Florence, Italy 2004

 

Early in the tour, we had an overview of Florence.  Here is the Ponte Vecchio.
Florence was beautiful and crowded.
Oh my God, it's another frickin' babe.  Now he is saying, they were all over the place and he was bound to accidentally take her picture. What magazine is this woman reading?
Nice wide streets.
The door of a church.
Illegal streets vendors place these pictures on the street, see a cop car coming, scoop them up, try to look casual, and then lay the pictures back down as soon as the car passes.  No one was buying, as far as we could tell.
This is now a 4 star hotel.
	In this shot, you can see more of the buildings attached to the tower.
Now we have reached the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral. This is the bell tower for the church.
	Note how the windows grow larger as you reach the top of the tower.  This is so upper floors weigh less, so the build doesn't collapse.
	The facade is green, white and pinky-red marble.
The dome was built last.  They had to run a contest to get an architect to come up with a workable plan.
The trick is that there is a dome inside the dome, and the two press against each other to hold each other up.  So there is no scaffolding.
This is the 4th largest church in the world.
Here is the Baptistery, a unique octagonal building with gilded bronze doors. These are actually replica doors.  The real ones are tucked away in a museum. Each panel depicts a story from the Bible.  Comes in handy when no one can read.
In this shot, you can see that the bell tower is separate from the church.
This bridge (and most bridges) were destroyed by the Germans.  The Ponte Vecchio survived because they used it to retreat.
Lou thinks he took this shot from the Ponte Vecchio.  (Also the previous one.)

 

 

Excursion: Deluxe Florence With Uffizi Gallery And Pisa

This exclusive tour for a small group offers a more intimate look at the arts and treasures of the Renaissance, including a visit to the famed Uffizi Gallery. WHAT YOU VISIT Florence - The city's artistic and cultural wealth is rivaled only by Rome. Your walking tour takes in a number of the city's greatest landmarks. Piazza Del Duomo - Your walking tour pauses at the Piazza del Duomo to survey the superb cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The fourth largest church in the world, the Duomo was consecrated in 1436. Fillipo Brunelleschi, master architect of the Italian Renaissance, designed the cathedral's green and white marble façade and magnificent dome. The piazza is also home to the Baptistery, a unique octagonal building with gilded bronze doors. The east doors depict scenes from the Old Testament and are referred to as the "Gates of Paradise." Piazza della Signoria - The Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's town hall, features high, fortified walls and a giant tower. The Piazza also boasts a copy of Michelangelo's David as well as Cellini's statue of Neptune. The square was also the site of the "bonfire of the vanities." In 1497, the monk Savonarola persuaded Florentines to cast their wealthy goods into a massive bonfire and seek redemption. Uffizi Gallery - Originally built as administrative offices, the Uffizi has displayed the Medici's unrivaled art collection for four centuries, making it one of the oldest museums in the world. Some of the greatest works of Western art are on display, including masterpieces by Botticelli, Giotto, Titian, Michelangelo and Da Vinci. PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES Leaning Tower of Pisa - A 15 to 20-minute walk from the motorcoach parking lot brings you to Pisa's famous "Field of Miracles," where you have an opportunity to photograph the Cathedral, the Baptistery and, of course, the Leaning Tower. Ponte Vecchio - The famous 14th-century covered bridge spans the Arno and is home to Florence's medieval gold and silver guilds. Piazzale Michelangelo - Enjoy spectacular views of Florence and the Arno Valley from this vantage point (traffic permitting). WHAT YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY Drive via the autostrada through countryside lush with vineyards and olive orchards. Tuscan olive oil is world-renowned.

Florence 2004
Florence 2023
Tuscany 2006
Tuscany 2019
Tuscany 2023

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