Now that the temperature has cooled a little I plan to be out and about a bit more. A couple of friends and I went to Florence for a couple of days last week. The city would normally be crowded at this time of the year, but Covid 19 has kept most visitors away. As much as this makes walking around the city pleasant, I am very aware of the distress it causes many businesses…all the more reason to visit.
We arrived in the late afternoon and wandered down to the Arno where the golden light of sunset settled over the Ponte Vecchio.
After aperitivo we walked onto the almost empty bridge to admire the view.
We had an excellent meal in a trattoria in one of the quieter back streets.
Our first stop the next morning was at the gorgeous Caffe Gilli in the Piazza Republica, the subject of my previous post.
Then it was time to explore Florence.
Near the Mercato Centrale (see more Mercato Centrale ) I spotted the fountain with 7 faces and was happy to see it has been cleaned recently.
The tabarnacle above it is impressive.
This is what it used to look like. Seven heads are better than one
The Ponte Vecchio has a couple of tiny balconies on the outside.
I think I would like to here and watch the world go by from the balcony.
On the Oltrano, the other side of the Arno from the Duomo, a pack of wolves has gathered on the square in front of the Palazzo Pitti. The installation was created Liu Ruowang…100 iron castings, each weighing 280 kg. The wolf pack is an allegory of nature’s response to the ravages and predatory behaviour of man towards the environment. They will there until November 2nd.
The area between Palazzo Pitti and Santo Spirito is developing as an interesting area with new shops and a younger dynamic. We found some quirky graffiti.
There are also lots of antique shops and stunning buildings.
This one had its own bat as well as a beautiful facade.
Walking back across the river this scene presented itself in front of the Uffizzi Gallery.
The copy of David stands in front of the Palazzo Vecchio.
Neptune’s fountain beside it has been recently cleaned and Neptune is sparkling again.
Cosimo I de’Medici keeps watch over the Piazza Signoria, and has been since 1594.
A great place to stop for lunch or a cool drink is the terrace cafe at the top of the department store, Rinascente, on the edge of Piazza Republica. There are excellent views of the rooftops of Florence.
In nearby Borgo Santi Apostoli is this well stocked shop. If they don’t sell it perhaps you don’t need it.
Tucked away in a quiet spot near the Uffizzi is this sculpture on the side of a building. It is near the old Olive Tree of Peace, planted to commemorate the mafia bomb blast in 1993, which killed 5 people. See more here…A walking tour in Florence
Back at the Duomo I pointed out to my friend some of the little known aspects on the exterior, including the laughing ox, which coincidentally has been featured in this month’s Italy magazine. I discovered it in a book called Secret Florence, which is full of wonderful things to discover. See the post I wrote previously. Secret Florence
On our second evening we dined at the Cantinetta Antinori on the ground floor of the Palazzo Antinori in Via Tornabuoni. 27 generations of the family have lived in this palazzo and their vineyards have produced wine for centuries. The setting is lovely and the food and wine were excellent.
I always stay at Hotel Scoti in Via Tornabuoni. It is run by Doreen and her family and is a little home away from home. The communal rooms are covered in lovely frescoes and its central location makes for a great stay.
Hotel Scoti…http://www.hotelscoti.it