Pasquetta

Yes, Easter continues...
Pasquetta or Easter Monday is also a holiday.  In many Tuscan towns there are games, dances or concerts and we learned that typically it is a day that families enjoy picnics with leftovers from their Easter meal.   But in the historic center of Florence it means that lots of museums and shops are closed...
The boys however started their first day at Arte al Sole, an English speaking art school/camp held here at the "palace" as Frederico (our manager) calls it. They were both excited and a little apprehensive but as soon as they saw the other kids it was a "go."

After the boys were settled, Matt & I set out to explore the city-
We have been here 5 days now and have walked the Ponte Vecchio admiring all the goldsmith and silversmith shops many times but on this day we were early- walking across the bridge just as a few of the shops were opening...  it was such a fascinating site for me! All of these glass front shops were enclosed & protected by wooden fortress-like fronts... they were like life sized jewelry boxes being opened up... I imagine it has been like this since these stores were built in 13th century.  I am not sure why this simple daily routine for these merchants struck me so profoundly...anyway it was a good start to another history filled day.

Jewelry boxes waiting to be opened...

Another day's work...

Orsanmichele- a grain market turned church with statue filled niches -
bronzes by Donatello, Verrocchio and Ghiberti

Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise on the Baptistry doors

Our own Pasquetta "picnic"-

Dinner at the apartment

Reading at Piazza Santo Spirito

Ending the day with gelato