Day 7 - Florence

After our day of rest we started out day 7 with a beautiful sunny day. We hopped into the rental car and made our way north to Florence for the day. Like Milan, Florence was a traffic challenge. Our guide book took us directly into the middle of the city to an underground parking garage. The book warned us about the many unmarked one way streets and no traffic alleys. All I can say is, right way or wrong, I was only going one way.

Once we parked underground we surfaced behind rows of street market tents filled with leather goods. Unlike the markets in other towns, in Florence, the vendors are a bit more pro-active. Calling at you and hawking their goods as you pass. We were also surprised to see that many of the worlds premiere watch manufacturers hired homeless people to sell their watches! And they were selling them for $30 bucks. I never new RoLLex was spelled with two Ls.

After shopping for a while, I don't know how long because my new RoLLex stopped, we had some lunch on the Piazza. After lunch we decided to wait online to get into the Ufizzi museum. The Uffizi houses the greatest collection of Italian art anywhere in the world. A short 1 1/2 hour wait and a few gelatos later we were in the museum. It was worth the wait and you will spend at least three hours in there if you have the time. Outside of the Ufizzi we enjoyed strolling through the courtyard where many of the homeless watch salesmen were now selling designer handbags. It was fun to watch them fold up their displays and cart them away over their shoulders every time the police walked by. It had a very "New York" feeling. Just a short walk up the Arno River and we were walking across the Ponte Vecchio. Lined with gold and silver shops the Ponte Vecchio is Florence's most famous bridge.  
Day seven greeted us with a beautiful sunrise outside our front door. Now it's off to Florence.
View of the front of the Duomo in Florence. It's one of the few that was not under restoration during our visit.
Carved bronze panels facing the Duomo on the Baptistery doors carved by Ghiberti.
South side view of the Duomo, The Duomo's facade is covered in pink, green and white Tuscan Marble.
Just north of the Ufizzi on the Piazza della Signoria sits the Palazzo Vecchio,  was once the home of the Medici family.  A copy of Michelangelo's David now stands in front where until 1873, the original stood.
Inside the Ufizzi museum. The museum is shaped like a U with the rooms arranged in chronological order from the 13th trough 17th centuries.Featured artists include Giotto, Raphael, Caravaggio, Rubens, Titan, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and a room full of Botticellis. Our favorites were Adam and Eve.
View of the courtyard from inside the museum. Street artists and vendors share the space and keep you entertained while you wait online to get in.
Just south of the Museum looking West at the Ponte Vecchio.
Florence's most famous bridge.
On the Ponte Vecchio looking North into Florence. The bridge is lined with Gold and Silver shops and lots of people. This was Sunday afternoon at about 4:00.
When they lock up the Gold and Silver shops on the Ponte Vecchio, they do it right.  
View of the Arno river South from the middle of the Ponte Vecchio.
The Ufizzi is on the left.