Leaving our beautiful seaside Lerici on route to Florence, we had time for one more gorgeous hill town….in an unknown corner of mountain landscapes and villages in the Tuscan Apennines called “the land of a hundred castles” and you cant miss them as you travel through the surrounding hamlets and countryside. Bagnone is a dramatic looking stone village with a castle and a watch tower looming above, giving it that ancient timeless old world atmosphere.
The stone streets and old buildings make it a charming spot.
The town straddles the Bagnone stream, with some little foamy cascades and a medieval bridge that spans it.
It feels like something out of a storybook.
We drive on to Florence and with great relief, return our hire car in one piece- it has been a constant source of stress and tension. We then proceed to drag our suitcases over what feels like several kilometres of very cobbled roads to find our hotel. Google maps is once again confused and we walk in circles in great frustration and exhaustion. But we are in Florence! No trip to Italy, let alone Tuscany would be complete without a stop in Florence. It is beautiful, colourful and delicious… and jam packed full with gorgeous sights, beautiful buildings and views that are just too good to miss. The city has been charming viitors since the Renaissance.
There is an energy here…indescribable… different to anywhere we had been so far… teeming with life (and tourists). It was fast-paced, yet slow…historic yet modern…and incredibly charming with friendly people….and amazing food and wine.
I rise early as I usually do while travelling, to beat the crowds and take some photos. Every corner bears new treasures, every cobblestone a gem.
The artistry in the sculptures, the landscapes, the architecture is beyond compare. I feel a sense of humility and awe walking along these ancient streets, which have served as witness to countless revolutions, tread upon for so many centuries by artists and martyrs and geniuses alike. Where else can you stroll the same pedestrian streets walked by Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Botticelli while savoring the world’s best gelato (although I’ll get to that later). It is an open-air museum…the stones are infused with history and culture and knowledge: You can feel it…the presence of generations…the weight of history.
Florence is known for its cultural vibes that fill the streets. These vibes give you a feeling of overwhelming happiness. It’s a city of color; the intricately designed buildings are filled with hand-carved details and frescoes.
Every few steps you will be taken by the smells wafting from the trattorias, osterias, cafes and pizzerias. You will be surrounded by the sounds of the lively conversations in one of the most beautiful languages in the world.
We are staying in Piazza Republica- most noted for the carousel in the middle of the action.
It is a great place to explore by day or night…with tons of vendors selling authentic Italian leather products, gorgeous jewellery and the ever present souvenirs….and street performers and singers aplenty… you never know what you might see when you walk through and from our room it sounded like a constant carnival.
This city is full of Italy’s finest Renaissance art, history and architecture… but rising above all these masterpieces, both literally, and some would argue figuratively, is the colossal Florence Duomo. The duomo is one of the most magnificent and largest cathedrals ever built and has been a symbol of grandeur since the time of its construction. The enormous red-tiled dome – the biggest brick and mortar dome in the world…and one of the most significant architectural achievements of the Renaissance is both a product and a symbol of the incredibly creative culture that defined the city for over 500 years.
Easily the largest church of its time, it was intended as a way to publicise the city’s wealth and power, and stand out from the cathedrals of rival cities Siena and Pisa. It towers above the narrow streets of the city centre, and is clearly visible from every direction, including the surrounding hills. No matter where you walk in Florence, chances are you will spot the famous Duomo… a defining element of the city’s history, geography, and identity…towering above. I am totally in awe no matter how many times I see it. I climb Giottos tower…
…to examine Brunelleschi’s dome (which I climbed on a previous trip), from the best angle…and marvel at its size and beauty.
Later in the day I visit the Pallazzo Vecchia…prettiest town hall in the world with its beautiful courtyard from where you can admire the frescoes which illustrate scenes from home for one of the Medici brides.
I then climb the tower for views of the Duomo, Santa Croce church and Ponte Vecchio
We had heard how good the gelato was here and planned to devour our weight in it! I spied a gelato bar and proceeded to order a cone with coconut and mixed berry gelato. I asked the price several times and she just kept putting her finger up to wait. She then asks me for 10€. OMG- a $15 ice cream- definitely the most expensive I have even eaten. But it was delicious.
We take the steep cobblestoned walk to the nineteenth-century Piazza Michelangelo- for uninterrupted views of the Florentine skyline.
We noticed a little doorway on the way up, set into the wall on the side and we wandered in and found this rather lovely little garden- Giardino delle Rose. There is a sculpture of a hollowed out suitcase and if you stand in the right spot, you get a gorgeous view of the city’s skyline framed by the suitcase sides…just perfect!
We continue to the top… grab a wine and jostle for position on the steps to watch the setting sun to the sounds of live music from a street performer.
Here, usually the play of light paints the city and its famed waterway, the Arno river, a palette embracing every known shade of soft pink, orange and fiery amber. Forever the girl chasing the perfect sunset, i have been privileged to see it several times…but sadly colour did not really want to come and play tonight and the sunset is almost nonexistent.
We have a seafood dinner overlooking the Ponte Vecchio to farewell Anne who leaves us in the early hours of tomorrow morning. Thank you for being all things lovely… It has been three weeks of laughs and challenges (hello driving on the wrong side of the road) wrapped up in so many beautiful memories. You will be really missed.
and I think to myself what a wonderful world 