Italy: Day 6

On day 6 we woke up and walked to our tour of the Academia and the David. Since we couldn't bring our camera inside, you'll have to use the powers of imagination to picture us walking around in there.

The tour was definitely worth it, since we didn't have to wait in line. Walking into the gallery and laying eyes on David for the first time really was a breath-taking experience. It really is an AMAZING piece of art.

Something else I found interesting from the tour was the process in which Michelangelo carved his pieces. He carved in a way in which the subject seemed to be "breaking free" of the marble, a process in which he believed he was freeing the art that was already contained within. It was fascinating!

After the tour we had some lunch near the Duomo. A plate of assorted Bruschetta's and Panini's. Prosciutto and Mozzarella for me, Gorgonzola and Radicchio for Matt.


I was so freaking hungry, I ate all of mine and about a 1/3 of Matts. This is why I love Italy. I ate like a horse and didn't gain a pound!


My hot husband demonstrating how to enjoy lunch in Italy.

After lunch we headed to the Beatrice Galli Yarn Shop, thanks to a recommendation from Kimberli. We learned she was closing up shop at the end of the month so her stock was realitvely bare, but I picked up some Adriafil sock yarn and a few other skeins of merino/silk (hmmm... no photos of those.... coming soon). Before leaving, she graciously gave me a large cross-stitch pattern of the Ponte Vecchio. Someday when I get around to stitching it, it will be a nice reminder of the trip!

We spent a few more hours wandering around downtown and bought a few more things (a leather wallet for Matt, a royal-purple silk pashmina for me), before retiring to the hotel for a siesta.



We decided to make it a low-key night since our friends got us pretty tipsy the night before. We had a drink in the hotel lobby (above) of you guessed it! Campari & Peroni! and asked for a dinner recommendation.

They sent us to this FABULOUS place (which I can't remember the name of at the moment. Helpful, huh? I know we have the card around here somewhere so if you want it, let me know). Seriously, this was probably our favorite dinner to date. We should have known this place was the real deal since each of the menus, INCLUDING the wine list, was hand-written.

We had the Tuscan antipasto of cured meats, a salad mista, and then I had Duck Ragu over cheese ravioli that was to DIE for. Matt had Eggplant Parmesan and he did everything but pick up the gratin dish and lick it clean. By this point we had also learned to stop messing with the wine list and just order a carafe of the house stuff which was a perfect compliment.