Show No Fear! DIS Exclusive Viva Italia+DLP TR Sept 2014*COMPLETE* New TR link added 7/3

[khertz]

Day 6 Continued: Saturday September 20th

We continued on our walking tour, and discussed that the fleur de lis is the symbol of Florence, and also Paris, and of course, New Orleans! DH and I thought that would mean we would find a lot of things to bring home from there, since of course, we love fleur de lis here in Saints country.

06-073 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-072 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


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06-076 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

While we were walking, we came across the Disney Store, and of course, had to stop for a photo!

ABD 06-057 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

Our next stop on our tour was the Mercato Nuovo, or more commonly, “the pig market.” It’s an open air market selling lots of leather goods and other souvenirs. It is called the pig market for two reasons…because it sells so much leather, and also because of the Fontana del Porchellino, a fountain topped with a statue of a bronze boar.

06-078 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-079 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

Elena demonstrated for us the proper way to receive good luck from il porchellino by placing a coin in his mouth and rubbing his snout as you let go of the coin. If the coin lands in the grate beneath his mouth, you will have good luck, and by rubbing his snout you will ensure a return to Florence.

06-080 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-081 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

See how bright and shiny his snout is in comparison to the rest that has gotten discolored from the elements? Apparently, it gets a LOT of rubbing from tourists!

06-083 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

While Elena was a great guide, I think Dusty & Marco could tell that we were all dragging a bit on this tour. So we made an impromptu stop right there at the gelateria and chocolate store, Venchi, right next to the market.

06-091 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-085 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
Say it with me…Mmmm, CHOCOLATE!


06-086 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-087 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

I went for an old faithful combination, caramel and dark chocolate. But this caramel was a little different. It was caramel flavored gelato with melted caramel on top and little bits of crunch in it. So good! DH got straticella.

06-088 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-089 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


ABD 06-077 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


ABD 06-079 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


ABD 06-083 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

After a much needed gelato break, we started walking towards the famous Ponte Vecchio.

06-092 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-093 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
The Ponte Vecchio!​

The Ponte Vecchio is a bridge crossing the Arno River, made up entirely of shops. It used to be shop for butchers, but now it is made up of jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir shops. It is notoriously more expensive than other shopping areas in Florence, so the guides warned us not to do our shopping there.

06-094 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-097 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
Looking back at the Ponte Vecchio​

Dusty led us to a great little spot that was perfect for taking photos with the bridge in the background. He did a great job of protecting our space too!

06-102 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-105 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
NO ONE was getting through here!​

Continued in next post...

 

[carpenta]

When we travel we usually bring along some real Vermont maple syrup as gifts for the guides and for us to use at breakfast. It really makes a difference especially with French toast. Our guides also loved it.....but then again what's not to love.

 

[khertz]

Day 6 Continued: Saturday September 20th

06-107 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
​

Then we headed into the courtyard of the Uffizi Palace. We weren’t visiting the Uffizi just yet, but we did have tickets available for it later in the trip. Instead, we spent time there in the courtyard while Elena told us about how the palace was built for the Medici family in the 1500s to serve as their administrative offices.

06-110 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-111 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-112 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


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06-118 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-119 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

We went down to the city hall building, also known as the Palazzo Vecchio. Outside, in the Piazza della Signoria, there is another replica of the David on display as well as a gallery of other statues at the Loggia dei Lanzi.

06-120 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-121 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-122 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-123 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


06-124 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


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06-129 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
Statue of Perseus and Medusa


06-130 by disneymom1024, on Flickr
The Rape of the Sabine Women​

This statue was interesting because it is the opposite of the David. This one is the original, displayed outside, while there is a copy inside of the Accademia. The David is housed inside of the Accademia while the copies are displayed outside.

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A Medici lion


06-133 by disneymom1024, on Flickr


ABD 06-128 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

UP NEXT: The Palazzo Vecchio

 

[courtneybelle]

We took the exact same route our first day in Florence!! I remember going past all the designer shops and under that arch.

The Duomo is my favorite building in Italy if not the entire world. So many great details!! When I was there they didn't have the coverings over the scaffolding. I had to strategically crop all my pics so the silver scaffolding didn't ruin them.

VENCHI!!!! Great gelato and the best chocolate bar of my LIFE. You're making me wish I got the caramel!!

I actually did not know how well known Florence was for leather until I got there...and then I left with a leather bag. At the time, I had just decided not to go to WDW for the 24 hour day in May...so I justified buying the purse because I saved all that money from not going on vacation. I named the purse "Disney Vacation" hahaha!!

Yeah the Ponte Vecchio is crazy for overcharging. It's all in the name!!

 

[khertz]

When we travel we usually bring along some real Vermont maple syrup as gifts for the guides and for us to use at breakfast. It really makes a difference especially with French toast. Our guides also loved it.....but then again what's not to love.

What a great idea! They had some kind of syrup, but nothing like real Vermont maple syrup. I bet that would have made it taste a lot better!

 

[khertz]

We took the exact same route our first day in Florence!! I remember going past all the designer shops and under that arch.

The Duomo is my favorite building in Italy if not the entire world. So many great details!! When I was there they didn't have the coverings over the scaffolding. I had to strategically crop all my pics so the silver scaffolding didn't ruin them.

