9th May 09 - Livorno for Florence

Arrived in the port of Livorno (Italy) at 8.00am. Coach (c90mins) to Florence. Lovely sunny day (again).

Dropped off in the Piazza St Croce

Guided tour of the Uffizi and its many Michael Angelos, Leonardos and Botticellis. We also had a private visit to the Vasarian Corridor. A half mile+ walkway used by the Medici (c1550) to walk from their office to their palace. It goes over the Ponte Vecchio. It is lined with self portraits of artists. Amazing - if not sometimes a bit too much of a good thing!

Ponte Vecchio from the Uffizi. You can see the windows of the Vasarian Corridor on the bridge.

Bridges over the Arno from the Ponte Vecchio

Dead centre on the Ponte Vecchio now looking down from the corridor

From Boboli Gardens in the Pitti Palace

View of the Duomo from Boboli Gardens

Coming back across the Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio from the riverside

River bank

Michael Angelo's David (well, a copy!) in the Piazza de la Signoria

The cupola of the Duomo

I rather liked this sign forbidding you to 'Lie down, camp (??) or behave in an indecent way!' Oh, and please don't leave your dog's droppings uncollected either!