Sunday  23 December 2012

Allie and I woke up early and headed out into a slight drizzle so that we could go to the Galleria dell’ Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David.  It was well worth it, but again a no photo zone after I had taken a couple.  Ooooops!   The city was still quiet and we crisscrossed Florence to visit he church of Santa Croce.  According to the guide book it was supposed to open at 9:30.  But it didn’t.  Back to the apartment where we grabbed a bite for brunch and then into our trusty little car for a short drive to our main activity for the day.

Our friends Jim and Patricia Allen, whom we had caught up with way back in Milan, had been on a wine tour and discovered this activity.  It is run by a pair of artist brothers who also make wine and, it turns out one is a darn good cook in addition.  There art medium is a sort of fresco style where plaster mud is spread onto plywood  boards and then painted while wet and “speed dried” with a hot air gun. So the four “artistic” Puzios grabbed a glass of prosecco for inspiration and painted away.  It really was an entertaining and educational morning.  The brothers, Rudolfo and Roberto lent artistic helpful hints and historic background but pretty much let us do our own thing.  After the painting was finished we were invited into the house on the property where we made ourselves quite comfortable in the large kitchen and dining room complete with walk in fireplace glowing with a warm fire.  Each delicious course at lunch was accompanied with one of their vineyard produced wines.  Allie decided that red wines were actually pretty good when they are not coming out of a box.  The finale of the day was a winding trip up a multi floor spiral staircase up onto the roof of the tower for a view over the very beautiful  and fog shrouded countryside.  Back inside we persuaded our hosts to ship 3 dozen bottles of wine back to Houston for us and we said our goodbyes.  It was a great family outing and a slower day than art hopping in Florence.

On the way to the Accademia we entered a piazza where there were a pair of these wonderful bronze sculpted fountains.

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Right on cue and straight from the casting call this little nun comes walking through the piazza.

Ooooops, no pics allowed.

The city must have been a beautifully colored place back in history, based on what still survives.

Artist at work.

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It took Alessandra a few minutes to find her ‘groove’ but then she got after it with the pretty in pink Duomo.

Claire, making progress.

The kitchen smelled and felt so nice and welcoming.

Even on a grey day the Tuscan country side is beautiful.

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Lichen frescoes on the stone of the tower.

Retrieving our “artwork” before heading back into Florence.

A Christmas angel on the streets of Florence.

Christmas colors reflected in the piazza.