Day 2

Pensione Pendini is located in Plazza della Repubblica. This is where the marble floor (outside) is. Hopefully, once I give you the link, you can find this and many other pics there (this site only permits a certain amt. of pics per month). Date of construction is MDCCXVC. We visited Ponte Vecchio which is up a small hill from the Duomo (all streets lead here). There is an amazing view through arches of the water and the buildings along it. All along the streets are jewelry shops one after another. From this point, you can still see the dome of the Duomo. I've also just past the fist florist shop I've seen so far. We walked across the Arno river where we saw some pple rowing these very long, thin boats.

Waked up through the Arno gates which surround the city. Its a very old wall made of orangey stone. In older times, the gates would close at curfew. This is where the hike truly begins. This is the time where I which my camera took panoramic shots. We make our way up this steep road to a series of shallow/wide steps. This is called via del Monte alle Croci or "alley of the cross". These steps lead up to San Miniato al Monte, the oldest and first of the churches over 500 yrs. It was the architect's goal to build as wide and as high as possible. Inside, the walls are covered with murals all made with natural paint with egg yolk. There are no lights inside. It is only lit with natural light that comes in from the entrance and stained glass window (there is one at the entrance and one in an enclosed room near the rear). This room is top to middle fresco (mural). Around the lower half,hugging the wall there is dark wood with round pulls and seating side by side. The artist: Spinello Aretino (14th century). The paintings look 3-D with the shading and folds in the subjects' clothing. The floor inside the church is marble and has inscriptions in Italian and patterns. In fact this church has many patterns that in some form or another are recreated throughout other churches in Italy.

Outside, there is a magnificent view of the city. Mom--This is something you MUST do, when you come to florence.IF you go in the church, make sure your shoulders and knees are covered, otherwise you will not be allowed inside (also, I think you need tickets or to pay).

Tomorrow, we will go inside the Duomo. And while it's not required, I WILL be going up into the dome, a some 500 steps!!