Friday, June 26th:
I enjoyed another filling breakfast at my B&B. Great food and new people to meet. After breakfast, I went out looking for a bancomat (atm machine). I found a few nearby but for some reason, none of them were working.
The skies were pretty gray. I went back for my raincoat and headed to the Bargello, my favorite museum in Florence. It started to rain just as I arrived. Photos are no longer allowed inside the museum rooms which was disappointing. At least I was able to take photos in the courtyard.
Even though photos were no longer allowed inside the museum, I was very excited to see the Donatello David again. This is my very favorite sculpture in Florence. The detail of this bronze sculpture just amazes me! I stood and stared at this David for quite a while. I also watched an Interesting video of how he was recently restored.
After walking through the rest of the museum, I headed to the Oltrano area to have lunch at Trattoria St. Agostino. I ordered panzanella (a famous Tuscan bread and tomato salad). I decided to order a pasta after I finished the salad. The waiter told me he knew of the perfect pasta for me. He brought out a pasta dish with pici (thick pasta noodles) and red peppers and some sort of crusted bread crumbs. I thought it was just was ok (a little too salty for my taste). I am finding that much of the food in Florence seems to be quite salty. I am not sure if this is typical of Tuscan food, just what I have ordered so far, or due to the fact that I don’t cook with salt at home.
As I headed back towards Piazza Signoria, I noticed that the sky was black. Just as I was crossing the Alla Carraia bridge it started to rain again. As I headed back towards the piazza, I searced for a bancomat that was working. I finally found one not far from Grom. Naturally, I could not pass up a gelato.
Right after I ordered my gelato (nocciola and pistacchio), it started to rain a little bit harder. Grom was too crowded to stand inside. Florence does not have many covered areas. As I walked back towards my B&B, I held my hand over my gelato, trying to cover it from the rain while eating it as fast as I could.
I returned to my B&B just in time. A few mintues later the skies opened up and it started to pour with thunder and lightening. I hung out watching a little TV and then took another long nap.
I was still pretty full from breakfast and lunch and decided to have pizza for dinner. Instead of giving Yellow Bar another try, I headed to Pizzeria Il Pizzaiuolo for dinner. I have eaten here twice during past trips to Florence. This is where my friends Francesco and Irene took me when we first met in 1999. After about a 20 minute wait, I was seated. I ordered the caprese pizza (pizza with fresh mozzarella, tomato slices, and basil). Sooooo good!!! I love eating at this place. It is lively and fun and I have always been treated well. If only it was not such a far walk, although I think it was good for me to walk off dinner after eating so much food since I have arrived in Florence. My stomach feels like it is going to burst after every meal!
So…I am all caught up. Thank you for all of your comments. I am hoping for sun tomorrow although the weather forecast is for more rain and thunderstorms. I am glad I brought warm clothes. It is chilly here!
Ciao!!
Next up – Saturday ~ trip to Arezzo
shave ice & gelato 
So enjoying hearing about your trip!!!!!!!!!
My 18 year old, Alessandro, is on a plane to England – going to represent Australia again, playing pool.
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Mmmm…. good pizza, nothing is better.
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WOW, you are in Italy, again? :) I did not even realize that because I have not been around lately.
Awesome! Have a wonderful trip. (Here I was checking for PhotoHunt entry and found that you are having another great experience in your favorite destination.)
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I’m sorry to hear you’re getting so much rain — it was like that when I left Umbria (sob!) earlier this week. But you have the Bargello to comfort you, I also love that museum! And your pizza sounds fantastic.
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Hope the rain stops after today! Really enjoying your travels. We were in Florence the same week in 2007. Bringing back lots of good memories. As I recall, the Gelato Shop on the Oltrano side of the Alla Carraia was very good. It was very close to where we stayed. Enjoy every minute!
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But–Florence in any weather is the perfect place to be–right? The pizza sounds so good and I need to find out where Il Pizzaiolo is–just to have the caprese pizza. Yum.
I have this great mental image of you hustling down the street, sheltering a gelato–LOL. Who cares about hair or clothes but save the gelato. I am in total agreement.
See you quite soon in Bologna.
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Hi Girasoli, thanks for taking the time to write about your experiences so far. I would love to return to Florence again and one day visit Bargello. I’ve only seen the fake David while in Florence. I also love that image of you protecting your gelato too! That would’ve been my priority as well!
Thanks again for the update. I hope the weather clears soon for you. Although I must say that Italy in the rain to me right now sounds better than California in the sun! Keep on having fun and I look forward to your next adventure.
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girasoli,
I had to laugh at the image of you walking fast and covering your gelato from the rain:) I think I would have done the same thing.
Sounds like a lovely day in Florence. I hope that you would be able to find less salty meals.
Enjoy.
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Other than the rain, the day sounded quite fabulous, with the visit to the Bargello and re-visiting Donatello’s David, (which is also one of my favorite sculptures), great pizza and yummy gelato.
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The Bargello, Pizzeria Il Pizzaiuolo, and Grom. A great day despite the rain.
Pizzeria Il Pizzaiuolo serves outstanding pizza. It is always crowded and everyone seems happy. Not very expensive either. Much better than Yellow Bar.
I was really lucky with the weather overall. I think it only rained 3 or 4 days total.
Eating gelato is always a priority. Rain will never stop me :)
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