So today we really visited Firenze (Florence). We ate breakfast at the apartment of course. I'm lucky enough to have a café right on the corner of the street that sells fresh croissants and pastries. So that's what I get to eat each morning :D
The plan was simple: more or less visit all the landmarks we had virtually climbed in ACII.
We started by the closest one, Santa Maria Novella. We didn't go inside and went straight to one, if not THE, most important landmark of the city: the Duomo. We climbed the 400ish steps of the campanile, me with Lianne on my back, to get a nice view of the city and region. I'm still pretty scared of heights but it's getting better.
Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
One funny thing I noticed in the city are half-buses. They're so small it makes me wonder how much it's worth to have them around (people using them vs price and gas, etc).
Baptistery of San Giovanni and Duomo
Duomo and Campanile
While we were going up and waiting for some people to go down in the narrow staircase, I spotted an ACII grafitti :D
View from the top of the Campanile
Campanile seen from the ground
After the duomo, we passed by San Lorenzo church and Palazzo Medici Ricardi and stopped for lunch. When we finished, the central market close by was closed so we decided to go there another day when we wouldn't mind going back to the apartment to bring the food we'll probably buy.
Basilica di San Lorenzo
At the restaurant
Another thing that struck me was the hawkers. I especially noticed their absence in Siena, which was a blessing after Roma. In Firenze there are couple but not as much. Just to give you reference, one of the pictures in Wikipedia for hawkers is from Rome...
I think that's one of the main reasons why Siena is my favorite city yet. It's not too touristy, the architecture and buildings are great and it's big enough that you don't feel like you've seen it all after one day.
After lunch, I tried to buy myself a leather jacket but they didn't have my size in the model I wanted. They're really dedicated (agressive?) in trying to help you. Getting coats from other affiliate stores near buy. One guy even ran after me like 10 minutes later (I was buying gelato).
We made our way towards Palazzo Vecchio (or Palazzo della Signoria), stopping by Fontana del Porcellino where you can pet a boar statue for good luck (thanks Fede !). Palazzo Vecchio is an amazing building but all I could think of is that Ezio's family had been hung in this Piazza and that Savonarola had been burnt here. We took some pictures and again didn't go inside. The plan is to visit the interiors on the supposed rainy day of Wednesday and Thursday.
Il Porcellino at Mercato Nuovo. I didn't touch, I'm sure it brings you more germs than luck
Palazzo della Signoria (or Palazzo Vecchio)
Piazza della Signoria
Loggia dei Lanzi
We got excellent artisanal gelato (thanks Jeffrey), crossed the Ponte Vecchio, went to Palazzo Pitti but it was closed and finally walked all the way up to Piazzale Michelangelo.
Ponte Vecchio
Palazzo Pitti
Pigeon contemplating taking a bath
Arno river, heading toward Piazzale Michelangelo
Ponte Vecchio from farther
Santa Croce on the way up to Piazzale Michelangelo
There I could take great pictures of the city and we even stopped for a drink at the café there. We waited for the sun to set, took some more pictures and then left towars Santa Croce to try to find a place to eat.
View from Piazzale Michelangelo
At the terrasse on the Piazzale Michelangelo
Because it was Monday, not many places were opened. We ate at a "meh" restaurant in the piazza in front of Santa Croce church. It was late, Lianne was tired and Nath had to return her plate because it was too salty.
Santa Croce
On the way back home, Nath and Lianne still went for a ride in the merry-go-round in Piazza della Republica and we got home in the 10 pms.
All in all, we got to see most of the main landmarks of the city. We should visit the rest Wednesday, unless it's sunny then we might do it Thursday.
