Religion makes people do beautiful things...

At least in Italy, religion tends to make people do beautiful things. This morning went to San Miniato al Monte, the church that sits above Piazza Michelangelo overlooking Firenze. The church has been almost untouched since it was built and has some really interesting Byzantine art (and a mosaic on the floor of the nave with the zodiac signs, the only use of zodiac signs in a church in all of Italy. Che interesante, no?). After that, we trecked down the hill and across the Arno to Santa Croce to look at some of Giotto's frescoes (introduction of naturalism into religious art!), then I grabbed a gelato and trecked back up the montagna to Villa Natalia to eat some food overlooking the grounds and whip out an essay.

(view of Firenze from San Miniato)

(San Miniato)

Italiano was, as usual, quite entertaining this afternoon. We learned how to tell time (sono le seidici e mezzo) and had a discussion about peninsulas (that was around 5, when the delirium fully hits). Had our first quiz and then basta! Finito! Tonight going to a restaurant on the other side of the Arno called Fuori Porta than likely to La Dolce Vita at Santo Spirito for some bellinis or something. Domani it's off to Spoleto at the crack of dawn until Saturday evening. With that, a presto!

Ciao Amori!

Laura