Florence, wonderful Florence!

Oh, how I have missed you! Your hidden secrets and outward beauties!

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The Albizi family headquarters; they were the mortal enemies of the Medici family:

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The Valori Altoviti Palace was built in the 15th century by the Albizzi family. The palazzo was taken away from the family after the exile of Rinaldo Albizzi, who had opposed Cosimo il Vecchio in a frantic struggle for power.

The palazzo was purchased by the Valori, and the humanist Baccio Valori had a new palace constructed at the end of the 16th century, bringing together this palace, a Strozzi palace, and another residence.

On the new façade, Baccio Valori had the stelae painted by Giovan Battista Caccini with the busts of 15 illustrious men, but little known by the people, who called it the Palazzo Visacci  (nasty faces). The palazzo was restored in the 18th century, and later became the property of the Altoviti family.

 

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Vault of the blind.

 

I survived the pandemic

At least, so far!

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Today was a beautiful day in old Firenze! It is glorious to be able to enjoy the city again, especially with no tourists blocking all the old familiar places. No museums or gardens are yet open, but this city is an open air museum, which I am enjoying to the hilt.  Never again will I take walking the city for granted.

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A recent walk through my borgo

To begin, a recent view of the full moon from my apartment through the trees just beginning to leaf out:

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The lovely little passerella near my house puts on a real show once a year for about 2 weeks:

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The architecture in my neighborhood would thrill me in any country. I am happy for the opportunity to slow down and enjoy what surrounds me on a daily basis.  I don’t normally pass through some of these streets in regular times:

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