{wandering} Florence and museum finds, Italy, May 2018
High-stakes gardening on Via dei Tavolini. Seriously, these folks have TWO levels of window boxes on one end, some kind of irrigation (?) rigged between windows, and an entire tomato plant tied into that little bitty window. They also had a bigger window to the right, out of this shot, that was completely covered on the inside by orchids and vines. 
Rooftops from Via dei Tavolini. 
The bell tower of Palazzo Del Bargello and the church spire of the Badia Fiorentino monastery, blended by distance into a single tower. 
Rooftops from Via dei Tavolini. 
The bell tower of Palazzo Del Bargello and the church spire of the Badia Fiorentino monastery, blended by distance into a single tower. 
Rooftops from Via dei Tavolini. At the top of the stairs, on the landing outside the apartment where we stayed, someone had a pretty little collection of succulents and cacti in front of a large window, a perfect place for sunset photos. 
Rooftops from Via dei Tavolini. 
Rooftops from Via dei Tavolini. 
Succulents on a balcony on Via dei Tavolini. 
The Palazzo Vecchio tower. Yes, that is a medieval staircase, outdoors, 300 feet in the air, that you can still climb. 
The Duomo on a stormy evening. 
High-stakes laundry lines on Via dei Tavolini. 
Rooftops and a bit of Palazzo Vecchio from a crescent window on Via dei Tavolini. 
Via dei Tavolini below and rooftops above on a stormy evening. 
Rooftops and the tower of Palazzo Vecchio from Via dei Tavolini. I discovered that by tilting the windows a certain way, I could capture more of the skyline. 
Looking down on Via dei Tavolini, the street of little tables, from the fifth floor. 
Street cafes near the Duomo. Most of the cafes have an indoor counterpart as well. 
I WANT THIS DOORWAY TO BE THE DOOR TO MY HOUSE PLEASE. Inside Orsanmichele. This is a functional Catholic church, and people were there worshiping, so we were very quiet and respectful as we made our way through. (That, of course, was not true of some of the tourists who tramped through while we were there.) Some of the churches and cathedrals we visited were grand, but Orsanmichele was intricate, all delicate carved stonework and detailed paintings. 
Inside Orsanmichele. This is a functional Catholic church, and people were there worshiping, so we were very quiet and respectful as we made our way through. (That, of course, was not true of some of the tourists who tramped through while we were there.) Some of the churches and cathedrals we visited were grand, but Orsanmichele was intricate, all delicate carved stonework and detailed paintings. 
Inside Orsanmichele. This is a functional Catholic church, and people were there worshiping, so we were very quiet and respectful as we made our way through. (That, of course, was not true of some of the tourists who tramped through while we were there.) Some of the churches and cathedrals we visited were grand, but Orsanmichele was intricate, all delicate carved stonework and detailed paintings. 
Stunning frescoes at the Palazzo Pitti. The Palazzo Pitti, in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. Construction was started in 1446. The core of the present palazzo dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker. The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It grew as a great treasure house as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possessions. In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. The palace and its contents were donated to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1919. (thanks, Wikipedia!) 
Stunning frescoes at the Palazzo Pitti. The Palazzo Pitti, in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. Construction was started in 1446. The core of the present palazzo dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker. The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It grew as a great treasure house as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possessions. In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. The palace and its contents were donated to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1919. (thanks, Wikipedia!) 
Stunning frescoes at the Palazzo Pitti. The Palazzo Pitti, in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. Construction was started in 1446. The core of the present palazzo dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker. The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It grew as a great treasure house as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possessions. In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. The palace and its contents were donated to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1919. (thanks, Wikipedia!) 
Stunning frescoes at the Palazzo Pitti. The Palazzo Pitti, in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. Construction was started in 1446. The core of the present palazzo dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker. The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It grew as a great treasure house as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possessions. In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. The palace and its contents were donated to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1919. (thanks, Wikipedia!) 
Stunning frescoes at the Palazzo Pitti. The Palazzo Pitti, in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. Construction was started in 1446. The core of the present palazzo dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker. The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It grew as a great treasure house as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possessions. In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. The palace and its contents were donated to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1919. (thanks, Wikipedia!) 
Stunning frescoes at the Palazzo Pitti. The Palazzo Pitti, in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. Construction was started in 1446. The core of the present palazzo dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker. The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It grew as a great treasure house as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possessions. In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. The palace and its contents were donated to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1919. (thanks, Wikipedia!) 
Stunning frescoes at the Palazzo Pitti. The Palazzo Pitti, in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. Construction was started in 1446. The core of the present palazzo dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker. The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It grew as a great treasure house as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possessions. In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. The palace and its contents were donated to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1919. (thanks, Wikipedia!) 
