Day 44 - Florence

We got down to breakfast this morning and checked the weather report. 37 degrees in Rome.  Wow, looks like we are in for a touch of Australian summer.   After another luxurious breakfast (Josh has decided it is the best breakfast we have had), we headed back to our room and completed our packing.   We leave Rome with mixed feelings - We have enjoyed what we have done, and have enjoyed the food, but generally the city is run down.  There is litter everywhere, lots of paint and plaster peeling off the buildings and lots of weeds.  Its also a bit tiring to be constantly on the lookout for people who are trying to rip tourists off, from pick pockets, to pushy rose sellers/restauranters, to people who neglect to give the correct change.  We have probably been more stressed in Rome than anywere else on our holiday.  Anyway, onto Florence.
We left Rome and headed down the autostrada to Florence.  A short drive, only about three hours.  As we approched Florence the temperature was 41 degrees.  In Florence  there is a rule that vehicles cannot enter the city centre without a proper permit.  Not knowing where the city centre is, where our B&B is located or where we were going to leave the car, we were starting to feel the stress.  Hot and Bothered!  We finally found a parking garage not far from our B&B and left the car there.

After purchasing a map and a short walk, we arrived at our B&B.  We have a lovely room, right in the middle of the town. And what a welcome we received. A welcome drink, a plate of fruit and tea, coffee and croissants.  We sat back in our room for a while, enjoying a nice cool drink, and relaxing under the airconditioner.  After a while, the stress was washed away and we were ready to hit the town.

First of all we walked to the main town square where the Duomo (Cathedral) is located.  Then we headed down to Piazza Della  Signoria.  This is where Michelangelo's statue of David was originally located.  It's since been relocated to the Galleria 'dell Acadamia, however a life size replica has been installed in its place.  After admiring David, we headed into the Ufizzi Gallery.  This is one of the oldest and most famous art galleries in the world.  There were many sculptures and paintings  including works by Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and Raphael.

The most recognisable painting (by us anyway) was "The birth of Venus", by Botticelli.

Next we headed down to the river and crossed the Ponte Vecchio, a medieval stone bridge that crosses the Arno river.We then headed back to our room to freshen up before dinner.  Dinner was wood oven fired Pizza, in a little cafe just around the corner.  The Pizza was excellent, perhaps the best we have had on holiday.  Since it was still very warm, we decided to take a walk and have a gelati for desert.  The gelati was also excellent, thanks for the recommendation Alex (Alex, you are awesome!) It was interesting to see heaps of people out walking about at night, including familes and children. Unlike Rome, Florence is clean, friendly and welcoming.  Mazz says "Sorry Mum and Dad, we should have come to Florence 13 years ago!"