Basilica di Santa Barbara

Mantova is an old city with covered walkways, many shops with find clothing etc, many restaurants and bars and remarkable buildings. The contrast with English gothic cathedrals is striking. The first I visited was Basilica di Santa Barbara.

Palazzo Ducale

In Mantua surrounding Plazzo Ducale is the Basilica Di Santa Barbara also the Museo Archeologico Naazionale and the Castillo di San Giorgio. Mostly history of the 1600s but also showing how the rooms had been updated in later years. I liked the way that before you entered a room (one described as the most beautiful room in the world!!) there was descriptions in English on the walls and then a detailed video with the explanation of the paintings on the walls. After this a visit to the Castillo di San Giorgio which was partly closed due to a strike.

Last morning in Mantua

It was Saturday morning and crowds of locals. There was a protest march which seemed to be about opposition to solid waste incineration. I noticed on leaving Mantua on the train that there was at least one oil refinery and probably one that was no longer working that was probably a major part of the local economy. It was fun just to walk around the streets and see the local Saturday crowds and markets.

A remarkable Airbnb in Mantua

This Airbnb was close to everything - restaurants, grocery store, attractions etc. It was small but beautifully decorated with designs and all sorts of tiles and friezes. It must have been the office of either and architect or and interior designer. I learned from the host that it was her father who  had made his living as an interior designer and before making the small suite into a flat it had been his office.

By train to Mantua (Mantova)

It was an express train from Florence to Mantua then two changes onto slow trains to Mantua.
The journey was somewhat spoiled by three homeless people who joined the train. I had to sit near them to guard my bags. Anyhow I sat there while they argued, drank some booze and fortunately got off after about a half hour.

An opera in Florence.

In searching around to find out what music was being performed in Florence I was able to get a ticket for La Rondine by Puccini. It was first performed in 1917 at the Grand Theatre de Monte Carlo 100 years ago just before the outbreak of WW1. Of course half the pleasure of going to the opera is to see the opera house and watch the opera goers. The story of La Rondine involves the courtesan Magda and her struggle with love. Here are a few pics of the amazing modern opera house in Florence. Quite a contrast from all the buildings dating back to the 17th century.  

Some trivia from Florence

Just a few more pics for the record. I have been reading "Medici Money" by Tim Sparks published in 2005. A fascinating description of the devious ways that the Medici family managed to acquire a fortune by getting round the church's sin of "usery" and then ending up having the Popes and Governments depending on them. There were two currencies gold Florin's for the rich silver piccolo for the poor. There are echos of many of the ways in which bankers and the 0.1% have become ultra wealthy to-day. Much of Florence was built with Medici money including and  the large San Lorenzo and the Medici chapel where there are the tombs of the Medici family.
Other pics show an interesting way of collecting garbage (huge containers below street level that are lifted out by a special truck), sidewalk restaurants, motorcycles etc.  

Galleria Dell'Accademia

The main attraction here is the Michelangelo statue of David. Michelangelo chose to capture the tense moments prior to the struggle with Goliath. The face is not relaxed but reveals the kind of apprehension you'd expect before facing a giant. The statue which is about three times an adult size gets an entire room to itself.
The museum has a music room with 50 antique instruments including the first pianos invented and also a Stradivarius violin.Otherwise there are many medieval paintings and half-completed sculptures.

This is the scene of the death of Leonardo

The Uffizi Gallery

This grand 16th century building stretches from the Palazzo Vecchio to the river Arno. Inside are many of the worlds finest works of art, from the 13th century religious frescoes to Renaissance masterpieces by the likes of Giotto, Beato Angelico, Botticelli, Mantegna, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio. There is also an extensive collection of Dutch masters including Durer, Rembrandt, and Rubens, For me I find one gets somewhat of a sensory overload in a museum like this but a highlight was seeing the restored Leonardo's drawings for his "Adoration of the Maggi".

Walking around Florence

Some fascinating buildings. This is the Bsilica di Santa Maria Novello build in about 1600 with funding provided by the Medici family.

Some musicians playing - excellent jazz on a soprano saxophone.

Leather goods for sale

Basilica di Santa Croce. The Franciscan monastery was enlarged in the late 13th century and the facade was completed many centuries later in 1863. It is the final resting place of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo Galilei.