The less I know about a city, the more I enjoy exploring it. I didn’t know anything about Florence when I arrived other than there was some building here called “Il Duomo”. The internet doesn’t seem to have made it here, either, so I had no guides or anything. With the tight work schedule, it was all I could do to get my trains and hostels booked – forget planning my sightseeing.
So today I took off blindly into Florence. I had the map on the back of an advertisement flyer for a bike tour, so I wasn’t completely lost – just mostly. But I was able to find my way to the Duomo. It’s BEAUTIFUL. I walked around the corner and stopped in my tracks. Unlike Notre Dame and the other monuments I’m used to seeing, it’s made of marble – red, green, and pink, with incredibly ornate details everywhere. It’s absolutely stunning. And the surprises continued throughout the day.
I found another building that looked pretty from the outside so I walked in. Turns out I found the tombs of Michaelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, among others. And it happens to be down the street from the best gelato store in Florence, which I discovered on my way to the Ponte Vecchio, which was cool but lined with shops way outside my price range.
So I headed to the Piazzale Michaelangelo. I didn’t know what it was, but I like Michaelangelo, so I figured I’d see it. Talk about timing! The Piazzale Michaelangelo is a park on a huge hill overlooking Florence and I arrived right at sunset – just in time to see the sun light up the red roofs of the city.
A satisfying day, indeed.
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Niels,
I’m from Belgium and I’ve spent quite some time in Italy now. Florence indeed is a super city. The history of the city and the bella ragazzi (or whatever the conjugation is :)) are overwhelming. From what i’ve read you’re going to visit Florence, Rome and Venice. All of them great cities. If you want great and not to expensive lunch in Rome just stay clear of St. Peters. The little streets around Corso Vittorio are great for those things. In Florence be sure to go to the huge market. Great stuff there (bought a hand made very stylish leather jacket in a cool store there for 70€. Just make sure you haggle. They said to us they got the Americans for a lot of money). If you have the time visit Sienna and Pisa too. Personally i think Sienna is the most beautiful city in Italy because of the authentic medieval ambience.
Have fun man. And drink lots of Peroni beer (best beer in Italy) or Belgian beer (best in the world of course ;))
Did you take any pictures?
Lucky…..
My initial plan for when i got out of the marines was to walk aimlessy around europe for a couple months. Unfortunately the reality bug bit me, and i’m starting school in November. (again) but this time i’m “in it to win it”
take some pics and let us see ’em.
I just want to let you know that I haven’t forgotten about you and I still read everyday.
I wish I could wander aimlessly around Italy.
But I gotta finish high school first.
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