Florence

After a few days in Rome, it was time for the both of us to discover something new together. Carin had been to Florence 18-19 years ago, but since it had been a while we both looked forward to a bit of exploring! On the train up north!

We had booked ourselves into a really lovely hotel in the middle of the city center, only about a 5 minutes walk from the train station. So of course we went right out on a walk to have a look at our famous surroundings.
Starting with the Duomo, which was only a few minutes away from the hotel, so pretty! And impressive!

This, the largest brick dome ever constructed, really dominates Florence, no other building stands taller in the city. The size is typical of the Florentine determination to lead in all things! At the time of its construction it was the largest dome to be built without scaffolding. It is double-shelled, where the inner shell supports the outer.

We didn't go inside, because it was free the queue was absolutely ridiculous. But we had a good look all around it, at all the colourful marble panels in green and pink.

And obviously, we checked out the Bapistry Doors. These ones here in the photographs are copies, the real ones are in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (which we couldn't get in to as the tickets were sold out unfortunately). They were designed by Lornenzo Ghiberti in the beginning of the 1400s, after he had won a competition.
They have many different images on them, for example Abraham sacrificing Isaac - a story I am well familiar with now after the Letters of Light exhibition.

Lunch time. I had so much gorgeous food this week, different antipasti all the time, and delicious wine. We tried as many local specialities as we could.

Carin had a friend who works as a tour guide in Florence, so she met up with us and took us on a bit of a walk about. Here Piazza Della Signoria with the equestrian sculpture of Duke Cosimo I, a member of the Medici family.

Then we got down to the river Arno, to have a look at the iconic bridge Ponte Vecchio. Although our photographer didn't do a very good job of getting it into the picture of us... ha ha!

But there it is!

It was built in 1345 and was the only bridge in the city to not be destroyed by the Nazis during the WWII.

There used to be butchers, tanners and blacksmiths in the workshops on the bridge until the end of the 16th century. Then they were rebuilt, and the goldsmiths moved in. To this day, there are still jewellery shops lining the bridge, specialising in new and antique jewellery.

The view the other way, of one of the more modern bridges, the Ponte Santa Trinita. It is attributed to Michelangelo and considered to be the most beautiful bridge in Florence.
Originally it was built in wood in 1252, it was rebuilt in 1567, blown up in 1944 - and restored again.

Dinner time, more wine - yum!