June 20: Day Two Florence. During WWII, the Americans were coming and the Germans bombed all the bridges across the River Arno to halt their crossing. The one bridge they couldn't bring themselves to blow up was this bridge, the Ponte Vecchi. The shops that line this bridge have traditionally sold gold and silver. If you look close, there is a passageway above the shops on the bridge that runs on the right side of the picture too. The Vasari Corridor was built to connect the Palazzo Vecchi and the Uffizi with the Pitti Palace. During times of attack, the city leaders had a clean get away in this corridor.

Another view of Ponte Vecchio

A top the Uffizi Gallery, we are half way done.

We just found out that we were only half way done.

Taking a break because we really did finish.

I think we took the Carabineri seat for a smoke. He was staring me down before he plopped down on that ball.

Just one of the columns inside the Palazzo della Signoria. This is the outside and all the columns look like this. I need a decorator like this.

Persius, just having beheaded Medusa. This is a bronze statue, unlike the marble ones which are more common. Amazing.