A Taste of Florence

                      Departure from Leghorn by A/C deluxe coach  the journey takes approximately 1,5 hours through the Tuscany countryside. , which is bathed by a diaphanous , amber light . The low surrounding hills are clad with olive groves, vineyards and cypresses which appear to have been landscaped to please the human eye.

                  Meeting with  the local guide  and start the walking tour  to  Piazza del Duomo , where stands the huge cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore which was built over the ruins of the old church of S.Reparata . This Gothic cathedral is an outstanding example of the Florentine variant of this style , with its sheer size, predominance of horizontal lines and taste  for polychrome decoration. To counteract the excessive thrust , Brunelleschi built two concentric domes which were linked by props. It is possible to go up to the inner gallery which offers an impressive view of the nave, and then on up to the top of the dome ( 464 steps) with its magnificent panorama of Florence.

                  Next to the dome there is the Giotto’s bell Tower and is the perfect complement to Brunelleschi’s dome . Its geometric decoration with its emphasis on horizontal lines is unusual. From the top there is a fine panorama of the cathedral and town.

                  Walk towards Piazza della Signoria , the political stage of Florence , with a wonderful backcloth formed by the Palazzo Vecchio , the Loggia della Signoria and in the wings the uffizi museum. The many statues make it virtually an open –air museum of sculpture.

                   Round the corner and a view on Ponte vecchio , this Florence’s oldest bridge , which  crosses the Arno at its narrowest point , and has been rebuilt several times .it has a curious appearance with jewellers’shops lining the roadway and above the Corridoio Vasariano.

                   The last visit will be  the  Franciscans church of Santa Croce , which was designed for preaching and consists of a single spacious nave and slender apse with fine 15c stained glass window. The church is paved with 276 tombstones and along the walls are sumptuous tombs.The first chapel to the right of the altar contains moving frescoes by Giotto depicting the life of St.Francis .

          At the end of the guided visit , guests will have free time  for lunch and wandering around , before meeting with the escort to return to the  coaches  to leave Florence  and drive back to Leghorn .