Florence, Italy

 At the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (also known as the Duomo)

 Arriving in Florence and the rain has stopped for now!!!We fell in love with this city from the moment we arrived, it is large but most of the historical stuff is pretty close together.

 Our first stop was lunch!!!We decided to Make time to Taste Florence as well as see it, hear it and Feel it!!

 The restaurant was cozy yet charming, made me feel like I was at an Italian Grandmother's kitchen!!

 Loved all the fresh ingredients sitting around. Made me miss my garden back home(my tomato's, peppers and cucumbers are coming along nicely)

 Lunch was a delightful experience, the aroma, the flavor the Taste, it was amazing!!My lasagna was everything I dreamed it would be and more. The Vino was spectacular as well!!!

 Loved all the narrow passageways!!

 And the window shopping!!!Oh my word is that a spectacular dress!!I bought a custom embroidered Apron in Italian that reads Grandma Queen of the Kitchen!!!

 The Duomo

 These Magnificent Cathedrals just keep getting better and better!!

 Made me feel weak in the knee to stand in front of such an Amazing place. This Gothic Cathedral was built in the late 13th Century.

 It is dominated by it's red dome and that was added in the 15th century.

 Piazza della Signoria is an L-Shaped square in front of the Pallazo Vecchio. It is the focal point of the origin and history of the Florentine Republic. It is a popular meeting place for Florentine's and tourists alike.

 At the entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio is a Copy of the statue of David, the original one once stood here but was moved inside the Accademia Gallery in 1873. We tried to get inside the Accademia Gallery, but it was a 2 hour long line, and we passed and settled for the Copy, one of the most visited copies to say the least.

 It was amazing to look at even though it is a copy.

 I did not mind standing next to the Naked statue with Miss C's Big Red, my hubby said NO way!!!

 This is inside the Palazzo Vecchio or Old Palace. It currently houses the town Hall of the City.

 The Entrance  to the Ponte Vecchio--or Old Bridge

 This is probably one of the World's most photographed bridges, in fact so famous, Hitler instructed his troops NOT to destroy this bridge during WW 2. The bridge also draws a huge number of artists, we saw Many artists there drawing and painting this bridge.

The bridge is occupied by many famous shops and cafes. I can truly say "I fell in love with Florence and the Florentine People". What a truly spectacular day out walking this great city. Nothing makes me happier then walking in  a new city and seeing, smelling and tasting the sights and sounds.