DAY 36 - FLORENCE (Rest Day) - 26 May 2026

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Today we joined the joggers at 6:30 in the morning so we could have a walk in the cool without the hordes of tourists.

The first icon we saw was il porcellino, the wild boar, a replica of which is in Sydney. The stall holders in the leather market around him were just opening up. We then crossed the Ponte Vecchio, admiring the views with the joggers from the middle of the bridge. We headed uphill to the place where Florentines go for sunset views, according to the Michele Giuttari crime series set in Florence, San Miniato al Monte. We shared the views with some couples havng their wedding photos. Next stop was Piazzale Michelangelo, for sweeping views over Florence and the big statue of David.

By this time the breakfast buffet had opened so we returned to central Florence. After refreshment, we set out again, this time to the Pitti Palace, the former ducal residence. This truly was sensory overload, with paintings by famous masters (Rubens, Rafael, Titian, Botticelli) packed wall to wall, inlaid tables and sculptures in rooms with lavishly frescoed ceilings. We also enjoyed the modern art section, especially when country scenes were depicted. The fashion museum was well laid out and we had a peek at the Russian iconography section too, before heading back to our hotel for a rest.

In the late afternoon we visited the Boboli gardens. It was very enjoyable wandering the paths and finding fountains, grottoes and sculptures. It was very hot and a cafeteria selling gelato and cold drinks would have done good business.

We had an early dinner on our way back to our hotel, so that we could have a solid sleep ready to resume our walk tomorrow. 

Il Porcellino graciously posing for a selfie with us
Not a lot of people around when we crossed the Ponte Vecchio the first time this morning
Ponte Vecchio
Tourists enjoying the early morning view from the Ponte Vecchio 
Strolling past the iconic jewellery shops on the Ponte Vecchio 
When we crossed back over the bridge a couple of hours later, there were a few more people about
A photo opportunity on the way up to San Miniato al Monte 
Looking up to San Miniato al Monte 
Wedding couple at San Miniato al Monte
View of the Ponte Vecchio from the Piazzale Michelangelo
Healthy fruit for breakfast again
Some of the highlights of our trip to the Pitti Palace
We called this statue "long-distance walkers at the end of the day"
Museum of Fashion 
The Boboli Gardens didn't have a café, but they did provide comfortable lounge chairs
Avenue of cypresses in the Boboli Gardens
Some features of the Boboli Gardens

Some more features of the Boboli Gardens 
View of the city from the Boboli Gardens 
More healthy fruit at dinnertime
Bits and pieces
3 birds, a boar, a fish, and a dragonfly
Day 36 - Map

Day:                               36
Distance:                      0 km
Walking time:               0 hrs 0 mins
Elevation gain:             0 metres
Cumulative distance:  662.96 km

Comments

  1. Anonymous26 May 2026 at 23:33

    Today’s birds: Little Egret, Common Wood Pigeon, Western House Martin

    Gelatos are good in any weather, but how hot is it at the moment?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Barkers27 May 2026 at 05:54

    It was 34 when we looked yesterday. Definitely hot enough for gelato!

    ReplyDelete

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