Florence! Italy ctd

So, after Rome we headed up to Florence with Andrea as our driver once again. He took first to Siena where we were able to see the beautiful Duomo (cathedrale di Santa maria) and the Palio (where the famous horse race is each year). We stopped for an excellent lunch in a small town between Siena and Florence that is surrounded by a walled fortress. The town couldn't have more than 25 visitors a day but managed to have 4 restaurants, one with a Michelin rating! After lunch we headed to San Gimignano where we visited the cathedral, briefly, since it was closing, and saw some of the towers that are still standing from the middle ages. The towns of Italy used to have hundreds of these towers since each town was constantly at war with the neighboring town (Siena and Florence apparently hated each other for most of known history) and the nobility needed a walled fortress to go to in case of attack. It is amazing, seeing the flimsy homes we build in 3 months these days, to imagine building your house with the knowledge that you would likely need it for protection against an incoming army! We arrived late in Florence, grabbed an amazing dinner (food in Florence is incredible!) and headed to bed.
The next day we began exploring Florence. We took a walking tour of the city that included the Duomo (large cathedral in the middle of florence), several small piazza's and the uffizi museum. The Uffizi is another amazing museum that is full of Renaissance artwork and sculpture and well as some ancient work and a few pieces from shortly after the Renaissance. Our guide also taught art history so her tour was excellent. We walked across the Pont Vecchio and saw the jewelry shops. We also went under the bridge to where the jewelry is actually being made and were able to buy a few pieces (Shane got cuff links with Roman coins) from the jeweler himself. Lastly we went to Santa Croce which is a beautiful Renaissance church that houses the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, a memorial to Dante and several others! It was quite impressive.
The next day was New Year's eve. We headed out in the morning to Simon Taddei's shop. He and his family have been making leather products by hand for 3 generations. His grandfather worked for Ferragamo and learned the trade from him and then proceeded to open his own shop. He showed us around and then we perused his beautiful pieces. Next we headed to the duomo museum which holds all the sculpture and art that used to be in the baptistery, including the original doors done by Ghiberti. We interspersed our days with stops for espresso, gelato and huge lunches :o) That evening we had a fancy dinner at our hotel and welcomed in the New Year in style.
On New Year's day, most of Florence was closed so we wandered around the city and checked out the outside of several beautiful buildings :o) We did hike up to San Miniato to hear the monks chanting above the city. The views from the top of the hill where the monastery is located are beautiful. The following day the city was open again and we were able to climb the dome of the duomo - you are about 5 feet from the frescoes painted on the ceiling, it is quite amazing! We also toured the Ferragamo leather museum (no purchases there - sadly!). After a delicious lunch we headed over to the Brancacci Chapel that houses beautiful frescos from the early renassiance. We then headed quickly to another church where Michelangelo used to sneak in, with permission from the monks, to do his dissections. As a thank you, he gave them a cross sculpted from wood - his only known piece in wood.
And that about covers our trip. It was a great 10 days full of amazing food and wonderful sights. After the trip my sister headed back to Atlanta, Shane went back to work and my parents came to London where we were able to spend one more week on vacation visiting the sights of London and relaxing.
Hope you are all doing well! We miss you all!
love, Sarah and Shane