Rediscovering Florence

Brunelleschi's Dome - the fourth largest in the world,
the crowning glory of Florence Cathedral

Just before Easter Kevin and I had the opportunity to revisit Florence, en route to catching up with our friend Lyndall in Chianti. It was nearly 30 years since I was last there, and even longer for Kevin.

The Arno River, looking towards the Ponte alle Grazie

Happily not that much seems to have changed, except there are probably even more tourists these days. Florence is still one of those truly special places where you pinch yourself and wonder how there can be so many beautiful buildings, bridges and piazzas in the one location.

Uffizi Tower in the Piazza della Signoria

Santa Croce (built in 1294 but the marble facade was added in 1863)
- burial place of Michelangelo, Rossini, Machiavelli and Galileo Galilei

The arch at the Piazza della Repubblica

Banksy-style take on a traditional image

The Baptistry is at the forefront of the cathedral buildings
- look at that full moon!

We stayed in a moderately priced hotel only a few minutes' stroll from the Piazza del Duomo. The Paris Hotel is housed in two prestigious renaissance palaces - Palazzo Venturi and Palazzo Mondragone - and we were charmed by its enormously wide staircases, stratospherically high ceilings and opulent soft furnishings. Then there's the breakfast room with its vaulted ceiling covered in frescoes, and the stained glass windows... not to mention the breakfast itself. It included teensy weensy little morsels of heaven called bomboloni alla crema - it was hard not to over-indulge!

Renaissance styling in the Paris Hotel, situated on the Via de' Banchi

Ornate staircase in the Paris Hotel

The view from our bedroom

The breakfast room with its beautiful frescoes on the vaulted ceiling

The terrace that links the two palaces together - Paris Hotel

Never fear, that breakfast was more than worked off by about five hours of walking as we explored Florence on a glorious Spring day. 

We took advantage of the Florence Free Tour, which genuinely is free, though of course you are asked to tip at the end if you are satisfied. It would only be the tightest Scrooge who wouldn't tip generously - the tours are fantastic and the guides incredibly knowledgeable.

After the tour we had a bite of lunch and then wandered at our leisure until Lyndall collected us in her car in late afternoon.

Facade of Florence Cathedral, with Giotto's campanile (bell tower)

The Ponte Vecchio - Florence's medieval closed-spandrel bridge,
with its many shops and restaurants

Another view of the cathedral

Florentine humour!

It's understandable why Florence is such a tourist mecca and a 'must see' on most Europea travel itineraries. To stroll through a city filled with centuries of the world's greatest architecture and design, eating incredible food and enjoying great shopping with stylish boutiques and amazing art galleries... it is hard to beat.

The world's best gelato (mine dairy-free, of course)

We now have a connection with Italy, given our friend Lyndall's house is in the heart of Tuscany. Both Florence and Pisa's airports are within 1-2 hours of Lecchi-in-Chianti where Lyndall's house is located, so I hazard a guess we'll be returning to Florence. This time we hope not to have 30 years between visits.

Until next time,

- Maree xo