Paul had some work in the morning, and we had no specific plans for the day, so after breakfast I walked to Piazza Santa Croce. We stayed in that area in 2015, and I wanted to revisit the neighborhood.

It was a sunny, warm, and busy Sunday in Florence. So many people were on the streets and in the piazzas that I decided October is no longer shoulder season here.

You can’t go far in Florence without passing a church, museum or other historic site. I looked down one street and caught a glimpse of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Flore, better know as the Duomo.

A few blocks farther I passed a line of people at least three blocks long waiting to see the David at the Accademia. Although Michelangelo’s beautiful sculpture is worth waiting in line to see, I was happy I had seen it the last time we were here when the line was much shorter.

Unexpected Delights

When I got to Piazza Santa Croce, I was happily surprised to see an international ceramics fair being held there. There were beautiful pieces and interesting demonstrations.

kk

Paul met me at the ceramics festival and we walked to the Palazzo Vecchio and discovered another happy surprise. It was the last day of the Festival Nazionale Economia Civile. The festival is a national event about a different, more socially responsible way of doing economics. It brings together citizens, economists, businesses and politicians to discuss how the economy can improve people’s lives.

A beautiful piano performance was part of the festival.

After hours in the heat and crowds, we needed a little apertivo. We found a shaded spot on a quiet street and watched the world go by. I tried a Hugo Spritz for the first time and decided it may be my new favorite drink. When we went inside to pay we discovered what a charming place it was.

Last Night in Florence

Rejuvenated by a little break, we took a different route back to our hotel and enjoyed more of Florence. We even passed a chocolate shop giving samples.

We ate another great dinner at another great restaurant recommended by our hotel. Trattoria La Gratella, a small and very friendly restaurant, uses only food and wine from Tuscany. I think that is a big part of why everything tasted like the best ever.

Tomorrow we meet our friend at the airport Hertz counter and drive to his new home in Montepulciano for more Tuscan adventures.

I was thinking how much AI helped me plan this part of our trip. From finding an efficient flight to understanding the economic festival. It even helped us find a public restroom.