Wednesday 10th - Florence

This was our first sighting of Florence when we got out of the coach by the River Arno. In 1966 this river flooded, many people were killed and many art works destroyed.
We met with the local guide who took us to Santa Croce, this church holds the monumental tombs of the great and the good of Florence, including Michelangelo (above) and Gallileo. It was not possible to get photographs of the outside as they use the Piazza there for concerts and were building seating.
We moved on to the Piazza della Signoria where the Fountain of Neptune and a copy of Michelangelo's David are located. The original David was moved inside in the 16th Century.
Here is David, we didn't get to see the original as there wasn't enough time to visit the museums.

Typical street in Florence.

This is the Cathedral Santa Maira del Fiore, the Duomo of Florence, it is vast and seems to go on forever.


The golden doors to the Baptistry are particularly stunning with very detailed scenes from the life of John the Baptist.

Campanile di Giotto - the Giotto Bell Tower

The Roman Gate

A member of our group recommended that we try the icecream at Grom it was well worth it. Brian had Chocolate Fondant and I had Raspberry sorbet and Lemon Sorbet.

We then went down to the Ponte Vecchio, which you can see behind me.

Brian on the Ponte Vecchio.

View from the other side of the Ponte Vecchio.

We met up at the coach again and were taken up to the gardens above Florence where there is another version of Michelangelo's David.

Both sides!!!

This is the fabulous view over Florence.

And here we are, just to prove we have been there!