Florence - Ponte Vecchio in the distance

Florence - Florence’s Duomo, or cathedral, completed in 1466 after 170 years of work and its domed roof is symbolic of the meeting of Renaissance craft and culture. Engineered by the architect and sculptor Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446), using specially invented machines, the cupola (dome) was one of the greatest achievements of the Italian Renaissance. Its octagonal form has a diameter of 46.5m (153ft) at the base, and was completed in 1434.

This is the view from the top of Giotto's Campanile that's right next the Duomo. The Campanile is 82m high, has 414 steps to the top - curved stone staircase is incredibly narrow and seems to go on forever (good aerobic exercise, especially in the 100F heat- also a bit claustrophobic but the view is worth it.)

Florence from the top of Campanile next to the Duomo.

entrance to the Duomo

in front of Duomo in Florence

corridor in the Galleria degli Uffizi (if you go there, reserve tickets by phoning the gallery directly - you pick the tickets up and pay for them when you get there and it costs only about 9 euro per ticket as opposed to around 60 USD which is what some travel websites are charging for the same. Without reservation, you will have to wait in line for a whole day to get in.

Florence - Ponte Vecchio

this is how most of the streets look like in Florence

View from San Miniato - it's one of the most remarkable examples of Florentine Romanesque architecture, although it dates back to the Charlemagne era - it was built between the XI and XIII centuries. Highlights include: Michelozzi's chapel with its vault in glazed terra-cotta by L. della Robbia, splendid frescoes by A.and T. Gaddi, the marble enclosure and pulpit (1207) , the 15C chancel, late 13C apse mosaics.

San Miniato inside

Friendly carabinieri in Florence

Brno, Czech Republic