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/ Women's Basketball
Gophers in Italy: Days 4-5
8/14/2018 7:21:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FLORENCE – The Minnesota women's basketball team said "arrivederci" to Rome on Saturday morning and headed north to their second destination in Italy: Florence.
After touring the Roman Colosseum, the team departed Rome and made the roughly three-hour drive to the capital of the Tuscany region, Florence, arriving their late in the afternoon. The players were then free that evening to sightsee and eat on their own.
Michelangelo's David
Sunday began with a morning tour of Florence. The first stop was the Accademia Gallery, which contains many art pieces, but is primarily known as the home of "David," the famous statue by Michelangelo. The team spent several minutes learning about the statue, seeing it from all angles.
Piazza della Signoria (note the replica "David" in front of the church)
Upon leaving the art gallery, the Gophers were led on a walking tour of the city. After stopping to admire the Florence Cathedral, the team passed by the Piazza della Signoria, which is where "David" was originally unveiled, but had since had a replica put in its place. An open-air museum with other statues was also in the courtyard. The team then walked past the Uffizi Gallery, which is where "The Birth of Venus" is housed, but did not enter. The tour wrapped up near the Ponte Vecchio, or the "Old Bridge," offering a terrific backdrop for more pictures.
Team photo near the Ponte Vecchio
After some free time in the early afternoon, the team regrouped for a pregame meal before heading to their second contest in Italy, a thrilling 65-63 win over TK Hannover of Germany.
Monday was the team's final day in Florence and was the only day on the Italy trip where the players had the whole day off with no tours or games. Junior guard Jasmine Brunson took over the Gophers' Instagram account to show what some of the players were up to during their day off.
View of Florence from Piazza Michelangelo
Tuesday morning, the Minnesota contingency departed Florence for its final stop in Venice. The Gophers arrived in the early afternoon before playing their final game of the trip on Tuesday evening.
After touring the Roman Colosseum, the team departed Rome and made the roughly three-hour drive to the capital of the Tuscany region, Florence, arriving their late in the afternoon. The players were then free that evening to sightsee and eat on their own.
Michelangelo's David
Sunday began with a morning tour of Florence. The first stop was the Accademia Gallery, which contains many art pieces, but is primarily known as the home of "David," the famous statue by Michelangelo. The team spent several minutes learning about the statue, seeing it from all angles.
Piazza della Signoria (note the replica "David" in front of the church)
Upon leaving the art gallery, the Gophers were led on a walking tour of the city. After stopping to admire the Florence Cathedral, the team passed by the Piazza della Signoria, which is where "David" was originally unveiled, but had since had a replica put in its place. An open-air museum with other statues was also in the courtyard. The team then walked past the Uffizi Gallery, which is where "The Birth of Venus" is housed, but did not enter. The tour wrapped up near the Ponte Vecchio, or the "Old Bridge," offering a terrific backdrop for more pictures.
Team photo near the Ponte Vecchio
After some free time in the early afternoon, the team regrouped for a pregame meal before heading to their second contest in Italy, a thrilling 65-63 win over TK Hannover of Germany.
Monday was the team's final day in Florence and was the only day on the Italy trip where the players had the whole day off with no tours or games. Junior guard Jasmine Brunson took over the Gophers' Instagram account to show what some of the players were up to during their day off.
View of Florence from Piazza Michelangelo
Tuesday morning, the Minnesota contingency departed Florence for its final stop in Venice. The Gophers arrived in the early afternoon before playing their final game of the trip on Tuesday evening.
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