Florence

August 26 - 28

We took the train to Florence after an amazing backpacking trip in the Dolomites.  We were ready to relax and take a break from hiking.

August 26
We spent our first day / evening walking around the city where there's a beautiful cathedral, basilica  sculpture, or amazing architecture around every corner.   We stumbled across the Duomo which is indescribably stunning.

Front of the Duomo

View of the Duomo from the side with it's beautiful dome.

As we continued walking, we came across the basilica di Santa Croce. 

The Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale 

(We had to take a picture of this for my brother, Chris.  Inside joke.  He knows how much we love to party at the biblioteca.)

Basilica Santa Maria Novella

Our condo that we rented was just around the corner from this piazza.

Il Porcellino in Mercato Nuovo

If you met his snout, it means you are destined to return to Florence in the future.

We strolled around the Piazza della Signoria in the evening and viewed the incredible sculptures outside of Palazzo Vecchio.

This is one of the frescos inside Palazzo Vecchio. 

A few of the famous copies of sculptures outside Palazzo Vecchio.

This is a copy of "David", the original, by Michelangelo sits inside the Accademia.

August 27

The next day we bought tickets to the Accademia to see the famous statue, "David" by Michelangelo.

This is a blurry shot of "David" 

(Not really allowed to take pictures, but I didn't realize that until one of the big Italian security guard women started screaming at me just as I clicked the shot.)

For dinner that night, we bought a few things from one of the local Italian grocery stores and a couple bottles of Chianti (cheap wine is so great here!), and we headed up to Michelangelo Piazza which sits on a hill high above Florence and has the best views during sunset.  The sunrise views are incredible as well (I ran around there early this morning).


Bronze statue copy of "David" (that makes 3 "David's" in this city!)

View looking out over the city of Florence towards the Ufizi 

Our favorite sunset shot - looking out over the Arno River

While we were watching the sunset and having our picnic and wine, we met another couple from Atlanta who had the same idea with the bottle of wine.  We also met a couple from Australia/New Zealand, also drinking their wine.  Great minds think alike!  After crazy-story telling (and pissing off the crowds of people around us, since we were really loud), we ran around the city with them, had an apertivo at one bar, analyzed sculptures in Piazza della Signoria, then spent about an hour searching for one particular bar which we never found, but still had a blast with them anyways!

This shot is for Jody and Tiffany!

August 28

We started our day out with a strong espresso and a stroll through the Boboli and Bardini Gardens.

View from the top of the Boboli Gardens

Bardini Gardens and a beautiful view of Florence below.

Afterwards, we headed towards this amazing sandwich shop, All'Antico Vinaio, that was recommended to us by Tiffany and Stew.  Easily the best quick lunch in Florence!

Here's me with a view of the Ponte Vecchio bridge (that's the covered bridge in the background).

We finally made it into the Uffizi later in the day.  This is a view of the Ponte Vecchio bridge from inside the Uffizi. 

"Holy Family" by Michelangelo.  

The only painting by Michelangelo in Florence.  It has a 3-D effect, and the people in the painting almost look like sculptures.

Uffizi clocktower

Portraits by Rafael of Popes Julius II and Leo X 

After starring at artwork for hours, we were ready for a great Italian dinner.  We went to this amazing restaurant, L'Osteria Del Giovanni.  Perfect recommendation from our friends, Lauren Patrick!