FLORENCE

First thing we did at Florence was go to the main square where the duomo was and climb the bell tower next to the cathedral to get break taking views of Florence and the mountains in the distance. We climbed 413 very old steps. The stair well wound its way up the tower, very narrow, dark, concrete, no handrails...you get it. To allow people to pass, we literally had to flatten ourselves against the wall so they could squeeze past.

Landing half way up

From the Top

Dan and Beth at the top of the Bell Tower

Dumo at the Square. No shown well in photos, but all the religious buildings on the square are made with stunning white, forest green, and coral colored marble. They are gorgeous.

Baptistery doors...Baptistery is situated directly in front of the Duomo

Uffizi Gallery Courtyard
The best art collection of Italy is house here, it is on the left and wraps around to the right. Straight ahead, thru the arch way you can see the buildings on the opposite side of the Arno River.

Replica of the David in the Piazza della Signoria (right next to Uffizi Courtyard)
Not to scale, the original David is much taller

Ponte Vecchio Bridge
Lined with gold and silver shops. Crosses very close to the Uffizi Gallery

View of Arno River and bridges from Ponte Vecchio Bridge

Pitti Palace
Palace of the family that had the money in medieval Florence. Pretty sure all the stone used to be grass as the Palace is perched on a hillside.

View of the entrance to the Bobili Gardens behind the palace. The gardens are acres of landscaped area behind the palace.

At the top of the Gardens, it overlooks Florence and the Tuscan landscapes.