Monday, October 17, 2011–Florence Italy–drive from the Monastery back to Florence Italy for a few days

Departed the Monastery this morning to return to Florence Italy. We are staying at the Il Salotto di Firenze above the Gucci Store on the Plaza.    This is a super location and very reasonable.  It is located in the heart of Florence within the historical architectural Via Roma and Piazza della Repubblica, directly facing the Duomo (church) and its Battistero that was built in 1860.

For sunset we had drinks at the Inter Continental Hotal on the roof top bar with a beautiful view of the Ponte Viccio and the city.

Florence's museums, palaces, and churches house some of the greatest artistic treasures in the world. The most popular and important sites in Florence include the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Bargello, and the Accademia. The churches of Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce are art galleries, and the library of San Lorenzo is a magnificent exhibition of Michelangelo's architectural genius. We wandered around some of the oldest streets in the city then reached the Arno River, crossed the Ponte Vecchio, and experienced the "newest" area of Florence - the Oltrarno.

Below the Cathedral;

            

They were tuning the pipe organ while we were there:

  

 

 

Doors of the Baptistery

  

  Going to see what is on the shopping street.

One of the many shopping market areas.

  The Street Chalk Artist

  Elaine touching the Boar for good luck.

  Bell Tower

   

Museums

 

  Toured the Uffizi Museum

  Street along the River

  Elaine on the River going to the Ponte Vecchio bridge to see the jewerly shops.

Ponte Vecchio bridge

 

Nick and Edward, “where did she go?” -  trying to get Judy from buying more scarves.

  

Views from the roof top bar at the Inter Continental Hotel

 

The Ponte Vicchio bridge

   

     Toasting to a great day!  Elaine, Edward, Judy and Nick.

    

Great sunset from the roof top bar.