Firenze: Galleria degli Uffizi

Wow. That was the first thing I thought as I stepped into the Galleria Degli Uffizi with my peers and Brother Robert on 30 June in the early morning. The galleria was almost overwhelmingly beautiful; each square foot contained a new piece of artwork or sculpture that was carefully crafted and perfected hundreds of years ago and here it all was for my eager eyes to devour. 

This was our first full day in the gorgeous city of Firenze and I was so excited to be able to visit such an iconic place in this iconic city. As someone who loves history and museums, it was a treat to be able to visit a European, and more specifically Italian, gallery with hundreds of pieces to admire and goggle at. Even the rooms the artwork was showcased in were detailed and specifically crafted. I am still in love with one room whose walls were completely covered in red velvet from floor to ceiling. I distinctly remember telling my friends that this would be the inspiration for my future dining room.

Each artwork portrayed a different version of events that I have previously studied and have envisioned in my own mind but I loved seeing each artist's unique interpretation. We saw multiple paintings of the Annunciation, each one containing a different version of young Mary and the angel Gabriel bringing her fateful news. It was so interesting to see her pose and facial expressions change in each one, it was like getting a glimpse into each of these iconic artists' minds. 

One of my favorite sculptures was of Hercules grabbing the centaur Nessus. The expression on Nessus's face is so lifelike and detailed, I half expected it to move before me. His pose was so realistic and filled with emotion that I almost felt sorry for the mythical creature. What struck me, even more, was its location in the gallery with the beautifully painted ceiling being an adequate background for grand sculpture. 

The highlight of our tour of the gallery had to be visiting an exhibit of Leonardo Da Vinci's works. Being able to finally see the artwork of this iconic artist who I have heard all about was truly a memory that I will treasure forever. I never thought I would ever have the chance to be able to, which was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. We got to see multiple paintings of his, each being remarkable, but my favorite has to be one where he could not finish it due to his death. Seeing the outline of his characters and the beginnings of what would have been a gorgeous piece struck a chord within me. I could not help but wonder what colors he would have chosen for this character's clothing or how would he have painted this person's face? I even found myself creating my own finished version in my head, though I know it would have paled in comparison to Da Vinci's planned final version. It felt like getting a private glimpse into the mind of a legend.

This being just the first full day of this incredible journey so far has set the bar high for the rest of the trip, but I have no doubt that Firenze will not fall short in any aspect whatsoever.