DAY 4–
– 7:50 am train Stresa–Garibaldi station (Milan)-Florence
Didn’t go as planned! The Stresa train was 1 hour late, which meant I missed my connection at Garibaldi (Milan) and was 2 hours late into Florence which meant I missed my Brancacci tour…
The train trip actually went like this: Stresa–Garibaldi station–metro ride to Milan Central station–Florence. Quite the journey for a nervous solo traveler.
–check in the the Sanctuary Firenze Borgo Pinti convent for the next 4 nights
–Brancacci chapel (they kindly let me into the 3:30 opening) Fabulous!
–Basilica Santo Spirito (saw a massive wedding for what they said was a prominent Florence family)
–Santa Felicita church
–San Giorgio alla Costa church (closed–disappointing!)
–dinner Pitti Gola e Cantina (wonderful Montepulciano wine and lasagna/bread!)
–La Traviata opera at St. Mark’s English church (my 1st opera. It was a very intimate setting and a wonderful first opera experience)
** My lodging at the Sanctuary Firenze Borgo Pinti convent was great. Very simple rooms, simple breakfast, very little English spoken, clean, private bathroom, good location and great price. I would stay there again! I was proud and blessed that I muddled through my train travel episode! Florence is gorgeous.
Day 5–
–8:30 am reservation at the Bargello museum ( I found I loved sculptures!)
–Palazzo Davanzati (closed–disappointed)
–Galileo museum (great for a science nerd like me)
–lunch–’Ino Panni shop
–climbed Arnolfo Tower at Palazzo Vecchio (it was noon on Sunday while I was at the top. I heard church bells ringing all over the city. It was very cool)
–walked all the way up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the views and 5:30 pm Mass in Latin with Gregorian chant (loved the views and the 2 churches I visited. Mass was a great spiritual experience. I had forgotten most of the Latin I learned until 2nd grade!)
–dinner Enoteca Fuori Porta (delicious pulled pork, salad, roasted potatoes and a great Italian Pinot Noir)
** I’m really tired, but in a great way. Florence is so different from Stresa. My trip was going well!
DAY 6–
–9:00 am visit to the English cemetery overseen by Sister Julia Bolton Holloway. A delightful older nun. (I love cemeteries and photographing beautiful headstones. Such beautiful artwork that is lost in time)
–Basilica Santissima Annunziata church
–San Marco museum ( A real treat to visit! Beautiful frescoes painted by Fra Angelico)
–Santa Reparata museum Duomo
–inside of the Duomo
–Orsanmichele church (no longer on the Firenze card, so I skipped it–disappointing)
–Plan B, Ferragamo Shoe museum ( a fun Plan B!)
–San Salvatore Ognissanti church (to see Ghirlandaio’s Last Supper) Nope–painting can only be seen 2 times/month now and this wasn’t the day :(
–6:45 sunset Duomo Dome climb (463 steps, tough, but I made it, my legs were jelly. The sunset was absolutely gorgeous tonight!)
–dinner Trattoria Cesarino (Sea Bream (the whole fish, not a filet as I expected, but that’s another story!), salad, bread and free prosecco. Absolutely delicious and a bargain at 19.50 Euro)
** I am so so tired, but I can’t explain what a wonderful trip this has been. So many different experiences–spiritual, visual, cultural, food…