Florence / Firenze

The Ponte Vecchio in Florence - a major town sight. Its name refers to the fact that it is the oldest bridge in Florence. There has been a bridge at this location since 996, and the documentation mentioning these bridges mostly refer to their collapses, until the present bridge was begun in 1345 after a design by Taddeo Gaddi or possibly Neri di Fioravanti. The Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge that wasn't destroyed in Florence by the Germans in World War II. The Ponte Vecchio crosses the River Arno at its narrowest point inside Florence, which is probably why the first bridges were originally built here.

The museum Galleria degli Uffizi next to the Ponte Vecchio. You have to wait in line for a long time to get in, unless you book a ticket in advance at their website.

The Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. It was built in 1293 to house the Florentine government, The Signoria. The palace was enlarged in the 16th century, and housed the chamber of deputees and Foreign Ministry when Florence was the capital of Italy in the late 19th century. Today it is the Florentine City Hall.

The Duomo or cathedral of Florence, The Santa Maria del Fiore, named so because it's gound plan resembles a flower. The cathedral was begun in 1296 and has continued throughout the centuries. The facade of the cathedral was finished in 1887 by Emilio de Fabris.

The Wild Boar statue called Il Porcellino just North of Ponte Vecchio has two superstitions connected to it: If you rub its nose it will bring you good luck, and if you put a coin in its mouth and it falls on the plate below you will return to Florence again. A tip regarding the coin - put it just inside the mouth...

The Piazza della Republica is the old town center of Florence and a great place to find a table at a cafe and enjoy Florentine life. as it passes by.