Saturday May 26th, 2007
This weekend I spend it with my family in Florence. Given the proximity of the city, this time by car, we leave on Saturday morning (dawn) and so we arrive early in Florence. This is not the first time that I go to Florence, then we see monuments perhaps less known than those of classical tours, but of considerable beauty.
We booked to stay in a convent near Chiesa del Carmine. Left the car and immediately we begin our tour. The first place is the church of St. Spirit, unfortunately, is closed (a man tells us that is always closed). What a pity! We go then to Palazzo Pitti, we visit it inside with its splendid rooms. Leaving the building we go on the other side of Arno with numerous palaces and churches: S. Jacopo, S. Trinità , Palazzo Spini-Ferroni, Palazzo Strozzi, S. Gaetano, and finally we arrive at the square with the wonderful complex of the cathedral and baptistry. After visiting the splendid interiors, we go to Palazzo Vecchio, passing in front of the church of Orsanmichele.
We admire the square on which stands the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, the Fountain of Neptune and Loggia della Signoria. We visit the palace, it requires a bit of time but it’s worth it. Leaving the palace, we see Dante’s house, a must after years of study at school. We also see the nearby church of S. Margherita de Cerchi, Badia Fiorentina and then we reach Bargello. From there we quickly arrive in Piazza S. Croce with the church (closed for renovations). Through Ponte Vecchio, crowded with tourists, we cross the river and from S. Jacopo (where we eat) area we return to the convent. Before sleeping, we can see the view from the window of our room, with the illuminated church of S. Frediano.
Sunday May 27th, 2007
The sun and heat of yesterday have given way to clouds and rain. Once awake we see the church of S. Maria del Carmine, then the churches of S. Trinità and Ognissanti. Today we see S. Maria Novella, and we arrive in S. Lorenzo with Medici chapels and cloisters. It’s short to the Cathedral to go to SS. Annunziata, where in the square the ancient Spedale degli Innocenti stands.
Before leaving the city we also see San Frediano. Although the day is not the best, we cannot see it from above and so we go to Piazzale Michelangelo (almost desert) and the nearby S. Miniato (it’s raining). Before resuming the highway to go home, we stop in Galluzzo (a few kilometers away) to visit the Monastery.
