FLORENCE

FLORENCE-FIESOLE-MONTERIGGIONI

Buon giorno from Italy!
Friday March 1 saw us flying into Florence to celebrate Lance’s birthday. Unknown to him we were booked into our favourite Florentine hotel, ‎Hotel Torre Guelfa, which many years ago provided us with a safe haven on a cold, wet and windy night. This is a gorgeous hotel in a 13 century building with the tallest private tower in Florence. We enjoyed climbing the tower and the panoramic views of Florence. Birthday dinner was celebrated in the first restaurant we ate in many years ago in Florence.

(Click on photo to see gallery)

The first night in Florence, from the tower at our Hotel, Torre el Guelfa.

The first night in Florence, from the tower at our Hotel, Torre el Guelfa.

The first night in Florence, from the tower at our Hotel, Torre el Guelfa.

Taken the next morning from the same tower.

FIESOLE

Next morning we caught the bus to Fiesole a small village in the north eastern hills. Bit of a hassle finding the bus, it had been moved due to a route change, but eventually we got there. We did a long walk through the narrow lanes of Fiesole and the forests and ended up at the Fattoria di Maiano for lunch. We have also stayed here before, We had a superb lunch with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. Then it was back to Florence, walking down the hill, to move into our Airbnb, which proved to be everything we had hoped for. The street view from the room was of Por Santa Maria (it continues down to the Pont Vecchio – we were about 200m from the bridge)

This little petrol station is in the main street of Fiesole.

Letterboxes in Fiesole.

I loved these amazing soft purple flowers against a vivid blue sky.

Catching the early morning sun and breeze.

Another visitor to Italy, A Wattle!

Fattoria Maiano is about a 2.5k walk from Fiesole, we have stayed there on many ocassions, this time however, only a quick lunch.

Sunday we woke to the sounds of drums and looking out the window, saw the parade of costumed guards complete with cannon marching to the Palazzo Vecchio for the The Changing of the Guards. This continued all morning. We decided we would go to Piazza Michelanglo and see David (version of), and 2 churches. We arrived back in the city walking through the Palazzo just as a spectacular performance of flag throwers began. There were 4 teams performing, 2 from Florence and 2 from Umbria. It drew a huge crowd and was really spectacular and fun.

The is David at the Piazza Michelangelo in the hills above Firenze.

These amazing sunrays were streaming in through the upper windows in the Cheisa di San Salvatore al Monte.

These amazing sunrays were streaming in through the upper windows in the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte.

An amazing church, well worth a visit while in Firenze, just behind the Piazza Michelangelo.

Thye view from the Piazza Michelangelo.

Looking down to Firenze from in front of the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte.

A flag throwing competition between Umbria and Florence.

The parade that went down the street directly below our accommodation.

Keeping the parade in step.

One of the officials.

This ceremony was a changing of the guard at the Palazzo Vecchio, several men in colourful uniforms watched outwards to the crowd as the changing of the guard took place behind them.

This ceremony was a changing of the guard at the Palazzo Vecchio, several men in colourful uniforms watched outwards to the crowd as the changing of the guard took place behind them.

On the way back to their base for a rest before returning to change the guard again in about a half an hour.

Barbara at one of her fasvourite shops in Firenze, The Martelli Glove Shop.

MONTERIGGIONI

On Monday we decided to hire a car and head off to Monteriggioni to explore the castle, medieval village within the walled village and eat truffles at Osteria Antico Travaglio (Lesley & Dean’s recommendation), thank you!
We hired a Fiat 500 which was lots of fun, enjoyed exploring the castle and village and B particularly enjoyed the truffles and chianti (L missed the wine, being the designated driver)

The main square in Monteriggioni.

Another street seen in Monteriggioni.

Decorations in shopfronts in Monteriggioni.

A beautiful place to have a rest.

Steps to No. 13.

The arch at the other side of the village.

Very old doors at the entrance to No 6.

The test of time!

Tuesday we decided to do our own things in the morning and meet for a very late lunch. B hit the designer stores of which there are many, and visited galleries, and L went on a photography safari. So B could get another hit of truffles we went to Mangiafoco Osteria Tartuferia for dinner. Excellent food and excellent truffles and chianti.
Florence is an amazingly beautiful city with so much to see and do.

If there’s a spot, put a building on it!

The gathering crowd for the Paninis, oppsite The Pitti Palace.

Out for a walk in Florence and found the blue bike. The muti coloured specks on the ground is confetti, big wedding day in Florence.

A quick shot of a sometimes quite animated phone call!

One of the many small fruit shops around the side streets.

Amazing work by many talented artists, they spend all day, sometimes late into the night, creating these works, just for it to be washed away later in the night by the street cleaners.

Only 8 Euro.

I made a few purchases at the Gelato shops

A night shot of the Duomo.

Early morning, unfortunately the sunrise colours weren’t very good on any of the mornings we were there.

Ciao
Barbara & Lance