May 21 - 24, 2007
Firenze

After we stayed in Viareggio we took the train to Florence.
Florence's Duomo
More of Florence's Duomo
The courtyard at the Bargello museum in Florence. Our second-favorite Florence restaurant (visited twice) was nearby. The Bargello was at one time a prison and they hung people in this courtyard.
The tower of the Palazzo Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) over the Arno, full of gold and diamond shops. During their retreat from Florence in WWII, the Germans destroyed all the Arno bridges in Florence except this one (they destroyed the approaches to this one instead).
A copy of Michelangelo's David standing in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, in the location of the original, which was moved in 1873 to the Accademia Gallery. The replica was placed in the square in 1910.
This poor guy was charged with maintaining order in a loggia attached to the Uffizi. He made Elaine put her shoes back on.
The exterior of Chiesa di San Marco in Florence. It was located near our hotel. The square in front of the church was a major bus transfer point and the location of our primary breakfast resource. Elaine visited the museum at the church, including 15th century frescoes in monks' cells.
Our room in Florence was on the second floor of this building.
Our favorite restaurant in Florence ("da Tito") was a neighborhood trattoria a block up from our hotel. Bonafide Italian restaurant because most of the customers were Italian, and our lovely waitress did not speak English.
Our breakfast place on the Piazza San Marco.
The Boboli Gardens at the Palazzo Pitti. Not our favorite Florence destination because too much sun and not enough shade, few flowers.
The grotto in Boboli Garden, including copies of two "slave" sculptures by Michelangelo. The real sculptures are in the Accademia museum.
A cool sculpture at the Boboli Garden that made the trip there worthwhile.
We took city bus number 7 up to Fiesole, a Florence suburb that was a Roman stronghold in the old days. This is a Roman amphitheatre.
Remains of Roman baths and some arches in Fiesole
Elaine loved the wild poppies.
View of Florence from a hillside restaurant in Fiesole
Our last image of Florence. The pharmacy was not open all night, but the condom vending machine was.