Italy, Part 1: Florence

Hello!  After an incredible honeymoon, we're back in the states and already missing our beautiful time in Italy. The scenery, the art, the gorgeous language, the food...oh my, the food.  Let's just say it was a very good thing we did LOTS of hiking on the second leg of our trip!  As promised, I snapped a great many photos, and I'll be sharing highlights over the next couple of days.  (I will also do a little food-centric roundup with descriptions of favorite restaurants/meals...methinks la buona cucina deserves its own dedicated post, no?)  

Let's start with Florence, shall we?  We spent three nights in this beautiful city.

I couldn't get enough of the Florence skyline.  The first photo is a sunset view of the Ponte Vecchio, with the city lights twinkling across the Arno river.

A view of the city from the Piazzale Michelangelo.

Another sunset view of the Arno.

  

And again, from the Piazzale Michelangelo.

The Duomo, as seen from Piazzale Michelangelo, framed by moody blue-gray hills.  Dusk is truly magical in this city.

Strolling along the river, near the Ponte Vecchio.

We loved walking along the river and across the city's numerous bridges.

Husband looking handsome.

Sculpture outside the Museo del Bargello

The perfect picnic lunch: chewy whole grain focaccia and caprese salad from the Mercato Centrale.

We visited all of the major museums as well...the Uffizi, the Accademia (where Michelangelo's David resides), the Palazzo Pitti, etc., but since the museums generally don't allow photography (or flash photography anyway), we're a bit lacking in photos from those places.

Stay tuned for highlights from the Liguria region (Cinque Terre, Santa Margarita Ligure, Portofino) tomorrow!

Ciao (I can't stop saying it yet, so please indulge me for another day or so...),