My Eastern holiday 2: Florence

When there is someone ask me where is my favorite place in this trip. I always answer: Florence. During 2 days visiting, this city left me deep impression about art and sight-seen. 

My days of Florence started from its market place, Mercato Centrale. Here they have numerous food, seasoning. Outside the market, the street vendors cover all the street, souvenirs, clothes, accessories... anything you can imagine that you can find in this street.  

inside Mercato Centrale

street cover by street vendors

Sit on the stairs of Basilica di San Lorenzo, finished my breakfast and made a plan for the day.

Basilica di San Lorenzo

The first stop, the city center, Piazza del Duomo. The green and white marble made cathedral glorying in the morning sunshine. The square was already full filled with tourists. I followed the instruction of the guidebook, climbed up the Giotto's Bell Tower, to see the whole city. I only remember the big wind on the top the tower and the scare of height, I think I have acrophobia... and loneliness made I feel more the fair.

The baptistery in this awakening morning

Through the window of tower, the busy street looks like the scenery in an artist's painting

the net cannot stop my fare of height

The next must-see sight is the Galleria dell'Accademia. When I was told I need 2 hours for entering, I left and preferred to stroll in the street. The color of streets appeared bright yellow under the sun, on the background of blue sky. When passed by a garden, I was deeply attracted by her green, then I entered this botanical garden. It wasn't written on the list of have-to-see, but definitely, it became the top one on my visit list. It was a so quite and peaceful place, I spent pleasant 3 hours there.

the long queue outside the Galleria dell'Accademia 

inside the Botanical Garden

Medicinal plants growing among grasses

it reminds me: under the Toscana sun

Left the garden, I went to the other city center, Piazza della Signoria. Here hosting the copy of Davide, and many excellent statues in Loggia dei Lanzi. I walked around each one, really appreciated the beauty of  renaissance body.

Copy of Davide

Perseus, by Benvenuto Cellini

The rape of the Sabine Women

Galieria degli Uffizi

My first day of Florence ended with the panino from i fratellini in firenze. A very small boutique, but with very tasty food.

I took a panino with mozzarella and prosciuto crudo

The next day morning, I got up very early, for visiting the Galeria del Ufiizi. After one and a half hour's queue up, finally I got the ticket to enter. Many people think it is not that necessary to wait a long queue to visit this museum. but for me, It became one of my precious memory about Florence. Many statues is so familiar to me. for I looked the copy of them day and night when I first learn painting. At that time, I didn't expect one day I would stand here to see the original works..

the corridor of Uffizi

amore e psiche

Finished visiting of Uffizi, I walked through Ponte Vecchio, crossed river Arno to the other side of the city. I passed by Palazzo Pitti and Giardino di Bololi, these two places of interest. Then I saw the beautiful boulevard close to Porta Romana. here Florence gave me another impression of nature.

ponte vecchio

Boulevard

narrow path to the top of the moutain

once glance over the wall 

When I arrive the river Arno again, it was already twilight. Everything was covered with golden under the sunset.

sunset on Fiume Arno

My last day in Florence didn't end here, on the boulevard, I met a boy from Rome who also took short trip in Florence. We went to eat in Piazza Santa Maria Novella, he introduced me spritz and cicciolli, one kind of typical Florence food. In the square, I saw one sentence which conclude my feeling about this city: Il tempo deve intrattenere piacevolmente l'animo e riempirlo di gioiosa meraviglia (the time should pleasantly entertain the mind and fill with joyous wonder).

Spritz, a kind of appertivo drink

cicciolli, do I spell right?

night in Piazza Santa Maria Novella