Sardonyx cup, Roman art, 1st century AD with 16th-century gold handle. Palazzo Pitti. 
Bowl with two handles in chalcedony, Roman art, 1st BC – 1st century AD. Mount in Flemish goldwork, 16th century. Palazzo Pitti. 
A wealth of riches at Palazzo Pitti. 
Double cup, 14th-15th century, amethyst and silver gilt. Mount: Florentine workshop, 14th century. LOOK AT THIS THING IT IS AMAZING. 
Double cup, 14th-15th century, amethyst and silver gilt. Mount: Florentine workshop, 14th century. LOOK AT THIS THING IT IS AMAZING. 
Jug with handle and lid, rock crystal, Venetian or French workshop, 14th century. It looks like they ripped off 14th-century Waffle House. It’s amazing how modern some of this old masterwork looks. 
Diptych with Scenes of the Passion. French workshop, 14th century, ivory. Palazzo Pitti. No, YOU’RE the diptych. 
Triptych reliquary, German workshop, c. 1430. Engraved and gilded silver, cast parts, ground rock crystal, coral. This is one I wish they’d had more information on. What are the names in the center and the small bits with them? 
Encolpium reliquary, German workshop, third quarter of the 14th century. Engraved and gilded silver with a whole bunch of gorgeous gemstones. Palazzo Pitti. 
Incredible frescoes and trompe l’oeil work at Palazzo Pitti. 
Incredible frescoes and trompe l’oeil work at Palazzo Pitti. 
Incredible frescoes and trompe l’oeil work at Palazzo Pitti. 
This room at the Palazzo Pitti is named “grotticina” after the small grotto covered in carved sponges and shells originally intended for use as a fountain. 
This carved piece was…wow. It’s wood, of all things, and has survived for so long. From the Palazzo Pitti’s helpful placards: The “Panel of Cosimo III” is a superb example of wooden carving of the Baroque era commissioned by King Charles II of the House of Stuart from Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721), a veritable master of the art. The trophy is an allegory of the friendship between the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and England, sealed by the kiss of two turtle doves in the upper part of the relief. This thing miraculously survived the flood of 1966 and a raging fire in 1984. 
A beautiful polychrome marble floor at Palazzo Pitti. 
Incredible frescoes and trompe l’oeil work at Palazzo Pitti. 
Incredible frescoes and trompe l’oeil work at Palazzo Pitti. 
Scenes from Palazzo Pitti. 
Inlaid stonework on a table at Palazzo Pitti. 
Incredible frescoes and trompe l’oeil work at Palazzo Pitti. The right half of the photo is a real mezzanine; the left half is painted. 
Best hood ever. 
Dead cherubs on a table? I don’t know either. 
Incredible frescoes and trompe l’oeil work at Palazzo Pitti. The right half of the photo is a real mezzanine; the left half is painted. 
Inlaid gemstones and gold work on an intricate cabinet. 
Inlaid gemstones and gold work on an intricate cabinet. 
Ivory carving in the Palazzo Pitti. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
Stunning turned ivory objects, each about 8-12″ high. I can’t even imagine how these were made. 
The baby Jesus in gold and ivory (?) 
A lovely bottle that I assume was used in Catholic services of some kind. 
My favorite cameo from the Palazzo Pitti. 
It’s a mural! Wow. 
Tiny carved gemstone vessel. 
Tiny carved gemstone vessel. 
Fantastical ornaments made from pearls, gold and jewels. 
Fantastical ornaments made from pearls, gold and jewels. 
Fantastical ornaments made from pearls, gold and jewels. 
Fantastical ornaments made from pearls, gold and jewels. 
Fantastical ornaments made from pearls, gold and jewels. 
A beautiful table inlaid with gemstones. 
Fantastical ornaments made from pearls, gold and jewels. 
Fantastical ornaments made from pearls, gold and jewels. 
Fantastical ornaments made from pearls, gold and jewels. 
Fantastical ornaments made from pearls, gold and jewels. 
A box made of inlaid and laminated shell. 
A small Indo-Portuguese box made of silver and, uh, something orange. It looks like the box in which you carry the key to your treasure house. 
One of my favorite art objects in Florence — a cup of Chinese and Florentine manufacture. 
Dainty wood (?) carvings. Each of these stood only about 8′ tall. 
Dainty wood (?) carvings. Each of these stood only about 8′ tall. 
An impossibly delicate carved ivory vase. 
According to Google Translate, this is a “cup of pleasure.” I can see why, it’s beautiful. Gold, gemstones and maybe the translucent part is horn? 
Vessel in gold, silver and sapphires. The placard didn’t say what the green part is — maybe glass.
