FIRENZE!!!

Let's talk about Florence!

We arrive via train from Rome on July 18th, a Monday. We arrive around 1:20PM. Santa Maria Novella railway station is aprox. 1 k.m (.62 miles) away from the hotel. A shuttle bus, cars with drivers and taxi are available

We're staying at the Hotel Bernini Palace.

The hotel is centrally located with views of the Duomo, and it's within walking distance to everything.

The first day we arrive will be a getting acquainted day. We'll arrive by train from Rome; check into the hotel after a quick cab ride. And then it's off for a gelato sampling (Perche No!, Via Tavolini 19r, is very close to the hotel and is supposed to be fabulous).

Another option is Snack Bar Vittoria (Dini Caffe),Via del Proconsolo, 34/36r, that's good for paninis and a very casual lunch.

Then it's on to the Duomo!

There are 463 steps (a narrow stairway) to climb to the top, but if we're feeling up to it, and the crowds are killing us, the view is supposed to be just incredible. And it's a slow climb with stops along the way, so people of all ages are supposed to be able to maneuver it.

Inside Santa Maria dei Fiori (with free entrance) you can take a look at Bruneleschi's work and, as you climb the steps to the top, you'll see its great frescoes, walking around them before re-start your climb to the top. Once you reach the top you enjoy the views, take pics and get ready to descent! The dome climb is 8E, the cathedral is free, and the crypt is 3E. There is an entrance on the side of Duomo.

Another possibility would be to take the " Terraces of the Cathedral and Dome" tour of the Duomo. You can buy tickets at the nearby Duomo Museum for 15EU where they will tell you where to meet your guide. Tickets for this tour allow you to enter via a seperate entrance, bypassing the lines, where you will initially have a tour of the interior. The real highlight of the tour is the ability to actually go up onto exterior terraces for breathtaking views of Florence.





For dinner, my wish is to go to Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori. Reservations are a must, so that'll need to be handled. But, it sounds perfect for us. Small, family owned, 2 seatings nightly, and all the Tuscan food you could ask for, experly prepared.

Then it's on to Day 2 in Florence, which we are calling our "ART DAY." We're going to both the Accademia and Uffizi galleries. Then Kriss Hughes (cousin) flies in and joins us for a few days of fun!