Back to school ( Italian once again!) in Florence

 Having studied Italian many times over the years, with many yearlong gaps, I should be fluent by now... if it had been continuous! However given my level I seem to be always joining grammar classes studying Il Trapassato Remoto or other complicated tenses! I am really only interested in Present, Past and Future!

First morning walking to the classes near the Santa Croce Basilica was one of those mornings when one is happy to be alive! The Ponte Vecchio  up close before anyone arrived!

Arriving at the school.....

...the assigned room for class was interesting.....

The grammar board not so......

That evening called for an uphill walk to the Piazzale Michelangelo to see the sunset.....

The night time view of the Ponte Vecchio was also great!

Next day we visited the Santa Croce Basilica with the school.......

The architect of the facade, Niccolo Matas, was Jewish and some think the star at the top is the Star of David.

He was buried at the threshold to the church.... his choice apparently as permission had been given to be buried inside.

There are many illustrious names within.....

Marconi.... has a plaque but is not actually buried there.....

Da Vinci... also not actually buried there... he died in France.

Galileo.....actually buried there.....

Machiavelli...... also actually buried there.....

Dante Alighieri..... actually buried in Ravenna.....

Michelangelo.....

And there is of course the statue which is thought to have inspired the Statue of Liberty!

The main altar was also very beautiful.....

With Giotto's fresco to the right......

The exit is now through the old refectory,where Tadeo Gaddi's Tree of Life  can be viewed.