David and Goliath

DAVID AND GOLIATH

I walked slowly up the cool dark corridor, the noise around me fading in my ears as I approached the shining white marble apparition, high up on a pedestal bathed in a light that emanated from where…?

In the moment that I stopped and looked up at Michelangelo’s David, my breath caught in my throat as my eyes travelled from head to toe of this beautiful, mesmerising and perfect figure

David – caught in a pose, his sling over his shoulder, his hand cupped in a fist: thus he stands as Michelangelo carved him to look down on us for hundreds of years – immortalised

You will find David at the Accademia Gallery in Florence – and amongst the many treasures at the Uffizi Gallery nearby, you will see Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” however, the jewel of all Firenze – is the Cathedral and Duomo. Brace yourself! It’s 456 steps to the top – but the view from the top is fantastic! You get up close to the painted ceiling at the top level – scenes of Judgement Day – devils, tails, horns and pitchforks sent me cowering to the stairways!

But outside, in the bright sunshine, eating Italian gelato (ice cream), all the demons were chased away!

Not far from Florence, I was at Pisa and its famous leaning tower. How we all laughed taking pictures and pretending to stop the tower leaning any further! Then a cold beer and a spaghetti as we watched the sun go down.

Florence – it’s a city break to break them all!

If you'd like to know more, email me: charmaine@hallmarktravel.com

Meet me in the gallery!