Spring in Firenze - The 4th Day
After a leisurely breakfast & a 2nd cappuccino in the hotel garden, I set out on foot towards the river. Avoiding the Ponte Vecchio tourist crowd, I crossed the Arno two bridges up, from Santa Spirito coming across near Piazza Santa Maria Novella. The beautiful Santa Maria Novella church & museums are also on the Firenze Card, but I just can’t do everything in 72 hours! This photo will have to do! 
I was looking for The Marino Marini Museum that intrigued me when I saw it listed on the Firenzecard App. Even with Apple Maps directing my walk I had a hard time finding the little square in which the rebuilt 15th century church sits. I was glad I persisted. I am now in love with the new to me, art of Marino Marini, and the fascinating restoration of the former church building in the Brutalist style is brilliant. The architects designed the renovation to house Marino Marini‘s art collection which is very modern, and yet it is not at all out of place in the historic district in Firenze. The hall that holds the “sacellum of the Holy Sepulchre of Leon Battista Alberti, one of the “wonders” of Florentine Renaissance”, was designed especially for the alter.
“The Marino Marini Museum is located in the historic centre of Florence inside the former Church of San Pancrazio. After almost two centuries in which the space was deconsecreated and used in various ways, the city’s first museum of modern and contemporary art opened here in 1988 with an architecture that pleasantly merges ancient and modern thanks to a laborious restoration work by architects Bruno Sacchi and Lorenzo Papi. Inside the museum, “paths” were conceived and created aimed at viewing the works of Marino Marini (1901-1980), with particular focus to the exalted three-dimensionality of the artist from Pistoia, famous all over the world for his “horses and knights”. Ample and luminous spaces, multiple points of view permit a complete reading of the work of the artist, highlighting the themes of which he was most fond, from the Knights to the Pomona, from the Miracles to the Jugglers, to the Dancers and naturally to the portraits.
In addition to the permanent collection of the 183 works of the artist Marino Marini – among sculptures, paintings, drawings and engravings – there are the exhibitions dedicated to artists and themes from the 20th century to modern times. Given the proximity of the ex-church to the Rucellai family palace across the street, the museum path also includes the Cappella Rucellai (Rucellai Chapel), part of a phase in which the family requested the intervention of the architect Leon Battista Alberti (1457-67). In this space, you can visit the sacellum of the Holy Sepulchre of Leon Battista Alberti, one of the “wonders” of Florentine Renaissance.” Description Credit: the FirenzeCard App.
On a busy tourist weekend, one week before Easter, I was the only visitor in this spectacular three story museum. Please enjoy my photos.
From here, I found myself near Via Tournaboni, the area of the most fashionable designer shops. Photo
I enjoyed the shop windows on my way to the Strozzi Palace for the special exhibit Sex & Solitude by the acclaimed British artist, Tracey Emins.
“Palazzo Strozzi hosts the first major institutional exhibition in Italy dedicated to one of the most celebrated contemporary artists: Tracey Emin.The exhibition allows the visitor to discover the Emin’s varied work, encompassing paintings, drawings, film, photography, embroidery, appliqué, sculptures, and neon installations. The title refers to two key words, sex and solitude, which permeate the over 60 works of a path that spans from different moments of Tracey Emin's career, from the 1990s to today. The exhibition is an intense journey on the themes of the body and desire, love and sacrifice and presents to the public for the first time in Italy some already known works together with new productions.The artist knows how to transform intimate and private moments in her works into existential metaphors that reflect on sexuality or illness, on solitude or love, translating personal experiences into intense and powerful works.” Description Credit: The FirenzeCard App.
By now, my feet were telling me to rest, and my tummy said “eat”. Diners were eating in the Palace Terrace adjacent to the café within the Strozzi Palace. When asked, inside or out, I decided to enjoy the quiet elegance and lovely jazz music playing inside the café. I ordered a vegetarian flan that was a delicious surprise.
Now nourished, I exited the palace on the opposite side from where I started, and I walked right into a street art market where I found a table of Pietre Dure in a modern style. 
Stefania is 21, she is already quite knowledgeable, and she is the 2nd woman Pietre Dure artist I’ve met this trip. She is the third generation in the Sabatino family. Her grandfather created and her mother is still working. Stefania is actively apprenticing too. 
I had made an afternoon appointment at Sila Thai Massage. I had passed by this shop on my first evening in Florence. It’s located at Via dei Serragli, 63/R/65r about two blocks from the easily visible Gelato shop, S Brino about two blocks up the street in the direction away from the river. 
I booked 90 minutes, a 60 minute massage & 30 minutes on my feet. The spa is beautiful, My excellent Thai masseuse was named Aaa & my massage was just as good as any I have had anywhere. My back issues were much improved after the treatment and it has held throughout the trip. can highly recommend this beautiful Massage shop. The reception and booking is by the welcoming English & Thai & Italian speaking owner.
Remember that I said that this entire city is art, including the buildings?
The reception area at Sila Thai massage is a good example. 
After 4 days of near perfect early spring weather, the next morning, Sunday, was rainy. After breakfast, I headed out to do some laundry before meeting my Taxi to Monsummano Terme and my next destination, early afternoon. About five blocks from the hotel in Via Dell’Orto is a self service laundromat called Popeye’s. Another patron showed me how to use the payment system. Everything is automatic, including the detergent. It was easy for me to get my cottons clothes washed in about an hour and a half.
Tip: Hotels that don’t have a self service guest laundry area usually charge by the piece rather than weight. And the per item cost to wash socks, underwear, & tee shirts is more than the items are worth & seems unnecessarily expensive. I sometimes find a local laundry with drop off service allowing me to provide business for a local. This self service shop in my Florence hotel neighborhood was convenient so this trip, I used that.
While I was waiting for the wash to finish, I saw that a market had been set up in the Piazza St Carmine just across the way. It was charming and I was happy to pick up a house gift for my friend who will be hosting me in Lago Maggiore next week. I bought him a lovely olive wood cheese or cutting board directly from the artisan who makes beautiful boards and bowls and kitchen tools from his own olive trees when they are too old to produce fruit.
After check out, Constantino arrived to drive me to my next destination. He’s a really great driver & a really hardworking talented guy. I’ll be spending 4 nights at a hotel called Grotta Giusti. That’s also the name of the thermal caves. Stay tuned to the blog to read about the mineral baths and naturally warm mineral air in underground caves that I am planning to experience.
This featured blog entry was written by Nsevers from the blog On the Road Again.
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