As a former capital city Florence is one of the most important destinations in any tour of Europe. The city has some beautiful scenery and architecture it is a great base from which to explore Tuscany or if you like lots of museums and art galleries then everything you need is within easy walking distance. Morning reflections in the river Arno Depending on your preference you may well find that this city has only enough to hold you for a few days. There are beautiful parts to the city and many great restaurants, shops and markets to explore but the main attraction, the thing that will take up all your time, is the museums and art galleries. If touring these institutions is not your thing then that would be a shame as some of the greatest collections in Europe are housed here.
Morning coffee I like to go for a walk first thing in the morning and then sit and have coffee while waiting for Gilly to wake up. Here I pictured some locals having their morning coffee. Duomo in the rain Florence has some stunning architecture and the colours in the stonework come out best in the rain. Campanile
I Spotted two porcelain dogs with sun glasses looking out over the main square.
From the top of the Campanile you get a great view of the dome.
The indoor food market is an absolute delight for any 'foodie'. The stalls are varied and all beautifully laid out. There is also a large area upstairs where you can buy food and drink from a wide variety of open restaurants. The seating area for all of these food establishments is communal and very busy so get there early or prepare to queue for a seat. I had to get up early in the morning to get the shot above as later in the day the reflections are not so clear.
The Ponte Vecchio from a higher viewpoint (left) can also be seen on the left side of the panorama (above).
This shot was taken from the Piazzale Michelangelo. This was quite a climb, undertaken on a hot day, but well worth every step. Besides you have to burn off all those extra holiday calories somehow!
The Gilli café became a regular haunt. It was right in the main square, the Piazza della Repubblica, and so it was rather expensive. Having said that the coffee was well worth the price and the name made my Gilly feel right at home.
By the way the chocolates here were to die for!
Above: The church of San Miniato al Monte nestles into a Tuscan hillside just outside of Florence.
Below: The outside of the Galleria degla Uffizi as seen from the other side of the river.
Above: the Ponte Vecchio taken from inside the Uffizi.
I love street photography in the rain. This was taken during a sudden downpour in Florence. Gilly having coffee in her favourite café.