I woke up on New Year's Day and set out through the fairly vacant streets of Florence. While pretty much everything was closed for the day, my goal was to walk around and take time to ooh and ah over the architecture, and take in some sweeping views of Firenze. First stop was the Piazza del Duomo...
This is a view of the Baptistry
The Duomo
I arrived right in time for some morning bells...
After walking around the Duomo and giving it it's due of admiration, I headed down toward the river. This sweet shop's pretty windows caught my attention...
Just look at those marzipan cherries!
Panforte selections on display...
Piazza della Repubblica...
Palazzo Vecchio and the Town Hall of the Medici...
Until 1873, Michelangelo's David stood where this replica stands today.
I've read people's take on their trip to Florence where they felt like seeing the replica was a good substitute for seeing the real thing. In, my opinion, IT IS NOT!
This is a much less crowded Uffizi Museum. Remember that I had rushed through seeing everything on 12/30 because the Uffizi was suppose to be closed on NY Day? Yeah, well, they decided to open after all, but didn't publicize that until 12/31. I don't think they plan things out well in Italy. Another example of this is that I had read the Bargello Museum was suppose to be open on NY Day, but wouldn't you know they decided to close. Frustrating yes, but just part of traveling around holidays.
All of the shops on the Ponte Vecchio were closed, but a New Years sign had been hung on the bridge...
Buon 2017 = Good 2017
On the South, less visited side, of the Arno River is the Pitti Palace. It was closed, but I walked by and took it in. Just down the street from the Palace, I found a cute vintage store that I rummaged through for a while.
I walked along the south side of the Arno. This is the Uffizi, and there was some sort of water event that day...
Some video of this view...
And looking the other direction....
My next stop was Piazzale Michelangelo. Please note: you should take a taxi to Piazzale Michelangelo and walk back down. I did not. I walked up and down. And it is up, and up, and up.
Here I think I was taking a momentary break on the hike and captured some of the view...
As you inch higher and higher, the view gets more breathtaking...
Can you imaging driving around in this little car?
I walked back through Florence and took in the city. I tried to stop by a couple of restaurants I had read about, but they were all closed. I went back to the hotel, and upon their recommendation, I walked to the Mercato Centrale, which is a giant iron and glass covered market. The downstairs traditional market was closed, but upstairs giant food court was buzzing. I totally should have been eating here the whole trip, so I was bummed I didn't discover it until my last meal in Florence.
It was so crowded, I decided to get some food to go, but I ate my dessert first as I walked back to my hotel.
This was the BEST gelato I had the entire trip!
I had 3 flavors here: Pistachio, Milk with chocolate flakes, and mascarpone with caramelized figs & walnuts. Oh my gosh...that mascarpone flavor was sublime.
That pizza-like thing with the eggplant, cherry tomatoes, and basil was pretty darn good as well.
I hung out on the hotel rooftop garden to finish out the day.
They had heaters up here, so I enjoyed reading up here for a while.
I always feel bad if I'm not going non-stop, but so many things being closed on the holiday pushed me to relax a little. It was mid-way through the trip, so not bad timing to rest up a little.
The view from the rooftop garden...
I love to listen to the bells
Buona notte Firenze!
I packed up before going to bed, because I was on a train the next morning to Venice.
Stay Tuned...
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