Sites and Scenes in Florence.....

     Our first visit to Florence was in 2000, when Mike did an undergrad semester here.  This is our fourth visit, and each time we've rubbed the Boar's nose to ensure our return... it must work....

     When Mike lived here, he had an apartment on the top floor of a building with a terrace overlooking the San Lorenzo Basilica and Medici Chapel.  This is how it looks today.....

     In the street next to San Lorenzo, there is a leather market that sets up every day and disappears at night.  Its pretty amazing.....

     And a block down is Mercato Centrale, Central Market, which is just great.  The ground floor is filled with butcher shops, wine shops, fish mongers, fruit and veretable sellers, flower shops, just about anything you could imagine to put a great meal on your table.  And all of the food is as local and as fresh as possible.  The second floor has been remodeled into an upscale food court, with just about anything you can think of, at fairly good prices.....

     There are lots of tables and several bars, a good place to stop for a glass of local wine.....

     The Lorenzo de Medici Cooking School is also located on the second floor.....
 

     We saw some pretty amazing street art, literally on the street.....

 

     Oddly, there is an Eataly in Florence, half a block from the Duomo.  We couldn't understand the need for it here in Florence, but nobody asked us..... There was, however, a neat wire sculpture of a cinghiale, or wild boar inside..... 

     Fountains, chapels, and towers everywhere.....

   
     And a lasting memory for us will be the food..... cappuccino at breakfast, pappardelle with duck ragu for lunch, bistecca alla Fiorentina for dinner.....

     ci vediamo, Firenze.... we'll see you again.....

     click on any photo to enlarge.....