A Florence Break – June 2013

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One of the best features about our farmhouses in Umbria is the location. We sit up on a hill with gorgeous views and have complete solitude and the only sounds I hear throughout the day are usually church bells or birds singing. We are just minutes off of E45 however, and can reach many Umbrian hill towns in under an hour. Being situated in central Umbria also means we are equal distance between Rome and Florence, and when we want to get away from our quiet country life for a taste of a larger city, we often head off for the day to either Rome or Florence. A day in one of these wonderful cities usually includes lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, shopping for me, and a leisurely stroll to admire some of the amazing landmarks. We usually take off for a “city break” about once every 6 to 8 weeks and although we always enjoy our day away, the noise and crowds we find in the larger cities only makes us appreciate our quiet property in the hills of Umbria even more.

We have our niece and her family visiting this week, and once we heard that they had never been to Florence we decided we would all go for the day since we have yet to visit Florence since returning to Italy early May. It was a gorgeous day in Florence though the rain returned just as we were heading out of the city. No matter how many times I visit Florence, I am always amazed at the beauty of this Tuscan city and its breathtaking historical landmarks that one seems to find around every corner. We had a fun, full day in Florence but were all happy to head home to our place in Umbria at the end of the day.

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Piazza della Signoria

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Porcini Mushrooms at Central Market

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San Lorenzo Leather Market

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View of Florence From Piazzale Michelangelo

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View of Florence From Piazzale Michelangelo

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The Duomo in Florence

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Piazza del Duomo in Florence

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Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

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Ponte Vecchio

Deborah Mele
June 2013