Pisa
Today, we traveled down the coast to our first stop in Tuscany––Pisa. This is the classic shot of the Baptistry, the Duomo, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The land that they are on is called the Camp dei Miracoli (the Field of Miracles).
Pisa
Pisa
Another view taken from the entrance to the Camp dei Miracoli. The style of these buildings is called Pisan Romanesque.
Pisa
Pisa
The Baptistry was begun in 1152 and finished a century later. It is the biggest baptistry in Italy and it really is leaning––about 5 feet.
Pisa
Pisa
Close–up of the Baptistry.
Pisa
Pisa
Another close–up.
Pisa
Pisa
Statue on top of the Baptistry’s dome.
Pisa
Pisa
Close–up of the statue.
Pisa
Pisa
The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was built in the 12th century and it started leaning even before it was completed.
Pisa
Pisa
A photo that I took from the front, suggested by Paolo. From this view, the Leaning Tower looks almost straight.
Pisa
Pisa
Close–up of the top of the tower. You can climb up the 294 steps to the top of the tower.
Pisa
Pisa
The Leaning Tower and the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
The Duomo and the Baptistry. The Duomo was begun in 1064 and was still being worked on hundreds of years later.
Pisa
Pisa
You can visit inside both the Bapistry and the Duomo. I only went inside the Duomo. This photo is of inside the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
Inside the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
Inside the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
Also inside the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
And also inside the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
Inside the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
Also inside the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
Another view of inside the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
Interesting statues inside the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
Stained glass inside the Duomo.
Pisa
Pisa
There must have been a hundred souvenir shops here, most selling quite tacky items.
Pisa
Pisa
Here in Pisa and elsewhere at many of the tourist spots in Italy are vendors from West Africa.
Pisa
Pisa
We were driven from and back to the bus parking lot to the Camp dei Miracoli in this shuttle. On our way, we were treated to some very nice singing and music and a sign in the shuttle told us that the singer was the shuttle bus driver himself and we could buy a CD of his for 10 Euros. I bought one and it is quite pleasant music to listen to. Some of my fellow tour members also bought his CD.
Pisa
Pisa to Florence
We left Pisa and its Leaning Tower to head to Florence. We passed this scene along the way.
Pisa to Florence
Florence
We have made it to Florence (Firenze in Italian). First, we were told to get a quick bite to eat as we hadn’t had lunch yet. After lunch, we met a local guide who walked us past some of major sights of Florence. First, the Duomo and Giotto’s tower (on the right).
Florence
Florence
Long view of Giotto’s Tower. It was designed by Giotto in 1334, but not completed until 1359. When Eddie was working in Milan for Boeing, he took a weekend day trip to Florence. He spent most of his time here climbing up to the top of this tower––only 413 very narrow steps. He said the view was spectacular from the top, but he didn’t take any photos as by this time he had run out of film. For some reason, Eddie told me that if he took me to Florence we both would climb up to the top. I can’t tell you how truly disappointed I was that I didn’t have enough time in Florence to make the climb (don’t believe what I just wrote)!!!!!
Florence
Florence
Close–up of the top of Giotto’s Tower.
Florence
Florence
The Duomo from the side. It is made of pink, green, and white Tuscan marble. You can also climb to its top, but it is 50 more steps up than is Giotto’s Tower.
Florence
Florence
Doors of the Duomo.
Florence
Florence
Close–up of the fresco above the door.
Florence
Florence
Another view of the Duomo.
Florence
Florence
The Baptistry across from the Duomo.
Florence
Florence
The Baptistry. You can see the famous bronze doors of the Bapistry that were designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti.
Florence
Florence
The statues above the doors.
Florence
Florence
The bronze doors. Michelangelo called these doors the “Gates of Paradise.” I was surprised to be told that these doors are copies of the famous doors. The original doors are in the Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo in Florence. There is another copy of these doors at the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
Florence
Florence
Close–up of the doors.
Florence
Florence
Another close–up of the Gates of Paradise.
Florence
Florence
Another close–up of the doors.
Florence
Florence
We next walked through the Piazza dell Signoria.
