It’s our first full day in Florence. We were having a delightful stroll through Boboli Gardens, but the darkening skies were threatening rain. They wouldn’t dare, would they? They would! They did! We made a run for the nearest shelter – Pitti Palace. We ducked into a recess surrounding a side door to the palace. The door was open. We went in. Wow! Continue reading “The Costume Gallery in Pitti Palace”
Category: Venice & Florence
Florence – Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens
Florence is a great city for tourists. There’s as much to see and do as here as there is in a large city, but Florence is relatively compact, so anything you’d like to see is within easy reach. Our next Florentine destinations are Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. The overcast sky is getting darker and threatening rain, but let’s go anyway. Continue reading “Florence – Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens”
Lunch in Fiesole – Mamma Mia!
There’s a little town on top of a hill on the outskirts of Florence called Fiesole. The view of Florence from up there is supposed to be great. We’re going to go to Fiesole, have some lunch, and check out the view. C’mon! Continue reading “Lunch in Fiesole – Mamma Mia!”
I Got Scammed!
I thought it would never happen to me. But it did. I got scammed. Let me take a break from writing about frolicking in Florence to tell you about it. Here’s how it happened… Continue reading “I Got Scammed!”
Michaelangelo’s David – and Goliath?
Florence, Italy – city of beauty, history, and art. Visitors come here for a lot of reasons, but my guess is that the number one draw is Michaelangelo’s statue of David. It’s here in Florence’s Galleria dell’ Accademia. We’re headed there now. C’mon! Continue reading “Michaelangelo’s David – and Goliath?”
First Day in Florence
It’s our first day in Florence. After arriving by train from Venice, we checked into our hotel and headed out to explore the neighborhood. Walking on Via Calzaiuoli toward Piazza della Signoria, we came to a building called Orsanmichele. Statues of saints lining its walls sent us back to the Dark Ages to get the back-story. Let’s finish what we started last time. Continue reading “First Day in Florence”
Florence Crawls out of the Dark Ages
There’s a 13th-century building in Florence called Orsanmichele. Statues of the saints line its exterior walls. There has to be a back-story. There is. It’s the story of how Florence crawls out of the Dark Ages – taking the rest of the western world along with it. Continue reading “Florence Crawls out of the Dark Ages”
Florence – It All Started 800 Years Ago
We’ve just arrived in Florence, Italy. The train ride from Venice was easy, so we checked in, unpacked, and headed out to explore the neighborhood. It didn’t take long for us to learn that when it comes to Florence, it all started 800 years ago. Continue reading “Florence – It All Started 800 Years Ago”
Florence, Italy – Mamma Mia!
Florence, Italy – by all accounts, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s a renaissance art-lover’s paradise. Michaelangelo’s “David” resides there in the Accademia Gallery. The place oozes history. And of course there’s bistecca alla fiorentina. What are we waiting for? Andiamo! Continue reading “Florence, Italy – Mamma Mia!”
When Italy became Italy
We’re on a train traveling from Venice to Florence. The trip takes us through Italy’s “foodiest” region – Emilia Romagna. When Italy became Italy – not that long ago – much of the action took place in Emilia Romagna. Let’s pick up the story where we left off. Continue reading “When Italy became Italy”
