"The David"

I typically plan our trips a couple of months out and our Easter trip was no exception. We knew we wanted to go to Italy, but where? With a 4 day holiday, including travel days, we quickly eliminated Rome. There is just too much to see and do there to try and squeeze it into only 2 full days. Eventually we decided on Florence. What a beautiful city! We did a lot of walking, some sightseeing, and, of course, enjoyed some wonderful Italian food and wine.

Ponte Vecchio - This medieval stone bridge is still lined with shops.

Giotto's Companile - This bell tower is about 88 metres (278 feet) tall and contains
7 large bells. It has 5 levels. Interestingly enough, the top 3 levels are different sizes,
with each one slightly larger than the one below it. 

The Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore is the main church of Florence. The entire exterior of the church, bell tower, and baptistry are composed of marble. All three buildings  in the Piazza del Duomo are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Easter Sunday Service at the Basilica, which included fireworks!

This might look like "The David" but it is not. It is a replica standing in the  Palazzo Vecchio. The real David can be found at the Galleria dell'Accademia. The statue, by Michelangelo, represents the biblical "David" and came to represent liberty to the people of Florence. We were able to view the "real" David and it was truly magnificent!