Florence Day 3

Our third day in Florence, Saturday March 21, we spent at the Palazzo Pitti.

It is named for Luca Pitti who was the original owner and banker in Florence.  Later the powerful Medici family bought the palace and it became a great house full of art and treasures.

While we were getting our tickets, Glenn saw a large gathering of pigeons.  And his favorite thing to do in Europe is to chase them, so he made his way over to them.  We were sure what the man who was feeding the pigeons thought of this little boy who was scattering the birds, but we let him have his fun--at least for a little bit.

This was Glenn's favorite room.  It sure was beautiful and certainly well lit!

It also had a display of sugar sculptures and folded material sculptures.  These were replicas of the originals that had been created in honor of the wedding of Maria de 'Medici.  They were pretty incredible!

A model of the palace

Views from the palace windows

Inside the museum we saw all kinds of amazing treasures.

This was my favorite bust.  She looked so beautiful--and was clothed!

Paul loved the amazing wood work on several pieces throughout the museum.

The ceiling over the grand staircase.

Statue of Anna Maria Luisa de 'Medici.

Outside the palace we got to roam through the beautiful and extensive Boboli Gardens.

It's hard to tell on this picture, but there were many of these obelisks throughout the city, and each of them stood on a base of turtles.  Not sure what the significance is, but thought it was neat.

We roamed through the gardens a bit and then at one of the guard stations, Glenn made a friend.

Then we made our way to the porcelain museum inside the gardens.  They had these hedges in a maze pattern and of course we had to run around and chase inside.  Glenn loves doing that! 

And then down the hill and eventually out of the gardens.  It was HUGE!  And it was peaceful.  It was kind of nice to be in the city, but not at the same time.  It was quiet and clean and beautiful