Family Visit – Day 5

Saturday was the last day of my Dad and brother’s trip to Italy.  We spent most of the day in Florence and traveled back to Rome in the evening.  We woke up around 8:30 AM and had breakfast in our bed and breakfast’s kitchen.  It wasn’t bad and consisted of coffee, pastries, and cereal.

After breakfast, we walked to the Accademia and we saw Michelangelo‘s most famous sculpture, the David.  I was able to point out that depending on where you are in the room, David’s eyes look like he is either confident or afraid.  We also saw an exhibit on musical instruments, some medieval art, and half-finished sculptures by Michelangelo which were started for a Pope’s tomb, but Michelangelo got fed up with the Pope and stopped working with him.

After, we went to the famous Duomo, but the line was too long to get in.  We did, however, see the famous “Gates of Paradise” of the Baptistry.

Gates of Paradise

The Duomo

Then, we walked to a gelateria that is supposed to have the best gelato in Florence, GROM.  It was pretty good.  Afterwards, we walked down to Piazza della Signoria and saw a few famous statues.

Piazza della Signorina

Then, we went to the famous Mercato Nuovo where the wild boar or Porcellino resides.  Matt and I rubbed the boar’s nose which ensures our return to Florence one day.

Porcellino

Afterwards, we went to see the Ponte Vecchio and take a few pictures.

Ponte Vecchio

Then, we grabbed lunch at a restaurant on the other side of the Ponte Vecchio.  After lunch, we went back to Piazza della Signorina and listened to an amazing guitarist.  Then, we went to Piazza della Reppublica to attend an Olive Oil Festival.  We wanted to buy a few bottles of olive oil from Italy for back home, so this was the perfect place for us.  We tried about 15 types of olive oil and picked our favorite.  My Dad bought a bottle for my Mom, my brother bought a bottle for himself, and I bought a bottle for my apartment in Italy.

Then, we headed to the train station to catch our train back to Rome.  We took a taxi back to our hotel and packed our bags.  Then, we took a taxi back to my apartment to drop my bag off and went to our favorite restaurant in Rome, Monte Carlo for the third time.  It was great, as usual, and served as a phenomenal ending to a phenomenal visit from my family.

Note: This post was originally published on April 23, 2011 in a blog entitled “Romeing Around Europe” which chronicled my study abroad experience.