Day 11, Florence [San Marco & Michelangelo Plaza] – September 28, 2017

Today was out last day in Florence and it was a free day.  Although we had talked about catching a train and going to Lucca, we decided to stay in Florence and have a quiet day visiting San Marco and taking a bus to the Michelangelo Plaza for a panoramic view of the city.  San Marco and its museum are only about 3 blocks from where we are staying.  The church dates from 1437 and has an adjoining Dominican convent, which was richly decorated with frescos by Fra Angelico in the 1400’s.  As we entered the first cloister, 

the Crucifixion with St. Dominic fresco is seen.   

Continuing up the stairs to the first-floor dormitory, at the top of the stairs the Annunciation (1442) fresco greets you.   

Beyond, each of the 44 monk’s cells contains a unique devotional fresco.  Here is a sampling of some of these frescos.  

Adoration of the Magi

Returning to the first floor, and entering the refectory (now the bookstore), we saw the Last Supper by Domenico Ghirlandaio.   

In one of the ground-floor galleries, we saw the 35 scenes from the Life of Christ that were painted on cupboard panels with much detail.   

Another gallery contained the Fra Angelico crucifixion scene with the saints (1441-1442).

Fra Angelico Crucifixion with the Saints

Other galleries contained numerous paintings.   

Leaving the museum, we visited the church   

San Marco Nave

View of Ceiling

Next, we walked to the #13 bus stop and took that bus to Michelangelo Plaza with great panoramic views of Florence.   

Toward the Duomo and Tuscan Hills

View Toward Ponte Vecchio

Returning to our place, we repacked everything for tomorrow’s departure so that we would not have to pack after our farewell party and dinner at Sondra Koff’s condominium this evening.
 

We gathered at 5:30 pm for our commute to Sondra’s home.  She, Marco, and Mary Virginia had cooked and prepared a lovely Italian dinner for all of us – excellent pate’, pesto, cheeses, salad, pasta, Marco’s pork dish, biscotti dipped in a dessert wine, and plenty of Iralian wine.  Needless to say, “a very good time was had by all.”  We were indebted to Sondra for opening her home to us for this charming conclusion to our time together in Rome and Florence.