Florence: Renaissance Beauty, Long Walks, and a Little Trip to Pisa

Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Untitled Design by emma ugarelli

Leaving Rome behind, I took the train to Florence and arrived around midday. After leaving my things at the hotel, I walked toward the historic centre, and before long I found myself standing in front of the magnificent Piazza del Duomo.
Florence immediately felt different from Rome. It was busy and full of visitors, but somehow it felt more intimate and easier to explore on foot. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and Giotto’s Campanile were impressive, each one adding something different to the beautiful landscape of the city.
From there, I continued through Florence, visiting Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio, walking through the centro storico, Piazza della Repubblica, Orsanmichele, and eventually the Uffizi area. I crossed Ponte Vecchio, with its famous jewellery shops, and then continued toward Ponte Santa Trinita, the Basilica della Santissima Trinità, Palazzo Strozzi, and Piazza San Lorenzo, where I found many shops selling sandals and shoes, but I was undecided about buying sneakers or any shoes for that matter.
The Arno River was also a beautiful part of my walk through Florence. I saw it from several different points, including the historic bridges, and it seemed to add another dimension to the city—the reflections of the buildings and bridges in the water were beautiful.
The following morning, I took the train to Pisa. The station was close enough that I could walk, and I arrived around 9:30. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was, of course, the main attraction, but the entire Piazza dei Miracoli and the Cathedral made the visit worthwhile. I walked around the city for a while, saw the Arno River again, and took some pictures. It was interesting to realize that the same river I had been admiring in Florence also passes through Pisa. I then returned to Florence in the afternoon.
Back in Florence, I continued exploring. I visited the Accademia Gallery and finally saw Michelangelo’s David in person. I also visited the Bargello Museum before taking a taxi up to Piazzale Michelangelo, where I had one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Florence. From there, I could see the rooftops of Florence, the historic centre, the bridges, and the Arno River winding through the city. It was a wonderful way to see Florence from a different perspective.
After walking back down, I wandered through the historic centre one more time, discovering little shops and some very unusual things—including a purse shaped like a guitar!
Florence gave me beautiful views, history, art, architecture, the Arno River, wonderful little discoveries, and a lot of walking. My feet, however, definitely had their own opinion about the amount of sightseeing I was doing! 
At least I had clean clothes after being able to wash them in Rome. But I have also made an important decision: these sneakers are not going to continue the journey with me. I tried to find another pair in Florence, but the ones I found were too tight. After so much walking, my feet seem to be swelling, so at my next stop I am determined to find a really comfortable pair of shoes.
Travel is not always about perfect plans or perfect feet. Sometimes it is about walking a little slower, taking a taxi when necessary, stopping for a piece of pizza, enjoying the view, and continuing the journey.
And Florence was definitely worth every step.