(and some arcane facts about the Uffizi).

Sometimes imitated (I thinking of you, Munich, with your Feldherrnhalle on the Odeosplatz), never equaled, theLoggia die Lanzi sits as a beacon in the very center of historic Firenze. Filled with antique Roman and Renaissance sculpture, it is usually the front view that is photographed.

Coming upon the Loggia from the side recently, I was compelled to stop and take in all of the decorative features from the side.

The pigeons take full advantage of these ancient decorations, even if no humans pay note.

Turning from directly approaching the Loggia, I also noted the stories the side view of the Uffizi is offering to passersby. We all know about the magnificent museum known as the Gallerie deli Uffizi, which was constructed in the 16th century for the Medici dukes by Giorgio Vasari. But, did you ever stop to think: what was there before the Uffizi? You know this is a very old city, with foundations as least as early as Ancient Rome if not the Eturscans and others before that.

Well, now that you think about it, there is a clue for you on this wall. See the rectangular marble plaque embedded in the wall?

Let’s have a closer look.

Even closer. Ah, now you can read it, if you know Italian.

Well, the Google translation is a little hard to understand, but in essence, it notes that the Church of San Pier Scheraggio was razed to make room for the Uffizi.

And now, moving on to other random things around Florence, I loved the details on this old wooden door.

I love how the key plate was modified to fit the molding of the door.

Below are the 2 carved angels from the door, and then a metal door handle from another nearby door. The artistic details in this city are a lifelong preoccupation for me!

Oh! how I would welcome this opportunity!

New graffiti I’ve noticed around Florence. All of them have a nice emphasis on the color green! I like!

I saw this art on the street and thought it must be a relic from Lascaux! What does it make you think of?

My new blog friend from Barcelona had this comment to make. I hope she will not mind that I moved her observation to the text. I translated it via Google from Spanish.

” It looks like he’s used the background itself to create a kind of cave drawing. I think the idea is very original, using what was already there and letting the shapes emerge almost on their own. It’s one of those details that surprise you when you look a little more closely.” For her comment in Spanish, please see the comment section.

I never come upon the duomo from any angle without gasping a little bit. It is so large, so in charge!

This day from this angle, once again I lost my breath. And then I focused in on some subtle details that are often hard to notice when the whole complex demands your attention.

Il duomo!

Alla prossima!

There’s a glorious exhibition in Florence right now dedicated to one of my favorite artists of all time. Fra Giovanni Angelico.

The Strozzi Palace and San Marco are the dual hosts of this current show, which runs thru January 25, 2026.

The show is popular here in Florence and often very crowded. Of course that’s a good thing, unless you want to take good pictures. I did the best I could, fighting the groups of stationary people and the lighting.

Over the course of the next few weeks I will post about this amazing show, which is the largest critical reexamination of Fra Angelico’s work in the past 70 years.

The exhibition begins with a look at some of the painters who were contemporaries of or precursors for Fra Angelico. Key among them, Lorenzo Monaco, whose altarpiece for Santa Trinita is shown above and below.

Often in the predella, or the horizontal grouping of smaller paintings that underscore the larger one above, we find some of the most interesting scenes in art history. The next 4 slides show Lorenzo Monaco’s predella paintings.

Another precursor and favorite painter, Gentile da Fabriano

I would love to dress like la donna above, just once in my life!

I’m going to keep these posts short. It is an overwhelming subject to treat properly.

Alla prossima!

Once one of the most fabulous of all cinemas. Today it serves as a great bookstore and meeting place. All lit up for Christmas!