Leonardo da Vinci and beautiful Florence

We spent two lovely nights at Vinci, on a free Sosta (N43.78088 E10.92857), that had all our usual requirements to keep us and Sonny (the motorhome) happy!

We didn’t know anything about the place before arriving, and was just using it as a stop over on the way to Florence and to use the launderette to get our washing done.  It was so relaxing though, we were tempted to stop a third night!  In the town we also found a hairdressers, so we both decided to get our hair cut.  It was the first time Mel had had his hair cut in a ladies hairdresser -  €42 for us both!  After staying for free in the town for a couple of nights, it's always nice to put some money back into it.

Showing off our new haircuts at Vinci Sosta!

The town is very small but famous for being the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci and houses a museum here about the great genius.

Mel outside the museum - adopting the pose of the Vitruvian Man!

There is a lovely walk to Leonardo da Vinci's birth house in Anchiano (just outside of Vinci). 

Outside Leonardo da Vinci'sbirth house in Anchiano - now a museum.

The walk takes you through vineyards and olive groves and a wonderful view across Vinci.

View across Vinci

We came across this in the woods on our walk at the river - Mulino della Doccia. Leonardo's art work – not sure what it is though, other than a stone wall at the river but I am sure there is some great story behind it!

A refreshing beer after a long walk in that Tuscany sun!

From Vinci we travelled 30kms to Florence and parked in a motorhome park on the edge of the town.  It was a public holiday (2 June) in Italy and a lot of traffic was heading the other way, out of Florence.  We figured all the Italian’s were heading to the coast for a couple of days - unfortunately for us that didn’t mean Florence wasn’t going to be busy!  We think some countries must have been half empty given the amount of tourists there were here, from what we saw and heard there were lots and lots of Japanese, Americans and Brits!

We were last here 30 years ago (summer 1987) when there were very few holiday makers and you could just wander aimlessly around the streets.  We enjoyed visiting all the sights again though.

The Duomo and Campanile 

Inside the 'free' part of the cathedral

The Fresco of The Last Judgement on the inside of the dome.

You could pay a hefty price to go in other parts and climb a few hundred steps up to the top but 1. the queues were too long and 2. it said it wasn’t suitable for those suffering from claustrophobia and vertigo – so that ruled me out completely!

The Baptistry is the oldest building in Florence

The Baptistry

Guilded bronze doors on the Baptistry

Santa Croce is the second most lavish church after the Duomo and sits in The Piazza Santa Croce, one of the city’s largest squares. They were setting up for the annual Calcio Sotico tournament, which apparently is a hybrid of rugby, boxing and wrestling - interesting!

Piazza della Signoria, with its array of sculptures, which includes copies of Michelangelo's David.

David (left) and Hercules & Cacus (right,) at the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio

In Piazza della Signoria -  a showcase for sculpture (Mel trying to look like a statue!)

Palazzo Vecchio

The Uffizi – one of Italy’s most celebrated collections of arts and the queues to get in were nearly as long as those at the Duomo. 

Ponte Vechio over the River Arno, built in 1345 it’s the only bridge not mined by the Germans in 1944. 

Looking towards Ponte Vechio

It is lined with goldsmiths and rammed with tourists.  Wouldn't want to come here in the height of summer!

Last time we stood on this bridge we looked down and saw lots of fish swimming in the river, but sadly today it looks too polluted for anything to live in it!

It was a scorching 32°c walking around the city and once we had done all the sights we decided it was best to get out of the city and head into Chianti land!  

We are now parked up on a lovely free Sosta at Greve in Chianti (N43.59066, E11.31355), ready to explore the vineyards and hill-towns between Florence and Siena.

Sally x