Eating and Walking Our Way Through Florence, Italy (Part 2)

Peter and I couldn't resist taking the half hour train ride to Florence. It is almost totally in the dark as the train goes under the mountain to reach this bigger and more glamorous city.
Below and above is the jewel of the city, the Duomo

My camera only captures sections of this huge icon up close

This complex took 150 years to build (1296 -1436) and is entirely  out of green and pink marble with white marble borders.
All the marble is from different areas in Italy

Again, the massive structure can sometimes make one forget to look at the carvings, full of emotion and very intact 500 years later. I like the one below of people showing themselves doing the carving.

One of the old gates to the city and the famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge

Built in 1333 it seems that in the 1500s the then ruler was not happy that the butchers on this bridge were throwing their raw meat into the water so he banned them from the spot and invited jewelers to take up residence. There are many of them now!

The Uffizi is a palace filled with art on the river. Some say you can spend an entire day inside.

Purported to be the oldest church high on a hill above Florence, it was built between the 11th and 13th century

The country side around Florence looks out to the Tuscany hillsides, lush and green.

These are the remains of old Roman baths.

Had to take this funky reflection of the tower in the puddle.

This is a fashion town with lots of money. Just a few of the items for sale.
Not your typical window display...

We met a friend of Peter's who lives there with his wife and 6 children. They worked together in Afghanistan.
Of course we ate pasta at their neighborhood restaurant and went around the corner for ......gelato.

Florance has the reputation, the tourists to prove it and gorgeous architecture, that's for sure.