Fabulous Firenze

Italians really know how to enjoy life, and boy am I enjoying it! I have just returned to my B&B from a nearby pizzeria recommended by the B&B owner. A huge and delicious mushroom pizza with half a litre of vino blanco (I couldn't drink it all), sitting in the square listening to the conversations of fellow patrons (which I couldn't understand because they were all in Italian!). But it was a wonderful atmosphere on a balmy evening. And all for 10 Euros! Bargain!

I am glad I decided to stay in a residential area of Florence (a decision motivated by accommodation costs more than ingenuity), as it is more relaxed and populated by locals rather than tourists.

Earlier today I took my last vaporetto ride through Venice to the train station, where I caught an Italian Eurostar. A comfortable, high speed train. I was sitting with a group of nuns on their way to Rome! I enjoyed the Italian countryside, particularly the Apennine Mountains between Bologna and Firenze (although there were a lot of very long tunnels).

In Florence, the B&B owner Danilo helpfully explained all the recommended sights and good, local restaurants (including the pizzeria and gelateria). I then headed into town to Santa Maria Novella Basilica, which has some amazing works by Masaccio and Giotto, but I particularly liked the depictions of Gregory the Great (so no making fun of my middle name!).

From Florence

Next stop, the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the largest church in Florence and burial place of one of the city's oldest families, the Medicis. And finally I was booked onto a tour of the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's David. It is hard to describe the beauty of this sculpture. I recommend going late in the afternoon (the gallery doesn't close until 6:50pm) so you have a bit of peace to admire the masterpiece.