Our evening view of il Campanile di Giotto.

The Piazza della Republica in early morning light.

A graceful spire caught my eye along this street.

Alln scoops up one of the three pasta types we made in this class.

I helped Chef Marco mix our papardelle with the osso buco that bubbled away during our class.

An antipasti of delicious homemade salami, ham, and fresh figs.

On the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's oldest bridge.

Admiring a door on display at the Opera del Duomo's museum.

Savoring Florence

Sep 3–9, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F

I lived in Florence for a semester 41 years ago, and returning to the city with Allan, a first time visitor, has made for a good trip.

A pasta cooking class was a lot of fun, as was wandering about the city’s narrow streets, where we’ve delighted in the culinary displays. Each meal has been a tasty adventure.

We stayed in a charming AirBnB, a 4th floor walkup on Via del Corso, with a great view of the Campanile di Giotto. The tower is adjacent to Il Duomo, a landmark I could see a sliver of from my old apartment. The building facades appear timeless as ever…the crowds of tourists, however, were not part of my memories.

Tomorrow morning we head to Venice for a few days.Read more