We started our day with an open tour of Florence where you hop on and off the bus as you wish. After viewing this magnificent city with a guided tour of all its history, we made our first stop at the oldest church," Basilica di. Santa Croce" where we saw the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo as well as memorials to Dante & Florence Nightingale.
Our next stop was the Pitti Palace. Needless to say, it was our last on this day of unbelievable grandeur!! The Pitti with thousands of paintings gracing the numerous rooms of the Medici's old palace, all sumptuously frescoed and decorated, making the Uffizi and maybe even the Sistine Chapel look like a preamble. Believe me this is not to make light of the Sistine, but the grandeur of the magnificent treasures are beyond words. Not only is room after room full of works by Raphael, Rubens,Titians, Caravaggio, Andrea del Sarto, and countless others, but the magnitude and scale of all the treasures was unbelievable. Unfortunately photos in most rooms are forbidden, but a touch to give you an inkling.
We only saw part of the palace...they say you could spend a week and not see it all, but we did take a few moments to see part of the gardens with the Grand Grotto of Buontalenti. In the gardens alone one could spend a week to see it all .
If you ever come to Florence, the Pitti Palace is a must on your list of sites to behold and treasure. It is unbelievable that one family could have so much. No wonder they started the banking business.
We finished our day at our favourite ristorente "The Dante".
Florence is all that they say and then some. Tomorrow is our last full day to enjoy all the treasures of this magnificent place.
Eleanor
Michaelango's tomb
Tribute to Florence Nightingale
The Pitti Palace
Raphael's Portrait of a Young Woman (la Velata)
The Grotto
An interesting fountain
The Earth Artists enjoying their last Florence meal at "THE DANTE"
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