VENCHI!!!! Great gelato and the best chocolate bar of my LIFE. You're making me wish I got the caramel!!

I actually did not know how well known Florence was for leather until I got there...and then I left with a leather bag. At the time, I had just decided not to go to WDW for the 24 hour day in May...so I justified buying the purse because I saved all that money from not going on vacation. I named the purse "Disney Vacation" hahaha!!

Yeah the Ponte Vecchio is crazy for overcharging. It's all in the name!!

Before the trip we watched a show on History or Travel channel or something about modern engineers trying to figure out how Brunelleschi constructed the dome in the 1400's without the modern machinery we have. It was so interesting! So all I really "knew" about it going in was that there was a huge dome. So it was quite a nice surprise to get to see all of the detail on the facade. Beautiful church!

Ahhhh, Venchi. This would definitely NOT be the last time we went into that little corner store of heaven. And I might or might not still have some Venchi chocolate in my fridge as I type this. It is just. so. good.

That is a GREAT reason to buy a leather purse if I ever heard one! I really thought about getting one, but I just really love my Disney D&B purse and I don't change my bags that often, so I didn't. But I'm kind of regretting it now only because we didn't end up buying a whole lot to commemorate our time in Florence. Guess that just gives me reason to go back!

SOOOOOO expensive! But really fun to walk across! And for DH, to photograph!

 

[Dugette]

Everything is really cool to see, but that gelato looks amazing! I want some right now!

 

[sayhello]

I got lost in Florence looking for that boar statue! (We hurried past it on our way to lunch, and I wanted to go back to rub its nose & get a picture). Never did make it back there.

One of the things I loved about the Ponte Vecchio is that I didn't even realize we were on it until we got to the middle where the break in the shops is, and you can see the river! It just feels like another shop-lined street!

Sayhello

 

[MEK]

While we were walking, we came across the Disney Store, and of course, had to stop for a photo!

ABD 06-057 by disneymom1024, on Flickr​

Of COURSE you had to stop for a picture! It would be totally wrong if you didn't! Great shot of your entire group.

That gelato looks amazing! I think you picked the perfect combo. Seriously yummy!

What a cool bridge just line with shops. How interesting!

And that boar with his rubbed off nose - neat.

I also noticed there were a lot of naked men in this update!

 

[KelleyK75]

Wonderful pictures of the buildings and statues!!

Yay for finding the Disney store.

The boar statue is great, and what a fun story to go with it.

Yum, that chocolate bar looks amazing!!

 

[sayhello]

Of COURSE you had to stop for a picture! It would be totally wrong if you didn't! Great shot of your entire group.

Actually, I was thinking that it doesn't look like the whole group is there. Kristy, where was the rest of the group?

Sayhello

 

[missangelalexis]

I love the boar statue and the tradition behind it.

I'll say it...MMMM Chocolate! Yum all those gelato pics are making my mouth water!

The Ponte Vecchio shops looks so nice! Great pic of the two of you with the bridge in the background.

All those statues are beautiful!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

"the fleur de lis is the symbol of Florence, and also Paris, and of course, New Orleans!" And also Quebec.

Disney Stores everywhere.

I think I may need to try Gelato. I honestly have never had it before. Everybody seems to be enjoying it... A LOT!

Oh wow, that bridge looks so cool.

 

[sayhello]

I think I may need to try Gelato. I honestly have never had it before. Everybody seems to be enjoying it... A LOT!

Gelato is a really creamy, rich ice cream that comes in all sorts of wonderful flavors. What could be bad?

Sayhello

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The pig market looks fun - love traditions like that and you can really tell the part that gets rubbed on the statue

I love the idea of the Ponte Vecchio - but not surprised to hear the shops are more expensive there.

Dusty is clearly doing a great job blocking your space ... or trying to hail a ride on a passing boat

Love how there are just amazing statues out and about in the Piazza della Signoria - the The Rape of the Sabine Women looks really phenomenal and interesting how the real one is outside

 

[carpenta]

The Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge not blown up over the Arno river by the Nazis in WW II. It was saved by the U.S. paratroopers. As you notice all the other bridges are in very good shape although built to mimic the previous bridges. Thank God most of the larger Italian cities were spared along with the artwork.

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

Actually, I was thinking that it doesn't look like the whole group is there. Kristy, where was the rest of the group?

Sayhello

I believe the rest of the group was at Louis Vuitton

Laurie

 

[Imagineer5]

Just got caught up! I am interested to hear your thoughts on Florence vs. Rome!

The drive sounds very comfortable up there, and the hotel is beautiful! We rented an apartment overlooking the Ponte Vecchio for 3 nights and the location was great. Andrew still uses his leather wallet he got from the pig market!

We also walked up to the Piazza Michelangelo where your bus stopped- that view is incredible!

 

[sayhello]

I believe the rest of the group was at Louis Vuitton

Laurie

Aha! That makes sense!

Sayhello

 

[afwdwfan]

Mmmmmm.... chocolate....

Florence looks like a lovely city. I really didn't know a whole lot about Florence, specifically, in relation to the history I know about other cities. I've enjoyed seeing some of it in your TR and I've been listening to the podcast about the trip the past couple of days. They were on Florence on the way in to work this morning, and I heard your name mentioned... congratulations on being a Dis podcast celebrity now.