Natale in Firenze

Buon Natale cari amici e famiglia.  For our Christmas post, we are going to go back a few days and take you with us photographically on our walkabout in Firenze. 

It is Friday before Christmas and we drive over to the train station in Rignano at 2pm to catch a Regionale into Firenze.  We meet our friend Sandy who teaches English in town and who has offered to be our guide to the Christmas sights.

We first walk over to the Piazza del Duomo, which, being the center of town, is the logical starting point.

From the Duomo, we head south toward the Arno and the Piazza Santa Croce for the open-air mercado di Natale.  Christmas lights are up everywhere, even on a bicycle.  Each street has chosen a different arrangement of styles and shapes to distinguish themselves.  Locals know what street they are on by the style of the lights.

We spend a long time in the mercado, get a snack, and buy some spices we can't find elsewhere.  It is getting dark.

Leaving the mercado, we go down a few streets lit up for Christmas, heading for the river.

We cross over the Arno on the Ponte delle Grazie and walk westward along the river towards the Ponte Vecchio, enjoying the lights on the other side.

tower of Palazzo Vecchio

the Uffizi

the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Firenze, lined with high-end jewelry stores

Crossing back over the Ponte Vecchio, we make our way to the Piazza della Republica, treated to lights, lights, and more lights.

It is now 7:30 and we are getting hungry.  We pass a number of restaurants that haven't opened for dinner yet, so Sandy leads us to a little place where she knows the family that runs it.  After several hours of wonderful food, wine, and conversation, it is time to catch a train home.

We hope you have enjoyed our little guided tour through our photos of our Christmas in Italy.  While we miss being with family and friends for the holidays, we hope that sharing our experiences keeps us all close in our hearts.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!