Firenze 18-22 April

We did a 6 hour tour called 'A perfect Morning in Tuscay' today and guess what it was just that! We visited the  famous hill top town: Fiesole, we visited a Renaissance Villa that  featured in 2 films, 'A Room with a View' and 'Tea with Mussolini'. At the villa we had a long lunch with local produce and local Chianti. We tasted the local olive oil and of course bought a small bottle to indulge us through the rest of our holiday.  Walked for 2 hours through olive groves, cypress wood forests and visited  some ancient Roman and Etruscan ruins on our walk which was made up of lots of winding paths and roads. We visited the area were Leonardo da Vinci tested his historic flying machines and where Michelango learnt his craft. The spring days have been perfect since we arrived and lots of flowers in bloom - poppies, purple iris, Wisteria in many of the courtyards and pansies galore. Saw many Bay Laurel  trees and Kiwi Fruit trees - heard some wonderful stories by the guide. We all enjoyed the tour very much but had to come home for a siesta.

Visited the Duomo and walked up the 463 steps to get to the top. An amazing building and view but those steps :-(

Caught the local bus the the medieval town of Sienna. In 1966 it became the first European city to banish motor traffic from with the walled city. The city is made up of mostly semicircled cobbled stoned streets that are very steep. What an amazing place - so old.


Visited the most famous sculpture in the world - Michelangelo's David - had to queue up for 2.5 hours to see him - well worth it. The museum also had some amazing art works. It's not everyday that one gets to see a masterpiece renaissance  sculpture created around 1501. 



                                                          Gelati - our daily addiction of choice

 a fancy deli  

Georgia's new hat - she was asked if she was English!

Mia at the local market