Back to Florence - Sept. 7th

Julie and I hurried back from Pisa so we could enjoy

the evening in Florence.

We went across the Arno River to the Piazzale Michelangelo.

Everyone sits on the steps...

and enjoys the view of the hills and city as the sun goes down.

Back in the middle of town the lyrics of "Ave Maria"

drew us to the Piazza della Repubblica.

A girl accompanied by an accordian was singing off in a corner of the plaza.

We found a place to sit and listen to several more songs

and watch people in the plaza.

Pisa

We walked over to the Leaning Tower after going to Church

in the very first LDS chapel built in Italy.

Directions can be very confusing...

but the landmarks were easy to spot.

Not everyone makes it to the Field of Miracles

Gate to the Field of Miracles

The tower was started by the architect Bonanno Pisano in 1173.

He also designed the bronze doors of the Duomo.

The bell tower is 200 feet tall and 15 feet out of vertical.



It was built over a 200 year period by 3 different architects.

After the 4th story was built construction stopped for a century.

The construction halted again for another century

after three more stories were built.

The belfry was completed in 1372.

The Arno River

Siena - A 13th Century Town

il Campo - the heart of the city and a great place

to sit around and do absolutely nothing all day.

Said to be the best square in Italy.

The color of the buildings and soil is sienna.

This is the town that the color "burnt siena", in your crayon box, is named after.

Not much organization, but very cool to look at.

It seemed like a fantasy land...

but people actually live here.

Better than Disneyland...this stuff is for real.

and a lot less crowded

Florence - Our 1st Day on the Road

The view out our window

The view inside our room

Along the Arno River

The Ponte Vecchio - The most famous bridge in Florence

Doorways along the streets

Tasteful grafitti

The stone work was surpassed only...

by the quaintness of the narrow streets...

and the tall buildings

Artwork was everywhere

Even normal life was art.

Some people expressed their own art

Every street had its shops

but the best shops sold gelato

Fortresses, castles and museums were everywhere

There was no shortage of Churches and bell towers

The Arno River at dusk

Shops on Ponte Vecchio

Sidewalk cafes were especially busy at night

Piazza S.S. Annunziata