Gas is over $8 a gallon here. That is absolutely insane. And we thought we had it bad. It makes perfect sense why people ride Vespas and bicycles over here. And it also makes sense why there are not many gas guzzling SUVs over here. Remember the next time you fill up...how thankful we should be to not have to pay $8 a gallon
Onto another thought about cars in Italy: some of our favorite moments on this trip so far is just sitting somewhere at rush hour and watch the traffic gridlock. It is absolutely insane what they can do here on streets that our the size of one way, one lane streets in the US.
Ok so for today....we started at the Galileo Museum. It had just been restored in 2010. It was really nice. From there we went to Pitti Palace. It was very impressive. From there we saw the Boboli gardens. It was actually not raining today so it was a good day for being outside. We we walked up to the Piazza Michelangelo. There is a bronze replica statue of David. It was very touristy.
From there we walked further up the mountain to San Miniato. Thank you to everyone who told us go there. Wow! The church was my favorite one I have ever seen. The ceiling was amazing!! The weather was perfect so we were able to walk around the church. They have the most incredible cemetery (Fran Bradbary get ready for some amazing ideas for the Memorial Gardens) :) No, but really it was amazing. We saw the author of Pinnochio's mausoleum. Since it was also the most perfect day we have had since getting to Italy, we took a nap on a bench outside San Miniato. :)
So the past two days we have covered quite a few sites:
• Basilica Santa Croce
• Bargello
• Fiesole
• Pitti Palace
• Boboli Gardens
• Piazza Michelangelo
• San Miniato
• Galileo Science Museum
Tomorrow we leave for Bologna. Until tomorrow....
Santa Croce church (yesterday)
Santa Croce Church (yesterday)
The amazing lunch from yesterday!
The amazing lunch from yesterday!
The amazing lunch from yesterday!
On the bust to Fiesole! (yesterday)
On the bust to Fiesole! :) (yesterday)
Fiesole! (yesterday)
Fiesole! (yesterday)
Fiesole! (yesterday)
Santa Maria Novella! (yesterday)
Santa Maria Novella! (yesterday)
Santa Maria Novella Perfumery! (yesterday) This place was awesome. Its been around since the 17th centuy
Santa Maria Novella Perfumery! (yesterday) This place was awesome. Its been around since the 17th centuy
Santa Maria Novella Perfumery! (yesterday) This place was awesome. Its been around since the 17th centuy
Pictures from today:
Ok the long awaited pictures of our breakfast each morning... :)
Ok the long awaited pictures of our breakfast each morning... :)
Ok the long awaited pictures of our breakfast each morning... :)
Galileo Museum
Galileo Museum
Galileo Museum
Galileo Museum. These look like the lemonade spicket-thingy's at parties...they invented these back in the 1700s for something to do with science...ha!
Ponte Vecchio bridge
Pitti Palace
There was an exhibition in the Pitti Palace that was from Kyoto, Japan! Wow, really? Yes!
There was an exhibition in the Pitti Palace that was from Kyoto, Japan! Wow, really? Yes!
Pitti Palace
Pitti Palace. After so many sculptures, you start to look like them1 :)
Pitti Palace
Boboli Gardens
Boboli Gardens
Boboli Gardens
Boboli Gardens
Piazza Michelangelo
Piazza Michelangelo
Piazza Michelangelo
San Miniato - uhhh mazing!
San Miniato - uhhh mazing! Look at the ceiling in this church. It is amazing!
The mausoleum of the Pinnochio writer
These were graves in the cemetery...
They were miniature houses.
Next to Christ Church Memorial Gardens, this is the best cemetery.
The view for our nap!
Uhh...he is still sleeping...
San Miniato - uhhh mazing!
This is the main library in Florence. This is where the shuttle for our hotel would drop us off and pick us up each day. This is where all the traffic/gridlock went down. :)
What a great hotel, highly recommend if you are visiting Florence!
It was fun, Florence. Bologna, here we come!
You're welcome about the suggestion to visit San Mineato. It was one of the most fascinating places in Florence to see in my opinion. I could hang out in that grave yard for days on end. There were so many pictures to take, the history, so much to read and take in.
ReplyDeleteIn the church is where our daughter, Kellie (while studying art over a summer in Florence during her college years) found God. He unexpectedly transformed her there. Most of her art work was inspired from pictures she took at San Mineato and the Lilly Pond gardens between there and the Michelangelo square. The view of Florence from those vantage points is breathtaking. It looks like you visited on a beautiful day. So glad you got to experience our favorite part of Florence!
Thanks for posting pictures.
Deedee! We really enjoyed the church at San Marco. Wow! We stayed until a service was happening at 5:30. It was great to see that part as well. I loved the ceiling in the church...never have seen anything like that before.
DeleteThanks for following us through our journey and you helpful hints!
--Amanda