Places We Go : Fascinating Florence

Feb 21
2 min read

Updated: Feb 21

Last November, John, Jim and I spent three nights in Florence. We came from Milan, a 1 hour 45 minute train ride away. Florence, capitol of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. This time, my goal was shopping, eating and watching the world go by. Why? I've had the good fortune to visit a few times before and this time, I just wanted to wander the streets. Fortunately, J&J were game. Let's take a look.

This scene remains my favorite in Florence. Florence suffered significant damage during the German occupation (1943–1944) and the Allied liberation in August 1944. Retreating Nazis destroyed most historic bridges, except the Ponte Vecchio (above, built in1345), and bombed surrounding areas, while Allied forces targeted rail lines. Cultural treasures faced looting, though many were hidden.

And now on to shopping! Florence has authorized dealers who sell authentic "made in Italy" scarves in wool and cashmere.

A leather merchant models his wares. Everything smelled so good!

A paper merchant creates his marbelized paper right in his shop.

During our stay, we took a day trip to Lucca, a historic walled city in Tuscany. We walked the footpath on top of the wall that surrounds most of the city. The "sweater" weather we encountered in early November added to our joy.

Here's the neighborhood restaurant where we ate lunch.

In Lucca, John said the house special ravioli was the best pasta he ate this trip. It was so yummy!

gggg

Julius Caesar was in Lucca in 56 BC. Someone's moving day 2,081 years later.

Amazon deliveries must be the same around the world.

Back in Florence, the Mercato Centrale is a two-story indoor market hall filled with a zillion tasty things I wish I could have brought home.

I purchased Italian saffron from this spice merchant.

Delicious food including the best melt-in-your-mouth burrata salad I've ever had.

This trip, my favorite hotel was in Florence. The Hotel Pendini is right on Piazza della Repubblicca. My room was just below the fist "P" on the hotel sign. For a single, Hotel Pendini was €215 (including breakfast) per night.

John&Jim settle in for breakfast at Hotel Pendini. I loved European yogurt which is thinner that ours.

Such a pretty room.

I even admired the floors.

My room was old-fashion, ample and filled with antique furniture. And see that phone? I answered for my wake-up calls.

Laying in bed, seeing the dome of the Duomo, hearing its hourly bells was a treat. The dome was built between 1420-1436.

I rarely watched TV on this trip but did catch the weather reports on BBC or CNN.

My view from bed at dusk. The only downside were live singers from 10 pm to 2 am. The hotel manager told us that triple paned windows aren't legal and even the 5-star hotel across the piazza has the same noise issue. Earplugs solved the problem.

On the night before we left for Rome, Christmas lights were starting to go up. Magical! Are you looking forward to the Olympics Closing Ceremony today? No matter what you're doing, I hope you enjoy your Sunday!