Lamborghini Museum and Panini Maserati Collection

      On the way to our next stay at Locanda del Feudo in Castelvetro di Modena, we stopped at the Lamborghini Museum in Sant'Agata Bolognese.  The next day we saw the Panini Maserati Collection on the now defunct Hombre Parmigiano Reggiano farm.  For exotic and classic car lovers, these two museums are a treat.  Here are photos from the Lamborghini Museum...

                                           

        The Panini Maserati Collection is located on what was the Hombre Parmigiano Reggiano cheese farm.  We talked with Giovanni Panini, one of the sons of the founder Umberto Panini and he told us the farm had been sold and the collection would move in the near future.  But he couldn't tell us when or where it would move.  Here are photos from the collection...

        On the mezzanine level is an amazing motorcycle collection...

                      

         Parked outside was this great little Fiat 500 painted up with a cartoon-like Parmigiano cheese theme that was used in promotions...

        There were still a few cows on the farm...

         The day after we got to Castelvetro di Modena, we discovered a Lamborghini commercial being shot in the piazza of the tiny town...

                                        

                                      

          Here's a video.....

                           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmiXYoVydis

        That's about all from your revved-up travelers Joe and Chris.  Our next adventures will feature Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Aceto Balsamico di Modena.  Stay tuned...!!

         Click on any image to enlarge.

A Renaissance Tour of Florence in Four Days

      We arrived at the B&B Stella d'Oro in Florence on Thursday afternoon, a day and a half before Gary and Jill would arrive on Saturday morning.  B&B Stella d'Oro turned out to be a great place to stay.  The location is perfect, just a couple blocks from San Lorenzo and four blocks to the Duomo.  The room was comfortable, the shower was great, and Enrico was a super host.  We planned daily visits to the main Renaissance sights for Gary and Jill, starting with a Renaissance overview walk on Saturday.  Here we go...!

                                    

      San Lorenzo, the Duomo, the Baptistry, Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio, and more....

                                                       

San Lorenzo and Medici Chapels

The Baptistry on Palm Sunday

Baptistry and Duomo at night

Jazz band in Piazza della Repubblica

Palazzo Vecchio

                                             

Ponte Vecchio

                                                           

        Brunelleschi looking up at the dome he designed....

                                     

      We toured the Duomo Museum, which has a wealth of Renaissance treasures....

Michelangelo's Pieta

Donatello's Mary Magdalene

                                   

Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise Doors c.1450

                                       

Brunelleschi's dome model c.1420

       Other Duomo Museum Views....

Bust of Mary Magdalene by Bandini

        We toured the ruins of Santa Reparata, which are beneath the Duomo. These are the ruins of the first church in Florence, built during the fifth century....

           We had an amazing visit to the Medici Chapel.  The Old Sacristy was built in the 14th century, and it is stunning....

         The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo in the 1520s.  It contains seven sculptures by Michelangelo....

Madonna and Child 1521

Night and Day

Dusk and Dawn

      We had tickets to tour the Accademia on Tuesday.  The museum houses the spectacular Statue of David and other treasures....

Tree of Life

Michelangelo unfinished Pieta'

       

A couple of the statues in the Loggia in Piazza Signoria...

                           

Neptune fountain in the Piazza

                                             

Lion statue inside Palazzo Vecchio

          One of our favorite things to do in Florence is shop at the Leather School, the Scuola del Cuoio.  It is located behind Basilica of Santa Croce, which is magnificent in its own right.  This was Michelangelo's neighborhood church and where he is entombed.  The leather school is a great place to buy that special handmade keepsake or gift from Florence...

        

Basilica of Santa Croce...

                                                                

The leather purse was Chris's purchase...

       On the spur of the moment one afternoon, we took a taxi to San Miniato to see a classical music concert in the 1000-year-old Abby.  There are stunning views of Florence from that vantage point....

                                   

       We had a fabulous time in Florence.  We saw jaw-dropping Renaissance art, and had excellent food at Pizzeria i Camaldoli, Trattoria La Burrasca, Osteria Il Basilico, and Gustapanino.  B&B La Stella d'Oro was comfortable, perfectly located, and what a breakfast!  The weather was perfect, and we all walked personal distance records!  Aperol Spritzes were enjoyed, and let's not forget our friend at My Sugar Gelato, which we happily visited every day...

                     

        From your exhausted and happy travelers, Joe and Chris, and now Gary and Jill.  Next stop - Lamborghini Museum, Panini Maserati Collection, and Castelvetro di Modena.

                                                                 

With Enrico at B&B La Stella d'Oro

         Click on any image to enlarge.