Florence by any Name is Always Wonderful

Florence was called Florentia in Latin, then Fiorenza in Old Italian, then Firenza. The names foreigners call it by, like Florence in English and Frence in French, and Florenz in German, are closer to the original.

Since the prices were down to almost half-price, I decided to stay in my very favorite hotel in Florence, the Palazzo del Borgo.  It is well located for everything and is only a block from one of my favorite restaurants known to locals, called the “100 Poveri”.

I did things this trip I have never done – as I really took time to ride the “Hop on Off” bus through both of their extended routes.  Only got off at the Piazzale Michelangelo and Fiesole to enjoy the fabulous vistas over Florence.  Fiesole is an ancient Etruscan city, on the opposite side of Rome overlooking the city. It was great to take the time to see so many areas of Florence.  Of course, from the time I got there, I enjoyed walking the city going by so many of the wonderful places I have loved to return to again and again over the years.

 

DANTE'S MASK

I also visited the Palazzo Vecchio inside for the first time and was amazed at all the arts and architecture of that amazing building.  Years ago, I had gone on a tour of the “Vasari Corridor” that runs from this building through the Uffizi and then across the top of the Ponte Vecchio bridge to the Pitti Palace.  I also found they have a “secret area” tour of the Palazzo Vecchio I hope to do in the future.  Vasari did most of the paintings in this building and they are magnificent.

Needless to say, after a few days in Rome and Florence, I realized the loss of a current driver’s license was something I could now deal with.