Aloha Everyone,
Our apartment in Firenze is centrally located on a quiet street within 10 minutes walk to a number of major attractions. The Piazza della Signoria is the main civic center of Firenze. This is where great celebrations, riots and executions of prominent and not so prominent people took place. The piazza is surrounded by Uffuzi Galllery, Palazzo Vecchio, and a palatial fortress of the Medici -- one of the wealthiest and most influential Florentine families and patrons of art. A replica of David, the giant Michelangelo marble statue, gazes down at 5 to 6 layers of admiring tourists with their iPhones and selfie sticks.
One of the many enjoyable thing about Firenze is that fantastic art and architectures are everywhere. You don't have to pay entrance fees to museums to appreciate them. For example, Loggia dei Lanzi is located at the Piazza della Signoria. This open air sculpture gallery was once a forum for public debate. Many important works including Cellini's Perseus are on display and accessible 24 hours a day.
Piazza della Repubblica is another of our favorite places. The old-fashion carousel always captivates children. In the early evening hours. we often see "artists" creating bubbles using multiple rings. One can sit hours nursing an expensive cup of cappuccino and enjoy people watching.
Aloha -- Cathi