Florence
Florence
This town hall, the Palazzo Vecchio, was completed in 1332. It still serves as a town hall. It is in the Piazza dell Signoria.
Florence
Florence
View from the back of the town hall.
Florence
Florence
Statue on side of the town hall.
Florence
Florence
Fountain of Neptune in front of the town hall.
Florence
Florence
Copy of the famous David statue by Michelangelo. The original stood in the this piazza until 1873. It is now in the Galleria dell’Accademia here in Florence.
Florence
Florence
The famous Uffizi Gallery is on the left. It houses the best collection of Italian paintings anywhere. The River Arno is through the arch at the end of the Piazzale Degli Uffizi.
Florence
Florence
We next walked to the Piazza di Santa Croce and visited the Church of Santa Croce, which started being built in 1294.
Florence
Florence
Inside the Church of Santa Croce.
Florence
Florence
Another view of the inside of the church.
Florence
Florence
The tombs of some very famous Florentines are in this church. This is the tomb of Michelangelo.
Florence
Florence
The tomb of Machiavelli.
Florence
Florence
The area where Galileo’s tomb is located was being worked on. This a picture of Galileo’s tomb.
Florence
Florence
There are also monuments of famous Florentines. This is a monument in honor to Dante.
Florence
Florence
Outside corridor of the Church of Santa Croce.
Florence
Florence
Ceiling of the outside corridor.
Florence
Florence
View of outside buildings through corridor windows.
Florence
Florence
After visiting the Church of Santa Croce, we visited a gold jewelry store located at the Piazza di Santa Croce near the church. Florence is known for its gold work. The store had beautiful gold jewelry for sale but I wasn’t tempted. Next, we visited the Peruzzi leather factory store (Florence is also known for its leather) and I was tempted here. The store was very crowded, so I left to walk around Florence, coming back later to the store.
Florence
Florence
I first walked a short distance to the River Arno and took this photo.
Florence
Florence
In the opposite direction on the River Arno is the famous Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge). It was built in 1345 and is the only bridge in Florence that wasn’t destroyed during World War II. Today, there are many jewelry and antique vendors on the bridge. There are also apartment buildings on it.
Florence
Florence
A closer–up view of the Ponte Vecchio.
Florence
Florence
Close–up view of the apartment houses on the right of the bridge.
Florence
Florence
Close–up view of the apartment houses on the right of the bridge.
Florence
Florence
An interesting building that I passed on my walk.
Florence
Florence
Another building.
Florence
Monterosso
We were to meet up with our guide after lunch but I had some time to walk around the village. Street scene of Monterosso.
Monterosso
Florence
And another.
Florence
Florence
Street scene on my walk.
Florence
Florence
Another street scene.
Florence
Florence
Florence street scene.
Florence
Florence
Another street scene.
Florence
Florence
Another Florence street scene.
Florence
Florence
And another.
Florence
Florence
I walked from the River Arno through the Piazzale Degli Uffizi. The area of the Piazzale near the river appeared to be a major meeting place of young people. There were many vendors along the Piazzale.
Florence
Florence
This street performer was also here. He was definitely making people laugh as he was really funny. I took (or tried to take) a movie clip of him. To see my attempt, go to Movies, Western Europe, Italy, “Street Performer at the Uffizi, Florence.”
Florence
Florence
One of the statues in front of the Uffizi. It is of Leonardo da Vinci.
Florence
Florence
I walked back to the Piazza di Santa Croce and returned to the Peruzzi leather store. I bought myself a dark brown leather handbag of the softest leather imaginable. It wasn’t inexpensive, but its cost was less than 1/2 the prices that I saw similar handbags being sold for in Paris when I was there last year. So it really was a true bargain!
Florence
Florence
We returned to our Trafalgar bus and drove up a hill that is the highest point in Florence. In this photo, you can see the Ponte Vecchio.
Florence
Florence
In this photo, you can see the Baptistry, the Duomo, and Giotto’s Tower.
Florence
Florence
A copy of Michelangelo’s David that was on the top of this hill.
Florence
Florence
We next drove to our hotel located in the countryside above Florence. We didn’t have enough time here in Florence to see all that we would have liked to have seen, but you really need several days here and that would be another trip.
