San Marco II, Bargello, Tuesday, March 16, 2010

It’s the day before St. Patrick’s Day, not that I’m counting. Absolutely beautiful day in Firenze, again! For about five minutes, in the early afternoon as we were all sitting in the Piazza Della Signoria enjoying the sunshine, a few clouds interrupted our otherwise perfect day. We actually thought it might rain. How dare it! But it didn’t. The weather gods were with us.

After Chapel in the Lobby of Hotel Kraft, it was off on a visit to San Marco to explore the incredible life of the crazy monk Savonarola, and the incredible work of Fra Angelico. The small, sparse, but beautifully frescoed cells, the cloister, and the story of Savonarola who was eventually burned alive in Piazza Della Signoria, where we would soon enjoy lunch, captivated the boys’ imaginations. The boys were also struck by the glistening wings of the Archangel Gabrielle in Fra Angelico's Annunciation, Ghirlandaio's Last Supper, and the frescoed cell of the Kiss of Judas; which, ironically, is the cell outside which Savonarola was arrested.

Following the Dominican Convent, it was a quick walk to the Bargello where we, among other things, viewed and sketched in situ the final two of our four Davids—Verrocchio’s and Donatello’s. Donatello’s was the earliest sculpted, 1430; then Verrochio's, Michelangelo's, and finally Bernini’s, Baroque, mid 1600s. Two are bronze and two marble. They are all spectacular.

Several excited parents joined the group for the morning. It was fun for the boys to hear a little from home. Unfortunately, some luggage was lost en route; however it has all been recovered. Things have settled.

The day ended with Sports at Le Cascine. Highlights included a soccer and football game where, when Coach Morales made the call to end the games, both a touchdown and a goal were scored in the waning seconds—an exciting outcome!

Lights out in a few minutes. All are healthy.

A happy day!

Ciao.

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