Our Last Full Day in Florence

4-Jan-2014 • Florence Italy

Our last full day in Florence was dedicated solely to sightseeing in nowhere else but Florence. We weren't going to squeeze in any side trips. No more. I was so glad to take a break from riding trains and sitting in crowded train cars for hours on end.

It was the big day for shopping in Italy then and people were definitely in the mood for shopping the sales.

Rain or no rain, crowds were everywhere in Florence. It was festive no doubt.

In Florence's city center with the famous Duomo in the background

One of the entrances to the Duomo

It seems to me that many European cathedrals and basilicas have gilded doors like this. We have them back home too at the chic Grace Cathedral in Nob Hill in San Francisco.

The door of the baptistry

Inside the Duomo in Florence

Inside the spacious Duomo. We attended New Year's Day mass here when only the locals and those who planned on attending mass were allowed to enter.

The nativity scene inside

A close up view of the Nativity scene

The Duomo's main altar

An even closer view of the main altar

The domed ceiling

The murals on the domed ceiling of the duomo of florence

A beautiful statue of the Baby Jesus inside the Duomo

Reminiscing. It was here in this section of the Duomo where we sat as we attended New Year's Day mass

A full view of the Campanile

The Piazza della Annunziatta

Piazza della Annunziatta

The Chiesa di San Lorenzo

The San Lorenzo Market

We came here at least three times. I truly wanted to buy a leather bag, something to remind me of my first visit to Florence. To my surprise, everything was overpriced. I just hated haggling.

Hugo Boss men's bag for 995 euros or 1,399 US dollars

The Old City Center/Florence's Piazza de la Republica

Beyond this piazza is one section of Florence where the truly upscale shopping is located. It was a sight to behold. So chic, so classy, so expensive!