After touring the gallery, we walked to the Duomo, Florence's cathedral. The cupola seen in the fog above dominates the skyline view of the city of Florence. The cupola is an architectural wonder, and was completed in 1436. Brunelleschi was the architect/designer, and the dome served as an inspiration for Michelangelo's St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome and the U.S. capital building in Washington, D.C. The exterior of the cathedral is covered in pink and green marble, and has a wonderful look. Since the interior of the cupola was covered with murals, it reminded me somewhat of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.
Our tour group ate a delightful lunch at an old palazzo in Florence. The room was filled with mirrors and chandeliers, and looked very Florentine. After all of our walking and sightseeing, it was nice to have a break. After lunch, we did some more touring on foot, walking by the Palazzo Vecchio with its replica of Michelangelo's David and along and through the piazzas of the city. After touring the Church of Santa Croce, we ended the guided tour at the busy Piazza Santa Croce with free time for shopping. The Church of Santa Croce contains the tombs of many of Florence's famous leading citizens, including Michelangelo. The Franciscan monks operate a leather-working school behind the church and we visited their shop. The leather was wonderful, and many of us made purchases ranging from leather coats to briefcases to wallets. (I still wish that I had bought a leather coat--they were luscious!) The Piazza Santa Croce is home to many jewelry shops and artists. When I visited Florence in 1985, I bought a beautiful gold ring that I still often wear. To continue the "tradition", I purchased another Florentine gold ring. (I never need an excuse to shop!) I also bought a water color picture of the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno.
We reluctantly boarded the bus for our ride back to the small cruise ship. Although I hope for a return more in-depth visit to Florence, I'm glad we took the full-day shore excursion. Even just a "taste" of Florence is better than nothing.
