Being halfway through this amazing experience in Italy, I have been thinking in depth about which sites and cities have moved me the most. We have been to so many places and seen so many sites, yet after returning from midterm break, I have concluded that Florence is my favorite city. This is due to the fact that I revisited Florence with my family and was still captivated by the city itself. Florence is not only the birthplace of the Renaissance, but a manageable and less intimidating city than say Rome. Some of my favorite places we visited during our trip were the leather market and the Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze. The leather market was so fun and exhilarating. I saw belts, handbags, briefcases, wallets, backpacks, jackets, and many other leather goods there. Pretty much any leather good you could imagine. The energy was high and I was in my element.  I also liked the fact that all of the prices were negotiable. I purchased this practical and durable leather purse for only thirty-three Euros! The Accademia di Arti Firenze is the building where Michelangelo’s  David is featured. This collection of sculptures was breathtaking and really brought out emotions in me. When walking down the hall to see the famous David at the end I was immediately drawn to the “prisoners” or unfinished sculptures of Michelangelo. They looked as if they were trapped in the stone and were trying to escape, hence the name prisoners. When I finally reached David, I was stunned at how lifelike he appeared. I kept on catching myself imagining that he had moved due to his realistic appearance. This statue came to life for me.
 
By: Olivia Bruce

David by Michelangelo

Leather purses in Firenze