“Everything about Florence seems to be colored with a mild violet, like diluted wine.”   -Henry James, writer, in a letter dated 1869

“You may have the world if I may have Italy.”  — Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) – Italian opera composer”

Florence, “Culla del Rinascimento” (Cradle of the Renaissance). It has been years and years since I was last here and I cannot wait to have Heidi experience this beautiful city.

We had reserved an airbnb but the more I kept looking at it, and reading the reviews, we decided against it and reserved a room at The Hoxton, a nice hotel a little ways away from the old center. We were very happy we did so as the location was perfect and the room so comfortable.

It RAINED during our stay in Florence, almost every day, rain, heavy rain. But we had our trusty rain coats and off we went to explore this amazing city. First off a visit to see David. A year ago I had purchased tickets to see David at the Galleria dell’ Accademia, and chose the earliest slot to enter. When we got there there was a short line to enter…those with tickets, and a huge line for those who wanted to see if they could get in. When you enter this museum, you pass though security and you are then in a large room with statues and paintings. I led Heidi away from this room, to the left, then a right and there in front of you, down a long hallway with statues on both sides, is DAVID…in all his glory. We stood in awe of him for what seemed eternity. Walked all around him. And this with hardly another person around. The majesty of this statue is absolutely mind-blowing. Slowly the crowds came and we went to look at the statues we passed over and at all the other wonders in this museum. On our way out we took one last look at David, now surrounded by hundreds of people all jostling for a glimpse.

We walked all around the Duomo, the Bell Tower, and the Baptistry. The lines to enter were so long we passed on the opportunity. And we were getting soaked to the skin. Instead we went to the Piazza della Signoria and saw the David replica and the bronze Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini.

We made a visit to the Basilica di Santa Croce, just a little ways away from the Duomo. And while the Duomo was filled with crowds, this church was almost empty. And inside is the final resting spot for Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Marconi and many other notables. And the church is stunning.

We have been to some amazing museums in the world, and we needed to add the Uffizi Gallery to our list. The former offices of the Medici, the hallways and rooms are now filled with some the most celebrated Renaissance art in the world. Room after room…you could spend days here.

While in the Uffizi, we had tickets to walk the Vasari Corridor, once the secret passageway for the Medici family to walk in safety from their palace, across the top of the Ponte Vecchio and to work at the Uffizi. This corridor had been closed for years and years and only recently opened up for tourists….we had to go. So fun to walk in the steps of the Medici, to cross over the Arno River on top of the Ponte Vecchio, and see the Grotto at the end of the Corridor. What an experience.

The Ponte Vecchio used to be home to butcher shops, but the smell became unbearable, and now there are only high-end jewelry stores over the entire bridge. It was the only bridge in Florence not bombed during WWII….so lucky.

We love markets and there are some beauties in Florence

And the gelato in Florence is superb!!!!

As well as the food. The most memorable meal we had was at this little Trattoria, Trattoria Tito. The food here was simply amazing, and the walls filled with writings of customers over the years. I had the wild boar with Pasta and it was probably the best meal I had the entire trip. We sat next to a father and son…the son had just graduated from college and was leaving the next day to graduate school. We struck up a conversation and spent probably two hours having the best time communication with them. We actually closed out the place Oh what fun.

And now we say arrivederci to Florence for it is time to venture to Venice. Thank you Florence for an unforgettable time.