Benvenuti a Firenze

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We are welcomed to Florence by a significant increase in temperature and a significant increase in traffic (not so many cars in Venice!). It is so nice to be back in the city of the Medici's.

To get here, we drove down the A13 to Bologna - about 150 klms. The autostradas put our kiwi roads to shame. Great tar seal and no pot holes - though it can be a bit frightening to see traffic zooming past you at 150 kph (the speed limit is 130kph but no self-respecting Italian sticks to that)! 

At Bologna we stopped for a look around the city and a spot of lunch.

The Piazza Maggiore is the man square in central Bologna

The Basilica di San Francesco (circa 1263) is the most imposing building in the Piazza

The inside of the Basilica is truly stunning

Our eating philosophy while we are touring Italy is to dine out at lunchtime, enjoying just a small "primi piatti" (entree size) dish. Then we will self cater for our evening meals when we get back to the Airbnb. For the self catering - we need to get some essential ingredients. As it happens, the narrow alleys behind the main square are home to the Mercato di Mezzo - a market selling all manner of fresh produce. We have come here to pick out some of those essential ingredients.





From the fruit stall we purchased some pesche bianche (giant size white peaches). And in the Salumeria (last pic above) - we purchased some prosciutto and some cheese (bocconcini and a good hunk of parmigiano reggiano). From a small bottiglia across the alley we purchased some vino sante - the sweet white Italian desert wine that will wash down those ingredients so well!

Walking around all these back alleys has worked up an appetite and we look for a shady spot for lunch. Finding some good al fresco dining is not a problem in Italy. 

Caesar salad for Brenda and Tortellini with Gorgonzola cream sauce for me

Both dishes were superb! Brenda tells me her salad was the best Caesar she has ever had!

So after almost 4 hours in Bologna, it is time to hit the road again. This time we take the A1 (Italy's most impressive autostrada) for the 120 klm trip to Florence. We are now in the Tuscan hill country but this road ignores all elevation changes by the use of elegant bridges spanning the ravines and tunnels that bore straight through all the hills. I think we passed through at least 30 tunnels, many over a kilometer long. Impressive engineering!

Our Airbnb hosts meet us at the apartment to let us in and show us around. Apparently the building is amongst the oldest in town. It is situated right on the main square - Piazza della Signoria. The Ponte Vecchio is just a 5 minute walk south, and Il Duomo (Florence Cathedral) is a 5 minute walk north. Here is the view from our 3rd floor apartment.

This late at night, the square is almost deserted. The top of Il Duomo is visible one block away.

Tired after a hectic road journey, we retire early. Tomorrow we are planning to tour the Uffizi Gallery, just 2 minutes walk from here! It's massive and we intend to make an early start to beat the crowds.


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