My Summer in Europe: Pictures from lovely Florence, Italy

Florence is a must-see if you're going to Italy. It's just so beautiful. I went there for a day in the winter after I graduated college, and wished I had had more time. This summer we stayed for two days so I got to see more of this charming city. While the weather was much nicer in the summer, in the winter it was a treat because there were very few tourists about. If you can somehow manage to go in the Fall or early Spring that would probably be your best bet.



The famous Ponte Vecchio. The bridge is pedestrian and lined with jewelers.

The architecture in Florence is stunning and an interesting mix...

Piazza della Signoria

From my winter trip

There is an popular open-air sculpture garden in the famous
Piazza della Signoria

Inside the Palazzo Vecchio - the most prominent building in Piazza della Signoria

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is unforgettable



The Baptistery of St. John boasts the famous bronze doors Michelangelo dubbed "The Gates of Paradise"


The beautiful Santa Maria Novella...

Anyone here been to Florence? What did you think?

Here's that list again of all my posts from our travels that I've posted -

Spain
•Introduction to my European backpacking trip and a list of places we visited
• Galicia - Baiona and Isle de Cies
• Galicia - the coast, some charming vineyards, and Pontevedra
• Santiago de Compostela and gorgeous hidden beaches
• Gorgeous mountain lakes of Picos de Europa
• Stunning mountains - Picos de Europa
• Bilbao and San Sebastian
• Beautiful Barcelona
• The amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
• Art Nouveau dream house by Gaudi in Barcelona

Italy
• Not to miss - the gorgeous rocky coast of Italy's Cinque Terre
• More from my summer traveling Europe - amazing Rome
• From my summer in Europe - amazing Pompeii
• Turquoise ocean and vineyards on cliffs - the amazingly stunning Amalfi coast