The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1927-06-16
Thursday, June 16, 1927

The car drove first to the Church of
San Lorenzo, the Medici chapel of
which is most famed. Here in high
ceiinged room with walls almost
austerely plain, are Michelangelo's
great masterpieces, Day and Might.
Twilight and Dawn, carved for the
tombs of Julian de- Medici and Lor-
EMO de- Medici.
Then the trouble began. There was
very decided difference in temper
ament and appreciation among the
members of our party. One faction
had been anticipating with the deep
est reverence the sight of Michel
angeles David. the marvellous David.
the exquisite David; while the other
faction was out of patience with it all
before the day started and at men
ton of visit to Dante's house said.
Dante? Who's Dante? What do
we want to go to his house forf% Tie
exctable Italian guide was literally
torn to bits between the two and his
temper gave way completely. All this
in the square before the Church of San
Lorenzo while the conservatives re-
alizing the impossibility of compre-
hending the greatness of Florence in
one brief visit We're jealous of every 4.
moment wasted i'm alteration.
Eventually plan was decided upon
and we proceeded to the Church of
Santa Croce. Here are the tombs of
some of Florence's greatest men.
among them Michelangelo, Calico,
Machiavelli an Cherubini. The Ceno-
taph of Dante was erected in this
building but Ravenna would not sur
render to Florence the honor of poses
sing the burial place of the great
poet whom the Florentines eXiled
Crossing the Arno winding drive
through district of beautiful homes
brought us to the height of the Piazza
de Michelangelo, centered by Il copy Of
that sculptor's David. Spread out be
low us was Il splendid panorama of
Florence, cut by the golden Arno and
protected by the surrounding hills.
Rising above the level of the other
roofs were plainly distinguished the
Cathedral dome and the adjoining
Campanile, and not far away the great
needle of the clock tower of the
Palazzo Vecchio. Above us on the
hill was pointed out the tower of Gili-
leo, the sight of which filed one with
awe at the thought of the great and in
spring work done there.
Descending to the city again we were
left at our hotel with an hour or two
to use as we pleased. We popped out
of the hotel like school children on IA
vacation and with Il pleasing sense of
freedom wandered through the narrow
crooked streets and crossing the Arno
again sought out fascinating silver
smiths shop. The sun was low as we
returned by way of the unique Ponte
Vecchio with its odd little buildings
topped by the long passage connectin.
the Uffizzi and Pitt Palaces It mat
time of evening the streets were be-
ginning to be crowded and we thor
oughly enjoyed being jostled by the
passersby as we gazed into the tiny
windows of the jewelers. and silver
smiths shops where exquisite mosaics
and filigree work were displayed al
luringly.
On we walked up more crookedly
inviting streets where the window or
doorway of an occasional shop offered
flash of wonderfully colored pottery
Shape and color unite in such irresist-
ible perfection that one can scarcely
forego the joy of possessing certain
huge vase whose proportions would
prevent its expectation by hand. Fin
ally the darkness warned us that we