After the quick stop at Vinci, we drove to Florence and managed to find parking (although at a premium cost!) in the centre of the told town.
Our first stop was the Florence Cathedral (Duomo), officially known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Construction of the cathedral began in 1296 and took approximately 140 years to complete. The facade, however, was not finished until the 19th century. Standing in front of this very impressive cathedral with its intricate 3D marble carvings, we could see why it took so long for the outside of the building to be finished. The detail is amazing!
The dome of the cathedral, known as the Brunelleschi Dome, is an architectural masterpiece. It was completed in 1436 and stands 375 feet (114 meters) tall and is still the largest brick dome ever constructed. We didn’t pay the 20 Euros each to go up into the tower, but we did go inside the impressive cathedral (free).
We then went for a stroll along the picturesque Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge spanning the Arno River. During medieval times, the bridge was primarily occupied by various types of shops, including butchers and fishmongers
In the 16th century, the powerful Medici family decided to relocate the butchers and other merchants from the bridge due to the unpleasant smells. As a replacement, the Medici opened a line of goldsmiths and jewellery shops on the Ponte Vecchio. Another factor that influenced the choice of jewellery shops was the intention to protect the Arno River. The goldsmiths and jewellers were chosen because their trade involved minimal use of fire, reducing the risk of accidental fires that could damage the wooden structure of the bridge.
The next stop was the Piazza della Signoria where the replica of Michelangelo’s David statue stands in the square.
We ended our Florence sightseeing at the hill, the Forte San Miniato, for a beautiful view of the city.
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