Seat of Italian Renaissance: Firenze (Florence)

The train slowly glided into the city of Florence. Urbanization replaced the green fields and rolling countryside that I saw outside from the train’s window. I don’t know why but I have noticed in my past travels that I seem to take great pleasure in smaller towns and villages than bustling cities with skyscrapers and unyielding traffic. I hope Florence won’t disappoint me?


The Santa Maria del Fiore church, popularly known as the Duomo (under restoration) and the bronze door of the Battistero de San Giovanni just right across the cathedral. Brunelleschi, the celebrated Florentine architect designed the Duomo.

Firenze Santa Maria Novella Stazioni came into view. I see passengers hastily standing up, scuttling away, and packing themselves with their luggage in front of the train’s door.



To see the grounds of Piazza di Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore, Battistero San Giovanni, please click the short movie clip above.

A glimpse of the magnificent Duomo coming from Piazza della Santissima Annunziata.

This is actually one of my pet peeves. Like in airplanes, individuals who can’t seem to wait, even if the fasten seat belt sign is still on, their butts are just burning to stand up and grab their luggage. If I have a microphone, I would have sternly reminded these people in public that their luggage won’t disappear like magic and the train won’t suddenly get derailed or the plane won’t fly back to where they boarded without them being dislodged from where they are at first! Ugh, just so irritating.

Market square - Piazza della Signoria, quite a busy place. I did some people-watching activity here with a glass of chilled white wine, which was refreshing after an exhausting walk.

The station was humming with people and the sharp Italian language-accent I hear everywhere. They say that the Italian language was born in Florence. It is also here that the language evolved and flourished. Quickly, I searched for the exit. I can’t wait to find my hotel, deposit my luggage and start exploring Florence on foot.


A street painter with a different Pieta version. I dropped a euro coin into his box. Next foto is the empty (they were packing up, closing down) open air market place.

My hotel room was nice. For a 3-star price of €90 a night, my room and the amenities in it looked more like a business or 4-star hotel. And the bed was good, not too soft and not too hard - just right.


Palazzo Vecchio, once known as the Palazzo della Signoria is now a museum. Next foto is the world renowned Michaelangelo's David and his pimmeltje, ha-ha. This is only a copy but this is where the original David used to stand. I sent a sms to Dutchman about David's pimmeltje and the response I received was - Afblijven! (means keep away, lol)

One of my favorite things to do while on holiday is to sit in café terraces by the squares. Some people call these tourist trap cafes because the drinks and food are ridiculously expensive. I have a different view about this subject though. There is a reason why they are ridiculously expensive and it is the same reason why I insist to sit there. To me, these cafes are the best and comfortable places to rest after a few hours of city exploration, and let me add, to people watch while sipping on a cold glass of white wine with all the historical monuments gracing the ambience.

The €6 sparkling chilled white wine I had was worth it. I may be a frugal person but I am the reasonable type, at least someone who knows how to enjoy life.



To see Piazza della Signoria - Palazzo Vecchio, David, Neptune, Loggia dei Lanzi, please click the short movie clip above.


Neptune fountain in the grounds of Piazza della Signoria and Perseus with the head of Medusa in the Loggia dei Lanzi which is adjacent to the Palazzo Vecchio. On the 3rd foto is a visiting schedule of the Santa Maria Novella church - I am confused, it seems that they are reserving the chapel for "preyers" only!? Preyers preying???

This is also the same case with dinner. I love having dinner while watching people pass by, so I don’t really mind paying a bit more for the location since I get something in return anyway. After all I am on holiday. I am not in Florence to shop haute-couture bags, accessories and shoes. I am feasting! Basking in the Italian culture, history, cuisine, and lifesytle... la dolce vita.

Ah, it was a very beautiful morning in the Arno River... the still waters, the romantic bridges and the distinctive Italian buildings.

The best lunch I had in Florence was in this Caffe Pitti across the Palazzo Pitti. I had Carpaccio di manzo con vinaigrette e rucola, with a generous serving of parmiggiano cheese on top. I also helped myself with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and poured them into my Carpaccio antipasti. Then, I drowned the delicious thing with a Montalcino white wine. I swear. I will come back to this café restaurant when I am in Florence again. Lucky them, they get free advert from me in this blog.


Ponte Vecchio means old bridge, one of the famous and pretty sites in Florence. This charming and unique bridge was built in 1345. Those colorful little houses appended to the walls of the bridge are shops on stilts selling jewelries.


More of Ponte Vecchio, and me... what else...

A few minor things I am not so happy about with in Florence...

Firstly, the dirt, which I believe tourists are mainly responsible of. Well, I saw more foreigners and tourists than locals. Travel sites also say that between April and October, the population of Florence is doubled, tripled, and even quadrupled. That says enough, I think?


Uffizi, one of the finest art galleries in the world showcasing medieval renaissance to baroque art with masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Filippo Lippi, Caravaggio, Rafael, Rembrandt and others.

Secondly, the Italian men, who seem to be trailing womens behind all the time and until you say NO in a firm loud voice, make an alibi that you are meeting someone (another male that is), or make faces and pretend you are insane, they will not leave you alone. In short, I have learned to ignore them. Whenever they say “Ciao” or whatever it is that they say, just cold-shoulder them, pretend they do not exist, look the other way and quickly get out of their path. It seemed to work as they left me alone.


Italians are romantics at heart, so you will see these chain locks with names of lovers written on it, some even with drawings of hearts in the bridges of Florence. And, seems the Italian police did not like that I took a foto of him!?

You can also easily identify the Italian women from the rest of the women species, even those that are disguising as local tourists. All I can say, these Italian women are real chic chicas, oh I like them! They wear stylish clothes, put on sexy high heels (I now shudder at the thought of walking in them on the excruciating cobble stone squares for like hours, eww...!), and don on huge sunglasses that covers half of their faces (like me, ha-ha). They are a very pretty sight actually.


Piazza della Republica - day and night. By day, there are many black men selling knock-down signature bags and paintings on the side streets.

Piazza della Republica at night. I had dinner here one evening and I very much enjoyed the lights of the children's carousel and the buildings.

Today Wednesday, after work, Dutchman and I went to the Dutch sister to return something and to wish them happy trip (they are going to Las Vegas for a week holiday). I was in my light trench coat, wrapped with its same material belt in a voguish way - unfastened and unbuttoned, with the collar standing up a bit and sporting my Betty Johnson big dark brown sunglasses.

“Je lijkt op als een Italiaanse dame!” [You look like an Italian woman!], the Dutch sister said in a high jubilant pitch - I had to grin.

First thing that came into mind was the sea of huge sunglasses dressed in double breasted tailored jackets or trench coats I waded through in Italy last Easter. I got her point across right away.

Next: more reflections on Florence, Italy