Butterflygal's change heart pretty quickly so.. I have "dumped" Manneken Pis for "David" haha... Well afterall I'm not The Queen.. so yup I need to discuss qualities when talking about love hahah
KIDDING!
My expectations:
1) Florentine-styled steak
2) Iris garden opened only a few days a year
3) My brother kept asking about the golden bridge hmm.. Let's see if it is up to expectation...
***** Butterflygal's Trip Update *****
I fell in love with Florence and wish to re-visit it again 5 years later. I cannot stress how much I like it, probably also the good weather I enjoyed there upped the scales a bit. But Florence gives a totally different vibe. It is like a walking art gallery where I encounter lots of statues and replicates. Lots of open air markets too. While walking around, you can spot the Iris too.
Check Bflygal Trails: Stay in Florence
After that we drop by Pisa to visit this touristy little town (have to visit regardless)
Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Leaning Tower of Pisa
Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Santa Maria Novella Church
Or take the underpass in front of the station into Piazza dell’Unità Italiana, and from there walk up Via Sant’Antonino, a delightful and lively little street. Take the second left, Via dell’Ariento, and you will see
Check Bflygal Trails: Visit San Lorenzo Market
Tip: If you happen to be here in the early part of the day walk through the stalls and look for the Mercato Centrale on the right.It is located in a beautiful art nouveau structure and is worth the visit. You can even catch the pasta making process in action…
Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Mercato Centrale
Check Bflygal Trails: Watch Pasta Making
Exit the market by the back doors on to Piazza del Mercato Centrale and head towards Via Rosina. Turn left into Via Taddea and immediately right into Via S Orsola. Turn right again along Via Guelfa, then left along Via Cavour.
And viola! You will find yourself at Piazza San Marco. This square stands in the heart of the university district and ahead is San Marco Convent.
In here, you can find the famed Bistecca alla Fiorentina in this highly recommended Ristorante Accademia.
Check Bflygal Trails: Eat at Ristorante Accademia
Besides the Ristorante Accademia is the Galleria dell’Accademia where you can glimpse the real Michelangelo's David.
Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze at night
I had the privilege to be in Florence on the 15th May 2010 which is "The European Night of Museums" and chose to visit the Galleria dell’Accademia for free at night. It was an exhilarating experience and felt like the movie "Night at the Museum". Thankfully it was of reasonable distance from where my accommodation was. Unfortunately no photography was allowed in Galleria dell’Accademia thus I had to buy a postcard of David just so that I can have a keepsake.
Next day, we attended the walking tour which leads us to first see Anna Maria Lvisa De Medici, the last scion of the House of Medici which was in power in Florence for a few centuries.
And the Father of Italian Language - Dante Alighieri, which is a Florentine. Thus you can see a museum dedicated for him as well as walls with his quotations.
Obviously the guide would not miss out Florence Duomo.
While you are at the Duomo, remember to enter the 'Gates of Paradise'.. or at least take a photo of it if you are barred from entering.. just kidding "p.
Check Bflygal Trials: Enter the Gates of Paradise
Ghiberti’s East Doors, just as the other 2 spectacular south and north doors are more for display pleasures. The west door is the actual entrance to the Florence Baptistry.
The last of the threesome is Giotto's Campanile which is just a delight to appreciate as the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Then is time to move to another place, one of my favourite - Piazza della Signoria.
I simply adore this L-shaped open air museum with lots of treasured statues around.
And do you know how it got its L shape?
In 1268 the Guelfs took control of Florence again and decided to demolish all the houses of their rivals the Ghibelines, beginning with the towers of Foraboschi and Uberti. Thirty six houses in all were torn down and it is for this reason that the piazza today has the form of an "L" and the buildings on it are not aligned.
There are so many statues from the replica of Michelangelo's David
Credits: Pwnstar
or the original Cellini's Perseus with the head of Medusa.
or the Fountain of Neptune by Bartolomeo Ammannati...
In fact there is a total of 15 statues in Loggia dei Lanzi (or Loggia della Signoria which is a building on a corner of the Piazza della Signoria).
I like the porphyry fountain in the Palazzo Vecchio too.
Check Bflygal Trails: Rub Il Porcellino's nose
After that, cross the Ponte Vecchio..
Turn left and walk along the river, heading up Lungarno Serristori where a series of footpaths will lead you to Piazza Michelangelo
to see another copy of the magnificent large bronze David
Veer left to Viale dei Colli and smell the flowers...
in Iris Gardens...
The following day, on the second walking tour the guide brought us to visit Palazzo Strozzi, a palace in Florence
Palazzo Davanzati, a typical nobleman's house of the 14th century
before venturing into Piazza di Santa Trinita where the Column of Justice stands
For all shoe lovers, you must know that here lies the museum of Salvatore Ferragamo too...
Cross the Santa Trinita Bridge to Palazzo di Bianca Cappello,
Check Bflygal Trails: Relieve the sad love story of Bianca Capello
Further up is the Palazzo Pitti with its famous Boboli Gardens
Went back to do some high-end shopping at Piazza della Repubblica (not my cup of tea though)...
Before catching the lovely sunset at Santa Trinita Bridge..
and the golden bridge (Ponte Vecchio)
Other interesting Florentine everyday sights include…
the Cocco or coconut that they were selling. Seems like a different way from how Asians will sell coconuts. Back home, we probably sell them as drinks.. so I'm wondering where did the coconut juice went? Haha!
I never really know what a spice rack is till I played Facebook’s Café World. And when I saw a real spice rack in my accommodation, I cannot resist not taking a photo of it… haha
Check Bflygal Trails: Travel in Florence
I remember the walking guide told me that one could knock on this door..
Oh and I think I enjoyed eating in Florence, as much as I did in Venice too.. the list of foodstuff I had in Florence included..
Check Bflygal Trails: Eat Risotto
Check Bflygal Trials: Eat Florentine Cuisine
And as mentioned in the beginning of the post, Ristorante Accademia's Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Hopefully I did not grow fat haha!
Related Posts:
Part 0: Arrivederci SG! Buongiorno IT!
Part 1: Milan (9th May 2010 - 11th May 2010)
Part 2: Verona (12th May 2010)
Part 3: Venice (13th May 2010 - 14th May 2010)
Part 4: Pisa (15th May 2010)
Part 6: Rome (18th May 2010 - 21st May 2010)
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