Two days in Florence

The train ride from Rome to Florence lasts about 1 1/2 hours. The time goes fast because I doze off intermitently, half awake from the previous night's drinking and socializing. Once there, plenty of day remains for exploring. So, I gather some strength and put on my tourist hat.

The city is smaller than expected, a welcome change from the huge span of Rome. I pass a couple gigantic cathedrals walking down via Faenza. Eventually I wander into Ponte Veccio, a large piazza near the Arno river with many beautiful statues. This is where the original David once stood before it was moved to The Academy Gallery. Now only a copy sits in its old spot. Other remaining statues are priceless, original works. Perseus and Medusa is a particularly cool bronze statue. The grisly scene shows Perseus proudly projecting Medusa's decapitated head.

The last sightseeing for the day is the Arno river. Downstream is a beautiful old bridge, filled with shops and houses. It makes a perfect picture as the sun sets.

Food in Florence proves far better than Rome. The Florentine pig tripe makes an excellent native dish, despite how eating fried intestines might sound.



Early the next morning I walk back to the cathedral mentioned yesterday. The massive church is called Duomo for the high dome in the center with frescoes of Heaven at the top and Hell at the bottom. The lighting inside is dim, so pictures turn out shaky. The 500 year old Duomo is actually built atop an older church from about 400 AD. The underground structure from the Middle ages is well preserved in a museum downstairs. It is a spooky, dark place, with a low ceiling and Roman looking architecture. A crypt housing early Christian knights and holy men gives the place a ghostly feeling.