View from our hotel room in the city center - and we only paid 80 euro for two nights! Thank you, Rick Steves!
Bell Tower of the Duomo di Firenze, just a short walk away from our hotel. The Duomo and surrounding buildings are made of pink and green marble. Very pretty!
In front of the Duomo.
Window shopping a local pasticceria and admiring pastries I can no longer eat - these are marzipan fruits, common in Italia around Carnivale (which was last week).
The Palazzo Vecchio (old palace) in the Piazza della Signorina, Firenze.
Another pasticceria and more pastries, just because they're like pieces of art!
In the Piazza della Signorina
Some dude beating a centaur. I should probably educate myself more about this. :)
And some other dude holding the head of Medusa...
Halfway across the Ponte Vecchio bridge, looking northward on the River Arno.
Back in the Piazza della Signorina, in front of the Muzeo di Palazzo Vecchio. This is a replica of the David statue by Michelangelo, the real one is in the Accademia and you are not allowed to photograph it or bring cameras inside.
Outside the Uffizi Gallery along the River Arno.
D being tough. :)
Along the river. Sorry for the ugly rash on my face - I'm having some kind of allergic reaction and slathered myself in makeup all weekend.
Ponte Vecchio bridge and centuries-old houses and shops.
HAHA! Street art!
Piazza della Repubblica and street musicians.
D with the cinghiale of Firenze, created for Hans Christian Andersen.
One of our amazing gluten-free dinners at the fantastic, award-winning restaurant Hosteria il Desco. This was the ONLY restaurant in Firenze that we found that is familiar with gluten-free menus and cooking gf food in a safe way. This is my cornmeal-crusted salmon with grilled vegetables and basil oil, with gf breads and ricecakes on the side and sauteed broccoli on the side. It was fantastic - we went there twice!
Some kind of historical parade through downtown Firenze.
Tuscan hillside.
Looking down upon Firenze from the Piazzale Michelangelo, in the southeast.
Santa Croce church
Ponte Vecchio bridge, where we were just before we hiked up the hill. This bridge was covered so the Medici family (one of the most powerful families ever to live in Europe) wouldn't get wet in the rain while crossing from one side to the other.
The Duomo from the other side of the river.
Very cool protected feral cat colony halfway up the hill. Nice! Wish Napoli had these!
Ponte Vecchio from the windows of the Galleria Uffizi.
Creepy door knocker!
So, I would recommend taking a trip to Firenze, especially to see the Tuscan countryside. I don't think I'll go back unless it's for a day trip. The city seemed really small but easily walkable. It took us no more than 30 minutes or so to get anywhere we wanted to go. Next time we're in this area we'll be going to Pisa, Lucca, and the Cinque Terre instead. But I can cross the Uffizi off my bucket list! :)
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