Set off about 11.30am.
Washing all done and hanging on the verandah.
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Lovely to talk to you this morning Greg.
Good to hear the news and your tips for Florence!
I have a 3 Day Florence Card ( curtesy of Amanda) but I will pick that up on Thursday.
You have to use it for consecutive days and I have the Horse Riding In Tuscany tomorrow.
Plan to use the card Thursday and Friday.
This will get me up to the dome of the Duomo and into lots of other places.
Have to look them up tonight.

Just thought ... I was going to do the Hop On Hop Off Bus today and I completely forgot about it.
Glad I did though.
Had a ball walking.

The hotel is on the same street as The Accadamia, where the original David is.
... 7 minute walk.
I recognised that spot from the crowds.
Made me grin.
People watched here for a while.
Checked out where I pick up my ticket.

Then another 5 minute walk to The Duomo.
Wow.
This is just beautiful.
More beautiful on the outside, I think.
And enormous.

Inside.
It is beautiful but in a more austere way.
Spent ages in there.

Then to Piazza Della Signoria.

A bit of history ....
The piazza was already a central square in the original Roman town Florentia, surrounded by a theatre, Roman baths and a workshop for dyeing textiles. Later there was a church San Romolo, a loggia and an enormous 5th-century basilica. This was shown by the archaeological treasures found beneath the square when it was repaved in the 1980s. Even remains of a Neolithic site were found. The square started taking shape from 1268 on, when houses of Ghibellines were pulled down by the victorious Guelphs. The square remained a long time untidy, full of holes. In 1385 it was paved for the first time. In 1497 Girolamo Savonarola and his followers carried out on this square the famous Bonfire of the Vanities, burning in a large pile books, gaming tables, fine dresses, and works of poets. In front of the fountain of Neptune, a round marble plaque marks the exact spot where Girolamo Savonarola was hanged and burned on May 23rd 1498.

I loved this.
Saw the 'fake' David in front of the Palazzo Vecchio.
Michelangelo's original David stood here until 1873 when it was moved to the specially built section of The Accadamia.
This copy replaces it in the square.
The original plan was for David to stand on top of the building.
Then they realised that the statue was just too heavy.
That is why ( experts believe) that David's hands and head appear slightly bigger than they should.
Michelangelo carved him to be viewed from down in the street.

Looked closely at all the statues in Loggia dei Lanzi.
This has a huge gallery of statues. ...
Flanked by wide arches...
Had my photo taken in front of the Fountain of Neptune.
Circled the statues.
Sat amongst them.
Then decided to sit for lunch.
It just seemed like the thing to do.
And look at the view from where I was sitting!
Spent a relaxed 20 minutes there.
( I know how to sit and eat a meal.)
Then into Palazzo Vecchio ( Old Palace )
Now the Town Hall.
What a courtyard!
It was just beautiful.
That's the photo of me in front of the 'Cupid.'

The Florence Baptistery is being restored on the outside so had scaffolding all around it.
But, they had left the famous 'Gates of Paradise' clear.

More history ...
The Baptistery is one of the oldest buildings in the city, constructed between 1059 and 1128.
The Baptistry is renowned for its three sets of artistically important bronze doors with relief sculptures. The south doors were done by Andrea Pisano and the north and east doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The east doors were dubbed by Michelangelo the 'Gates of Paradise'.

Stood there for ages...

So onto the Ponte Vecchio.
Had fun on the walk there.
Bought a necklace from a street vendor.
He made it while I was there.
Unfortunately, the police moved him on when he was only half way through mine.
So he and I tag teamed ...
I was his lookout.
He was the jeweller.
Phew...
Took a while but we got there.
Lovely man.

The Ponte Vecchio looks wonderful stretching across the river.
Took a lovely stroll back and forth over it several times, desperately trying to find jewellery I needed.
No.
So contented myself taking photos through the jewellery shops at the view they have over the river.
Looks fantastic.

Then wandered the way back to my lovely balcony.

I bought 2 lovely jackets today.
One just past the Accadamia.
I love it.
And the second one, on the way back to pick up the first one.
I love it too.
This was what I had planned to buy on the trip and have been studiously holding out till Florence!
( Emily ... what happens in Paris, stays in Paris. OK?)

Have to wait to see them til I get back.

Arrived back about 4.30pm.
Checked on a taxi to get to the station tomorrow.
I am meeting the horse riding tour there tomorrow at 9.15am ... outside McDonalds.