Day 6 - On to Florence!

For all of Rome's glory, it is still a large (and sometimes noisy) city. The small-town boy in me wanted to return to the peace of the rolling hills of the Umbria. I got my wish during the 2.5 hour drive north into the heart of Tuscany towards Florence.

We arrived in Florence and located a penzione called the Lossana through the information center. It was a very nicely appointed room and only a 10 minute walk from the Duomo and central square. Our proprietor did not speak one word of English, but she made us feel welcome and right at home with her charming smile and gracious manner. Every morning she produced aromas of fresh coffee (americano) and warm bread from the kitchen and we were never disappointed with our breakfast meal - excellent.

After checking in and settling in, we headed out, walking down along the river Arno and across to the Palazzo Pitti. This palace and former home of the rich and famous Medici family. Just beyond lies the Boboli Gardens. Wandering around the gardens was a relaxing way to start our stay in Florence. Although not much was blooming in April, the gardens are still beautiful and verdant green. We enjoyed the fresh air and exercise. Some of the best views of the city can be found while have an afternoon cocktail and snack at the Kaffehaus.

As the afternoon started getting later, we made our way down to the Ponte Vechio and did a little window shopping. There is much to be had here - some very high quality wares. And as the sun went down we enjoyed a drink on the patio of a restaurant across from the Duomo. We marveled at the things we had seen the last 2 days.