| Florence, Italy is said to be one of the most beautiful | | | | infamous de'Medici family, it's now a museum. The |
| cities in the world. Its ancient churches and streets | | | | collection of art itself is worth the trip. Priceless Bellinis |
| are charming, almost intoxicating. One loses an overall | | | | and Caravaggios adorn the walls of what once was, |
| sense of time and place when visiting the city. The | | | | quite literally, one of the greatest seats of wealth |
| Duomo is stunning of course, but make time to visit | | | | and power in Europe. |
| some of the smaller holy places. Upon entering places | | | | After the palace, a final mandatory destination is |
| such as Santa Maria Novella, notice the masses of | | | | Michelangelo's David. Everyone's seen pictures of it, |
| votive candle holders holding hundreds of burning | | | | but to see it in person is absolutely stunning. The |
| candles. They pay testament to Italy's strong | | | | statue itself seems so alive. As you circle around it, |
| Catholic presence and faith in the Church. | | | | you'll realize that there's only word to describe the |
| For an alternate perspective - a more modern one - | | | | block of marble in front of you: perfect. There's |
| visit the Ponte Vecchio. You won't find priests and | | | | more to the museum than David, of course, but |
| votive candle holders here, but throngs of shoppers | | | | unless you feel like examining the same votive candle |
| instead. The famous bridge over the Arno is | | | | holders that you saw at Santa Maria Novella, you |
| essentially an alley of every piece of jewelry | | | | should quit the museums and instead experience the |
| conceivable. Gold, silver, platinum, pearl: it's all there. | | | | famous Tuscan cuisine. One bite of Bistecca alla |
| But don't linger too long eyeing the bracelets and | | | | Fiorentina and you might just forget David for a |
| earnings, because if you do you might miss the real | | | | moment - for the steak too is perfect. |
| treasures in the Pitti Palace. Once belonging to the | | | | |