On November 12, we left Modena and the so-called “Motor Valley Penthouse,” bound for Carmignano in Tuscany. (Toscana in Italian 🇮🇹.) Famous in so many ways – wine; history; heck, even architecture! As well as plenty of Hollywood movies. The region stretches from the coast (think Pisa) all the way past the middle of the country, containing our target, Firenze (Florence)! As is the Olsen MO, however, we were going to stay outside of the “big-ish” city in the more peaceful countryside.
About an hour away from our stop at the Iris Cottage, we passed a sign that made us do a doubletake (and a U-turn for the photos). The 44th parallel?! Huh? Well, that got us thinking about where it lines up in the States. Bet you won’t come close (without cheating). Think right below Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. It’s more than 1100 miles straight from its northernmost point to its southernmost point in Sicily! Halfway down Sicily is lined up with… Richmond, VA! We sure hope the weather will be better when we get there. ha!
We spent a day or so settling in – unpacking, shopping for groceries, doing laundry, researching stops, etc. (And per Susie, downloading hundreds of photos…)
Then, it was time to explore!
We were headed to Torre Pendente di Pisa (the Bell Tower of Pisa)!
We followed the crowd through the archway onto the plaza and deftly wound our way through the many souvenir vendors, then joined the other tourists posing for photos of the landmark cathedral and bell tower.
After trying our hands at it (punny, get it?), we purchased tickets and joined the short line to go inside and climb to the top. While awaiting our turn with the rest of the group, we checked the stats for the freestanding bell tower:
- Construction began in 1173 & was completed in 1399
- The original height was 196′ 10″
- It is now 183′ 3″ above the ground on the low side & 185′ 11″ on the high side
- The walls at the base are 8 feet thick
- The weight is estimated at 14,500 tons
No wonder the tower leans nearly 4 degrees on its unstable foundation!
There’s a twisted stairway of 251 very worn steps to the top!
After regaining our equilibrium back on solid ground 🙂 , we went inside the cathedral, which, along with the baptistry, is also reported to be sinking. The interior of the cathedral is quite elaborate from top to bottom.
Yeah, kind of amazing, these cathedrals. Any-hoo, a quick stop and then more stairs (thankfully not tilted this time) in the massive Baptistry where Galileo was baptized in 1565.
Our last stop in Pisa was the Camposanto Monumental Cemetary. Camposanto translates to “holy field” because it is said to have been built on 53 shiploads of sacred soil from Golgotha, the Hill of Calvary in Jerusalem. The construction of this huge, oblong Gothic cloister was begun in 1278 and completed in 1464.
Whoaaaa, that’s enough for one day.
The next day, we headed for Firenze! Florence to us non-Italian-speaking Americans. Come on, it’s not really English, either. ha!
After a quick treat from the fresh market conveniently located just outside the parking garage, we walked into town to see what we could see.
We were making tracks to the Piazzale Michelangelo to see David in all his glory when some prehistoric creatures near the sidewalk snagged our attention. The next thing we knew, we were talking to the animals in the Natural History Museum.
After all those skeletons, we needed something alive. Nothing could better fit the bill than a stroll through the third oldest garden in the world!
The Orto Botanico di Firenze was established by Grand Duke Cosimo dei Medici, in December 1545. And almost every plant tag in the place was read by Todd Olsen in 2024. 🤪 So many tree species that we have never seen! It was quite a walk.
So, a word about planning, or more accurately, the occasional hurried lack thereof. We didn’t prebook tickets to see David. Why? uh… Todd’s fault? Ha! Anyway, the line for those without tickets was just too much for these weary travelers. So, we’ll save Michelangelo and David for another trip.
Based on the remembrances of Todd’s dear mother, we did not want to miss a stop at Ponte Vecchio. Todd’s parents visited in the 60’s (his best guess 😇) and simply said, “Son, if you ever get to Firenze, you must go to the Ponte Vecchio.
With Michelangelo’s piazza behind us, we quickly headed down the last street and rounded the corner onto the Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) of Florence.
And…
WOW. 😃😃🤩
Talk about being stopped in your tracks!
Unfortunately, what also went on for blocks was the line to get inside and there we were without tickets (again). So, we took some photos, placed another item on the list for “next time,” and single-mindedly focused on reaching Ponte Vecchio before dark. Todd! Let’s go.
Okay. Okay. About this Ponte Vecchio, just what is it??
From Britannica, the Ponte Vecchio (‘old bridge’) “… is the first segmental arch bridge built in the West… and is an outstanding engineering achievement of Europe’s Middle Ages. Its builder, Taddeo Gaddi, completed the bridge in 1345.”
Through the centuries, the bridge has survived changes, floods, and wars. During World War II it was the only bridge across the Arno that the fleeing Germans did not destroy, instead blocking it by demolishing the medieval buildings on each side.
There have been shops on Ponte Vecchio since the 13th century, initially all types of shops – including butchers, fishmongers, and tanners, whose waste, as one can imagine, caused a rank stench. In 1593, Ferdinand I decreed that in order to improve the wellbeing of all, only goldsmiths and jewelers (😍) would be allowed to have shops on what is now referred to as “the gold bridge”! (And with sky-high gold prices! Mama Mia! 🤯)
Naturally, the ancient bridge with its shops is structurally fascinating 
But what draws the tourists in droves is … 
… the JEWELRY!
Look at all those sparkles! Do we have to leave…?? 😢
Our Travels 