feet away from these masterpieces is a humbling experience. From the Birth of Venus, La Primavera to the Annunciation, every stroke on the canvas is telling a living story of artistic excellence and Renaissance history.
Most cities in Western Europe are not strange to Christian religious establishments, from churches to cathedrals, and often have at least one as a tourist's spot. So what's special about the Duomo, formally known as Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, in Florence? On contrary to those in Rome, grand, powerful and majestic, the Duomo struck me as a delicately crafted and carefully decorated cathedral even just from the outer wall and the facade. Then the famous octagonal dome adds a perfect touch to and completes the architecture.
The rest of Florence, I felt it with my heart. It's unexpectedly romantic walking around the city on cobblestone streets with boutique shops. Then I realized, it has to be the sunset. The world renowned sunset over Ponte Vecchio. As the sky adds a shade of orange, we stumbled upon the riverside.
There are couples, families and friends, all enjoying this peaceful yet touching moment as the sun moves behind the bridge slowly. Love is in the air and passed through all of us in the breeze.