Thursday’s train ride from Roma to Firenze was uneventful, however when we got to Firenze there were a heck of a lot more people in this city then I’ve ever seen. Thank goodness we travel with the students in the off season. I got a little turned around looking for the flat, but with a quick phone call to Genova we were headed in the right direction (Thanks Nick). After quickly checking in and freshening up, we headed over Ponte Vecchio to Bobolio Gardens, my second favorite place in Firenze!
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| Tuscany! |
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| Tuscany with my favorite church in the background |
Unfortunately, we had only one hour to tour the grounds, but it was plenty of time as we were getting hungry. We made our way over to Piazza Santo Spirito and ate dinner at a restaurant where Luca had previously taken us with the students, Tamero. Mom had the carbonara and I, the ravioli, and of course we finished our meal off with cantucci e vinsanto and a chocolate torte!
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| Mom and her carbonara |
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| Contucci e Vinsanto |
After a good nights sleep we headed to Good Friday service at The Duomo. I have really gotten used to mass in Italian, but when this entire service (it wasn’t a mass) was in Latin, that threw me for a loop! It was really pretty though, as they sang the whole service. It was mom and I with about forty nuns and some cardinals in the entire Duomo. I am setting a pretty good record of attending masses/services in the most amazing chiesas in Italy!
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| Firenze Duomo |
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| Firenze Duomo |
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| Firenze Duomo |
You know me, a trip to a different city is not complete without a free walking tour. This one in Firenze left from in front of Santa Maria Novella with Danielle. We visited several places as we made our way to the ending point of Santa Croce, including several medieval towers, Piazza Ponte Vecchio and Michelangelo’a house, where he grew up.
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| Our tour guide in Firenze |
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| St. Croce |
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| Doors of St. Croce |
Then we enjoyed lunch from Nick and I’s favorite sandwhich place where we ate in Piazza Ponte Vecchio, followed my gelato at Firenze’s oldest gelateria. This prepped us for our visit to my favorite place in Firenze, San Miniato! I love the church and the views of Firenze that it has to offer. But we of course visited Piazzale Michelango first, offering what I think is the best view of the city.
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| Piazzele Michelangelo |
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| FIRENZE |
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| More Tuscan hills |
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| St. Miniato |
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| St. Miniato |
We found a rose garden on our way back down into the city, where we sat and enjoyed not only views of Firenze, but the Tuscan hills!
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| Rose Gardens |
After a quick bite to eat at Trattoria Biondi, we retrieved our luggage from the flat and headed to the train station to catch our train back to Genova! Ciao Firenze, see you in a couple weeks!
