Basilica d S. Annunziata II Florence Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Continuing from yesterday’s post on the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata - Firenze, Italia. here are a few more images. That last image is unusual in that I have rarely seen a gypsy out in the city after dark. This one was actually taking a nap outside the church while the two-hour Pentecostal mass was going on. It was Saturday night and I think it started quite late, 10 p.m. perhaps? Late for churchgoers and gypsies, I would have imagined.

P.S. A not-so-subtle hint: The book I wrote, “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” makes a great gift for those who enjoy art, travel, or street life. If interested, click on the title here and you may order it from Amazon in several different countries.]

Basilica della Santissima Annunziata - Firenze, Italia

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Back in May, I visited again the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata - Firenze, Italia for a Pentecostal mass. Anyone who knows me well knows that the likelihood of my attending such a service on my own is quite small. However, one of my Catholic artist colleagues invited me to come hear her sing. A sucker is born every minute. Thus, I invited another and so on, but still that evening involved a charming demonstration of hara-kiri by my guest, followed by an early escape and port wine (once outside the basilica). There is only so much of “you are a giant loser who must suffer while you depend on some amazing entity to take pity on you and save your miserable life” talk that we could listen to. Perhaps if my other friend and her colleagues in the chorus had sung it instead, we might have been able to stay longer for the two-HOUR ordeal.

Ok, now that THAT is off my chest, I will admit that I rather enjoy visiting churches, especially in Italy. After all, those buildings contain much of the art in this country. This particular basilica is located on one end of the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata in Florence, Italy, and has always intrigued me. [Incidentally, this piazza hosts the two of the coolest sculpted fountains in Firenze.]

Another problem with me is editing. I like too many of the images I take. So, I decided to turn this post into a two-part goodie. Here are some images of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata. I hope you feel what I feel when I say that this place is darker in emotion than most others. And stay tuned for more images the next time . . .

I wish a huge happy birthday to my adorable singing niece Alexis Seiler, who turns 18 years old today! Look her up on youtube.com if you like.