The further south we traveled in Italy the more I liked it.
We arrived at our hotel in Florence in time to go for a quick bite, a walk, and an early night. The next morning we went to the the Duomo, saw David, and got a quick tour of the historic district.
We arrived at our hotel in Florence in time to go for a quick bite, a walk, and an early night. The next morning we went to the the Duomo, saw David, and got a quick tour of the historic district.
Our guide Tony.
That afternoon we had free time and I walked across the bridge to see the Giardino Bardini which has just recently been opened to the public, and the Bobioli Gardens at the Pitti Palace.
What a view of the city, wow.
There wasn’t much in bloom, we’d missed some of the early flowers and it was to early for the summer flowers except those in window boxes. But I will say I would not want to go in July or August - too hot! The temperature was perfect.
You’ll see many photos of windows with flowers, in the cities there isn’t much land so their gardens are on in their window boxes and balconies. Florence is a beautiful city and I felt perfectly safe wandering around by myself, like I did in Venice, and I would in Sorrento and Rome.
What a view of the city, wow.
There wasn’t much in bloom, we’d missed some of the early flowers and it was to early for the summer flowers except those in window boxes. But I will say I would not want to go in July or August - too hot! The temperature was perfect.
You’ll see many photos of windows with flowers, in the cities there isn’t much land so their gardens are on in their window boxes and balconies. Florence is a beautiful city and I felt perfectly safe wandering around by myself, like I did in Venice, and I would in Sorrento and Rome.
The Bardini Garden is the green hill straight ahead.
Between the two gardens is Fort Belvedere which was built between 1590 and 1595 to defend the Medici Palace and the city of Florence. Galileo used the fort to do his astronomical observations. I walked by his house on the way up to the Bardini Garden.
The Boboili Gardens is behind the Pitti Palace.
The Pitti Palace was the 2nd home of the Medici's in Florence.
The garden was started over 400 years ago.
Then on the way back across the river I walked through the
famous Ponte Vecchio - full of jewelry stores.
The Uffizi Museum is one of the most famous museums in the world, focusing on renaissance paintings. Some of the artists included in their collection are Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello. Most works of art are from the 12th to 17th centuries.
The homes that do have yards have them in interior spaces. Once in a while you could see through the open door.
We took a little jaunt to a winery and stopped at this Military Cemetery full of US soldiers that lost their lives during World War II. The cemetery is located just south of Florence and is called the Florence American Cemetery.
At the winery.
Interesting to note, most Italian grapes grow on roots imported from the US due to a blight that does not affect the American roots.
Next stop Sorrento and the Isle of Capri!
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