 August 27 Having purchased our tickets yesterday, riding the bus today was a snap. After the usual continental breakfast in our lodging, we headed to the historical center of Florence. Our first stop was the Duomo – the very ornate central cathedral.
 We arrived shortly before the 9:00 AM opening and found a short line awaiting entry. The couple behind us were speaking English, so we introduced ourselves. He is a professional runner who was showing his wife some of the sights he sees in passing on his circuit. The doors soon opened, and we went on our separate ways.
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| One thing that surprised us was the lack of restrictions on photography in many places. Although our pictures don't begin to do justice to the beauty of the interior, you can get an idea of the grandeur we found here and in many other religious edifices in Italy. |
| After a suitable time, we left the Duomo with the intention of visiting the Accademia Belle Arti, home of the famous statue of David. We walked along the street expecting to be able to spot the entrance by a long line. In fact, we walked right past the entrance – there was no line at 10:00 AM. We were able to find the entrance and immediately found ourselves surrounded by paintings and statuary. David is on a high pedestal and we had no problem getting a clear picture of him. Michaelangelo's Pieta is surrounded by glass but at floor level. A copy of the Rape of the Sabine Women is the centerpiece of another room (the original is in Piazza Signoria which we were to visit later in the day). There are many more rooms in the Accademia, filled with various altar pieces and sculptures. Definitely a place to visit if you're interested in a quick, but intense, exposure to the art of Italy. |
| Leaving the Accademia, we peeked in the courtyard of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi and continued on to the Piazza della Repubblica – home to many vendor's stalls in a covered open air market – and then stopped for lunch at a sidewalk cafe in Piazza Signoria. This piazza is dominated by the Palazzo Vecchio, one of the strongholds of the Medici family in Florence. After lunch, we found the internet business and spent a bit of time checking our e-mail and the stock market. |
| One of the more fascinating places in Florence is the Ponte Vecchio – a bridge over the Arno River. Once the bridge was the home to many trades, including butchers who used the river as a convenient disposal. Even several centuries ago, however, environmental concerns won out and the butchers were relocated. Today, only jewelers occupy the bridge. Quite a site, it took Meredith a long time to cross. |
| South of the bridge, we found the Palazzo Pitti – another Medici stronghold – and the Giardino Boboli (Boboli Gardens). We walked the gardens, dodging raindrops at times, and found the statue of Bacchus – apparently riding home on a turtle after an evening of mirth. By this time, we were about ready for a turtle to ride, so we returned across the bridge, had dinner, and took the bus home. Tomorrow would find us in Assisi, meeting up with Kelly and her friend Andy.
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