Days 4 and 5: Florence

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Art and architecture abound in this old city on the River Arno. While I enjoyed the art, I think the city is best seen from above. From the top of the Duomo it is spectacular. We took in the Medici Chapels, the Santa Maria Novella cathedral, the Ponte Vecchio, and the wonderful (and exhausting) Uffizi Gallery. We climbed the dome of the Duomo, Florence's magnificent gothic cathedral that dominates the city's skyline, and had a ball wandering around the old city. We stayed in the home of Marcella, a warm and generous grandmother who saw us out each morning and welcomed us home each evening.

A small part of the façade of the Duomo.

The fresco on the ceiling of the dome in the Duomo.

Climbing up to the first tier around the massive dome, we were able to get closer to the fresco.

More detail of the lucid fresco.

Wandering (or perhaps lost?) down a Florentine street, we encountered some street artists.

A closeup of these artists' reproduction of Botticelli's Pietà in chalk.

Santa Croce cathedral.

The Ponte Vecchio ("Old Bridge") that crosses the River Arno. This medieval bridge still has shops (mostly jewelers) all along it.

Replica of Michelangelo's David where it once stood outside the Palazzo della Signora. We were too beat and out of time to try to get into the Academia where the actual statue is housed.

The River Arno near the Uffizi Gallery as seen from the Ponte Vecchio.

The outside of the Uffizi Gallery which contains room after room after room of Renaissance art. Magnificent!

View of the Ponte Vecchio from near the Pitti Palace. Jared and I hiked up to see the view of the city from there.

The next day can be found here.