Tourist House Ricci is situated in the Via Dè Martelli, adjacent (just north) to the biggest attractions of the city, being the combination of Duomo, Campanile and Battistero. Our friends had a rented apartment in the Via Dei Servi, north-east of the Doumo – just a few blocks away from us. We started every day together with breakfast in their apartment. Tripadvisor awards Tourist House Ricci 4,5 out of 5 by the way. We agree.

Pietà by Michelangelo (Buonarroti) (1475-1564). Michelangelo next-to-last sculpture. He did not finish it, no, even mutilated it, because at the end of 1555 (already 80(!) years old) he discovered flaws in the marble-block he was working on. The work was acquired in 1671 by Cosimo III de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and -after a period of peregrinations- eventually on display inside the Opera del Duomo Museum. Especially the right underside shows the unfinished state of this statue.

For lunch, the already mentioned Tripadvisor led us to ‘Panini Toscani’, situated next to the Duomo. Rightfully so, it was even worth being in line for over half an hour. There was a kind of ‘bouncer’ at the entrance, organizing a smooth operation inside the extremely narrow panini-shop. When it was our turn we discovered why the waiting seemed to be without an end. Inside was this man, almost an artist, feeding every small group of six (formed by the ever so friendly ‘bouncer’) with examples of his cold cuts and cheese. After that we all made our choice for one cold cut, a cheese and the type of bread we desired and while moving towards the exit we picked three extra’s – like pesto-sauce, dried tomatoes and the likes. After having paid all four of us savoured a top-class panini with a glass of red wine (3) and a bottle of beer (1).

After lunch, still Saturday the 28th of October, we entered the Duomo and after that planned to climb the nearby Campanile. When walking the Piazza del Duomo one’s impressed by all the marble that covers the Duomo, Campanile and Battistero alike. It’s almost beyond imagination how they all did it during the Medieval Period.

On Saturday we checked whether tickets for Firenze’s/Florence’s world-famous Galleria degli Uffizi were available on Sunday. Sold out! was the disappointing message. We decided for an early rise, a brisk walk and queuing – if given the chance. Well, we were lucky. After a not too long wait, less than an hour, we were able to buy tickets.

Gerrit Honthorst (detto Gherardo delle Notti) (1592-1656). In The Netherlands he is called Gerard van Honthorst. Because he is a fellow countryman, even a fellow townman (Utrecht!), he deserves an unshared page. This painting’s name is ‘Adorazione del Bambino’ (Adoration of the child). More about the painter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_van_Honthorst. And the painting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoration_of_the_Child_(Honthorst).

Monday the 30st of October we visited the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana in the morning. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurentian_Library. Its walled in garden is an oasis of tranquility in the centre of the town.

The stairs inside the building, leading to its reading room. Design: Michelangelo (Buonarroti).

Here’s the reading room itself. All of it is utterly renaissance-style.

The required documents, often large, were spread out in front of the reader and -in accordance with an illustration we saw somewhere- covered by a piece of fabric to protect them (against fading, for instance?). The (changeable) list on the outside of a bench was a guide, informing about the contents to be found there.

It’s a lot of walking (and climbing) when in Firenze/Florence, seen in the light of a desire to visit several interesting places within the confined space of a few days. Monday’s afternoon was reserved for climbing the Dome – by the two men that is. As mentioned before we bought tickets that are valid for 48 hours on Saturday around noon. The time we were supposed to enter the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, well its Dome, was 12:00PM sharp. We were there – and denied access because we both were lacking a small but important document. Now what? We decided to go back to the ticket office and ask for a duplicate of the required documents. That proved to be possible (don’t dare to make any unfriendly remark about the Italians!) and we returned to the Dome-entrance on the double. Even though it was almost 12:30PM we were allowed to enter the building. Phew! This is the view down into the cathedral after having completed the straight part of the climb.

The straight part is followed, of course, by the bending dome-part. This picture gives a good impression what that looks like. It is less easy than this picture suggests but, despite the 463 steps, easier than the Campanile because (1) generally it is not as narrow and (2) most of the time oncoming traffic has its separate stairs.

The reward of climbing the dome is absolutely worth the trouble. Together with a part of the city around and behind it the Campanile -its visitors 10 meters below us- is clearly visible here.

On the 31st of October we said goodbye to our friends. It had been a short but great time. After that we took the train from Firenze/Florence to Pisa’s central train-station. From there to the airport by PisMover – a bit strange name in Dutch (and English?) but who cares? It has been really fantastic. In three full days we have maybe seen 10% (less?) of what’s on offer for the discerning visitor. We must, repeat must, go back another time. We hope to be able to entertain all of you followers again next month – Sunday the 3rd of December.