FLORENCE, ITALY
Baptistery of John the Baptist at Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, with its giant carved brass doors
Baptistery of John the Baptist, Campanile, and Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (Il Duomo)
Centerpiece of the ceiling inside Baptistery of John the Baptist at Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral
Altar and inlaid marble walls inside Baptistery of John the Baptist at Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral
Close-up of giant brass doors at Baptistery of John the Baptist at Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral
Green, pink and white marble adorn the Campanile and Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (Il Duomo)
Green, pink and white marble adorn the Campanile and Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (Il Duomo)
Entry doors to Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (Il Duomo)
Green, pink and white marble adorn the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (Il Duomo)
Lighting candles ad offering prayers inside Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (Il Duomo)
The inside of the painted dome of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (Il Duomo)
From atop the dome, looking down at the Campanile, roof of
Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, and town of Florence
The Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River
The Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River
The Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River
On the center of the Ponte Vecchio bridge, looking through the three arches toward the Arno River
Checking out gold and silver jewelry in the jewelry shops that line the Ponte Vecchio bridge
Crowds commandeer the streets leading to the Ponte Vecchio bridge
The Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River
The Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River
The Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River
The Ponte Vecchio bridge, seen here through a rain-splattered second floor window of the Ufizzi Gallery
Musicians perform on the Ponte Vecchio bridge at night
The Ponte Vecchio bridge at night, reflected in the still waters of the Arno River
Late night reflections of buildings that line the shores of the Arno River
Piazza della Signoria
Piazza della Signoria
Piazza della Signoria
Musicians perform at Piazza della Signoria
Pantomime artists perform at Piazza della Signoria
Neptune and Triton fountain at Piazza della Signoria
Neptune and Triton fountain at Piazza della Signoria
Michelangelo's David Reproduction and Bacchus frame the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio at Piazza della Signoria
The real Michelangelo's David once stood in front of the Medici Palazzo Vecchio - the one that stands there today is a reproduction
Bacchus slays an enemy
Perseus holds aloft the head of Medusa
The entry foyer to Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio at Piazza della Signoria, once home to the Medici Dynasty until they were ousted; then the seat of Italian Parliament
The great hall of Palazzo Vecchio
The painted ceiling of the great hall at Palazzo Vecchio
The original Putto with Dolphin is housed on the second floor of the palazzo, while a reproduction now spouts water in the entry foyer
One of many painted ceilings in Palazzo Vecchio
Another of the many painted ceilings in Palazzo Vecchio
The Great Room at Palazzo Vecchio
The "grotesques" painted on the ceiling of the Green Room
Egnazio Dant Terrestrial Globe in the Palazzo Vecchio
Another fresco at Palazzo Vecchio
Sala de' Udienza in Palazzo Vecchio
Sala de' Udienza in Palazzo Vecchio
Bronze sculpture of Judith and the Holofernes in the Room of the Fleur de Lis in Palazzo Vecchio
Room of the Fleur de Lis in Palazzo Vecchio
San Lorenzo Basilica
Weekday market surrounds San Lorenzo Basilica
Tromp L' Oil frescos in the rooms of he Meici's Pitti Palace create the illusion of three dimensions on a flat surface
The Pitti Palace, another Medici estate
The Pitti Palace, another Medici estate, with Florence in the distance
Interactive sculpture at the Pitti Palace
Boboli Gardens at the Pitti Palace
Boboli Gardens at the Pitti Palace
The open air courtyard of the Ufizzi Gallery
Intricate exterior designs decorate this Florentine building
Plenty of parking space for this mode of transportation
Typical street scene in Florence's city center
Typical street scene in Florence's city center
Typical street scene in Florence's city center
Typical street scene in Florence's city center
Typical street scene in Florence's city center
Artists paint on the street for donations
Looks like this guy was using his wife as the model?
Florence is for lovers....
....and for musicians....
...and for lovers of Gelato