Road Trip to Italy: FLORENCE

We started our morning with a hearty breakfast as we knew we had several kilometers of walking ahead of us and needed a good way to start the day. Our first stop was to Duomo as it was a few minutes away from our hotel.

Duomo, Campanile and Baptistry.
Are you ready for some aerobic exercise? We are going to climb 400 plus steps up the Campanile.

We made it, out of breath but smiling!

We then got on our bikes to our next destination.

Santa Croce where you can find the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo.

Possible inspiration for the Statue of Liberty?Michelangelo's Tomb. This monument was designed by Vasari in 1570 as Michelangelo never completed the tomb he had planned for himself. The figures are painting, architecture and sculpture.

Afterwards we walked across one of the bridges to take another panoramic view of the city. The steps lead to San Miniato al Monte. After catching our breath we admired the view.Piazzale Michelangelo We also walked to Forte di Belverede but when we arrived the gates were closed with a bulletin posted that it has been closed since 2008 pending an investigation of the death of a woman who died on the premises. This is the second death related to this place as two years prior a man was also found dead. Street St. Giorgio where Galileo once lived.
Arno river view from Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence to escape being blown up during World War II.

Entrance to Palazzo Vecchio, it still fulfills its original role as Florence's town hall.

Piazza della Signoria a unique outdoor sculpture gallery. Wouldn't you like to hang out here in the afternoons reading your favorite book?

Neptune Fountain, the Roman sea god surrounded by water nymphs.

This concluded our sightseeing for the day, I'm exhausted, how about you? Tomorrow we will see The Bargello and afterwards drive to San Gimignano to see the Tuscan countryside.