Around Tuscany in September

Our second hotel in Florence. It was one block, and a straight walk, from the Ponte Vecchio.

Our 3rd floor room at the Florence Old Bridge.

The view from our terrace.

The view of the Palazzo Vecchio clock tower from the rooftop cafeteria at the Uffizi Gallery.

Family crests on the Palazzo Vecchio.

Sandie taking a photo with her iPad.

While taking that photo a bird flew past.

Antennas on the rooftops.

The rooftop cafeteria of the Uffizi.

An Armillary sphere on display at the Galileo Museum, Florence.

We attended a concert of &quot;Opera Love Duets&quot; at St. Mark

An intimate performance of &quot;Opera Love Duets&quot; at St. Mark

Bows at St. Mark

The ceiling of St. Mark

At the Fiat 500 Touring Club  - this is the double clutching training simulator.

Giuseppe coaching me on how to drive and double clutch a Fiat 500.

This is our luxury model to drive in the Tour.

Our first stop, the Church of San Miniato al Monte. The Church stands on one of the highest points in Florence.

A view of the entrance from the altar area.

The ceiling in the Church of Miniato al Monte. It has been described as one of the finest Romanesque structures in Tuscany and one of the most beautiful churches in Italy.

The crypt under the altar at San Miniato al Monte is little changed since it was built.

Artwork in the Church of Miniato al Monte.

Pipe organ in the Church of Miniato al Monte.

Inside the Church of Miniato al Monte.

Marble detail in the Church of Miniato al Monte.

The Church of Miniato al Monte was built on one of the highest points in Florence.

A view of Florence from the front of the Church of Miniato al Monte overlooking part of the church

Sandie with our classic Fiat.

Another stop on the tour.  A distant view of the Chianti valley from Florence.

The dome is where Galileo had his laboratory and made many of his discoveries.

The Fiat 500 is a really small car.

Our last stop was the vineyard of Villa Piazzole.  Grapes and raisins on the vine.

Fabricio the winemaker.

The Villa

Finally we drank wine from grapes grown on the Villa Piazzole.

In the courtyard of the vast Palazzo Pitti.  The Palace was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker.

The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

In the Courtyard of the Pitti Palace.

Fountain in the Courtyard of the Pitti Palace.

Fountain in the Courtyard of the Pitti Palace.

The ceiling above that fountain.

Sandie by that fountain.

In the Courtyard of the Pitti Palace.

In the Courtyard of the Pitti Palace.

In the Courtyard of the Pitti Palace.

Palazzo Pitti from the vast Giardino di Boboli.

Palazzo Pitti from the vast Giardino di Boboli.

Neptune

In the Boboli Garden.

In the Boboli Garden.

In the Boboli Garden.

In the Boboli Garden.

&quot;Tyndareus Cracked&quot; by Igor Mitoraj was added to the Boboli Garden in the 1990.

&quot;Tyndareus Cracked&quot; by Igor Mitoraj was added to the Boboli Garden in the 1990.

In the Boboli Garden.

The Porcelian Museum at the upper levels of the Boboli Garden.

The Porcelian Museum.

The Porcelian Museum.

The Porcelian Museum.

The view from the level of the Porcelain Museum.

Walking through the Boboli Garden.

Walking through the Boboli Garden.

Walking through the Boboli Garden.

The Buontalenti Grotto.  The door on the lower left leads to the Vasari Corridor - the secret passage above Florence.

Walking through the Boboli Garden.

Walking around Florence at night.

Walking around Florence at night.

Walking around Florence at night.

Walking around Florence at night.

Walking around Florence at night.

Walking around Florence at night.

Walking around Florence at night.

San Giovanni.

The entrance arch to historic Florence.

A Mayan Indian playing a traditional flute on Piazza Michelangelo.

The view of Florence and the Plaza Hotel Lucchesi from Piazza Michelangelo.

The view of Florence from Piazza Michelangelo.

A view of Florence from Piazza Michelangelo.

What we left behind in our room at Florence Old Bridge before leaving Italy.