FLORENCE
The Gems of Tuscany

Florence is situated on the banks of the River Arno and
surrounded by the Apennine Hills.  We visited the
Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) where the bell
tower, Cathedral and baptistry, which has magnificent
mosaics and Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise" cast in bronze,
share a very small area.  We then went to the Pitti Palace
and the Piazza della Signoria which is the City's largest square
where you can find the Neptune Fountain and many side
walk cafes.  The Palazzo della Signoria dominates the
plaza with a copy of Michelangelo's David.  The Loggia
della Signoria also in the plaza houses the bronze statues
of Pereus and the Rape of the Sabines.  The Uffizi Gallery
contains Italy's most important art collections and the
Accademia Gallery houses some of Michelangelo's most
important sculptures, including the "Statue of David".
The Church of San Lorenzo is a renaissance design,
which was decorated by Michelangelo and has several
of his sculptures.

Florence is filled with beautiful boutiques along Via de'
Tomabuoni and Via della Vigna Nuova.  The leather
products are wonderful and can be purchased at a great
price.  Also, I found good buys on gold jewelry.  There
was also a fantastic straw market, located at Via Calimala.

Florence is truly a living museum of art and architecture.
 

PISA

We made a short stop to Pisa and went to the Piazza del
Duomo.  There, peeking out from the Cathedral and Baptistry,
was the Leaning Tower!  Construction was started in 1174 and
after only three stories were completed, the building of it was
abandoned, due to the fact that it was sinking into the ground.
The tower was completed in the mid 14th century and stands
180 feet high.  Built of white marble it now leans a total of
14 feet and continues to move at a rate of *" per year.