We don't rush this morning after last night's barrage, but we do find there are two white churches at opposite ends of Lucca so little wonder we got confused last night. We finally leave the aire at 11:00 after a leisurely cooked breakfast and take the autostrada to Florence through some beautiful Tuscan countryside. We arrive at Camping Michelangelo 90 minutes later after our approach takes us past the viewpoint with the famous scene of Florence's rooftops dominated by the red dome. As we park to check in a man appears at the window, tells us it is closed down and gives us a map and directions to the new site. Half an hour later we are checked in to the newly built facility. It's 33C as we get our bits together and head up the road to the bus stop with tickets bought on site. A 15 minute ride and we alight in Piazza San Marco a few hundred metres from the Duomo or Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore.

We saw it once before on a cruise in 2003 but had limited time. Today it is less crowded and we linger and study this enormous cathedral built from red, white and green marble. The intricate detailing, friezes and carved panels are stunning. Gilded frescoes shine in the sun and high above the huge red tiled dome reaches into a deep blue sky. Operatic music from a string band drifts around the square and a long queue moves slowly up the steps to the inside of the cathedral.

As we make our way around we spot a ramp to a side door. There is a sign which appears to say 'worshipers and staff only' but as Nick approaches to ask the uniformed attendant if there is a way in she opens the doors and admits us with a friendly 'Prego' or 'please'. No queue, no fee.

Inside is cool and quiet. It is also surprisingly plain after the elaborate detailing outside. Mainly pale painted plaster walls, an arched roof 90m high which doesn't seem to have enough columns but it's stood since the 15th century. The tri-coloured marble floor is quite intricate and there are a few green marble statues. Even the alter, whilst opulent, is less extravagant than many churches. All the while people file through, some obviously on tour with their pink 'guide-pods' dangling round their necks.

We exit into the sun and buy a few postcards then just sit and study it again as the late afternoon sun pick outs the relief. With battery power getting low on the buggy [having been off site for a few days] we can't go too far today so it's back to the bus stop and return to site.

It's a hot and humid evening as we catch up on notes and write a few postcards.