The first thing I did this morning was to go back to Boboli Gardens. It was a beautiful morning, and I wanted to get more pictures of the Duomo, and just walk around some, as I had only seen a little bit of the gardens my first day.
I then went to Santi Apostoli, considered to be the oldest church in Florence, dating back (by tradition) to Charlemagne. It was a very simple stone church, but beautiful.
I then went to the Mercato Nuovo, or New Market, another open air shopping place. This one has the famous Florentine boar statue with the nose that has been rubbed so much it’s shiny. Tradition has it that if you rub the boar’s nose, you will return to Florence one day. Of course, I rubbed it!
I did a little shopping, then went back to my room to drop my things off.
I then went to Ognissanti, where Bottecelli is buried, but that was closed, so I continued on to Via della Scala. In the movie, Hannibal, Dr. Lecter goes into a perfume shop on this street, and I wanted to see if one existed.
Well, not only does one exist, but it’s 800 years old, and was where the movie was filmed. I really enjoyed being there, and couldn’t resist signing the guest book, “Hannibal Lecter.”
I then went back to the Boboli Gardens and stayed there for a long time, just exploring the wooded trails and niches. Of all the places I saw in Florence, the Gardens were my favorite. No one was there, and I could get lost in the woods. Were I to live in Florence, I’d visit the Gardens every day.
On my way home, I stopped for gelato again, this time hazelnut (it was soooo good!), and flirted a bit with the cute ice cream guy, who, after I had said ONE word in Italian (which he didn’t even understand), told me my Italian was “very good.” Needless to say, his English was better. He was pretty cute, though.
I went back to my rooms and rested a bit and then went out for dinner. I didn’t get back from that until 9:30. I didn’t sleep much that night for all the noise going on in the streets.
I put in 8 miles today.
The Duomo in the early morning.
The Boboli Gardens in the early morning. I love this picture.
The Boar in Mercato Nuovo (the New Market). Tradition has it that if you rub the boar's nose, you will one day return to Florence. His nose is very shiny! And, yes, I helped!
Santi Apostoli. I love how the sunlight is coming through the window.
The altar in Santi Apostoli. The simplicity of this church made it one of my favorites in Florence.
The Arno in the morning.
Street sign. The Via della Scala is mentioned in the movie, Hannibal, as the abode of a perfume shop where Dr. Lecter was spotted. I decided to go on a little hunt for it.
Interior of the perfume shop on the Via della Scala, where scenes from the movie, Hannibal, were filmed.
Me. It's not easy taking a self-portrait in a mirror.
Me, with red eye.
Tuscan castle. Taken from the Rose Garden in Boboli Gardens.
Tuscan countryside. The castle is in the distance.
Roses were still blooming in December.
This reminded me of The Secret Garden.
Entrance to the Rose Garden.
More Whomping Willows. :-)
Very interesting sculpture in the Gardens.
One of the many kitties inhabiting the Gardens.
The Avenue of Cypress Trees.
Ditto.
The Gardens.
An old tree in the Gardens.
The Gardens.
The Gardens.
The Gardens.
The Avenue of Cypress Trees (looking up the hill).
Fort Belvedere.
My contribution to the "closed" sign at Fort Belvedere.
The Duomo in the afternoon.
Dante's house and museum.
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