FLORENCE ~ August 06

We just spent a wonderful long weekend in Florence wandering along cobbled streets and stopping in occasionally to admire worn frescoes, sculptures and the obvious shop windows packed with leather, shoes, jewellery and glass. This perfectly formed vintage city is packed with beautiful old buildings scattered around every other corner. The architecture is pure Italian, I love the original styled window shutters and the topiaries dotted around rustic hillsides and villas just like the paintings on olive oil canisters. Even the street lamps have the most ornate decoration with clawed feet and berried vines of iron.

Besides the obvious beauty of the place there is however the slight risk of a little rendezvous with the occasional thief. After lunch one of the days, we were sitting at an outdoor cafe table when one of the street beggars came right up to us and nicked Tregue's wallet straight off the table in front of us. Needless to say he went straight after her and got it back - what a Prince. Lesson for all Italian criminals - do not be messing with the Mr Minnaar!

Wine induced photo shoot

... on the bridge!

Beautiful Italy

...

... Piaaza & Ponto Vecchio

...

Ponto Vecchio

...

River Rats Run Wild

On a stroll across the bridge we noticed an incredibly large looking animal below, walking out of the River Arno onto the river bank. On closer inspection it looked like a really huge rat – and had about four partners in crime, stealing food from the ducks and other Italian wild life.

Piazza Signoria

We were blessed with English weather for most of our stay, but walking through the town in drizzle and stormy skies seemed to add to the charm. At one point the skies broke, followed by a super 'tropical' down pour sending everyone in the Piazza running for shelter under rows of naked statues. The weather was warm though and after the hard rain had passed we stopped for some wine and snacks at a nearby cafe terrace, just beside the 'taxi rank' for the horse drawn carriages.

Piazza Poggi, Statues & more wine

Chapels, Frescoes and Wine

We visited the Piazza Madonna, which houses architecture and sculpture by Michelangelo and the Chapel of Princes which has recently had a very large piece of marble sculpture fall from its usual place of residence on the wall and so a little bit was barricaded off for refurbishment.
I lit a candle whilst visiting The Piazza Duomo where I was given a paper robe to wear so as to not show off any sinfully sexy shoulders! The famous Giotto Belltower is housed here but had such an exhausting queue waiting to climb the 436 steps to the top that we passed. Instead we walked to the Piazza Poggi where the view of Brunelleschi’s Dome is gorgeous, even through sheets of drizzle.

... the Palace and Grounds

Boboli Gardens at Pitti Palace

Pitti Palace

After making our way across the sparkly Ponte Vecchio, which was a rather long walk considering its length – possibly something to do with the rows of jewellery stores lining the bridge, every style jewel you can imagine. We eventually made our way to the Pitti Palace which housed all the ruling dynasties, most notably the Medici family who made many alterations and additions to the Palace and the surrounding park. We were able to roam through various apartments admiring the family costumes, porcelain, silverware, jewellery, art and glass galleries. The Boboli Gardens within the Palace grounds are beautifully manicured with many grottos, statues and The Giardino del Cavaliere, or Garden of the Knight which is a private little area where the Porcelain museum is now displayed.