Marco traveler: Italy to the Alps

The former Medici kingdom of Florence and Tuscany flourishes today as one of the premier and popular places to visit in the world. Along with sister cities in the rolling hillside vineyards of Tuscany, Florence is acknowledged as the cradle of civilization, and has preserved its artistic treasures of its historic past.

Its Duomo (cathedral) is one of the largest in the world, dating from the 13th to 15th Centuries, while its heart is the Piazza Della Signori, the political center of Tuscany which contains the Palazzo Vecchio, a huge palace dominated by its lofty bell tower dating from 1299.

My favorite sight in Florence is the Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) built in 1345. Overhanging shops have lined the bridge since its founding, and all these are occupied by gold and silversmiths. Several years ago my wife and I bought our 18kt, three color gold rings at one of these shops. The bridge was fortunately saved from Nazi destruction

Article source: http://www.marcoislandflorida.com/story/travel/2015/09/04/marco-traveler-italy-alps/71709886/