We toured the Medici-Riccardi Palace today just a few blocks away. The Medici family first moved into the palace in 1444 and lived there for over 100 years. The Riccardi family acquired it in the 1700's and did an addition and restoration. It now belongs to the city and is used for administration and conferences. The jewel of the palace is the Chapel of the Magi that still has the amazing wall paintings from the 1400's. No photos allowed in the chapel, but there are some from the other rooms and garden. Kathy goes home early tomorrow morning and we had an "arrividerci" dinner tonight at Nerone's.
I HAVE SET UP A NEW PHOTOBLOG SITE FOR THE 2014 TOURS. YOU CAN STILL SEE PHOTOS FROM 2008 TO 2013 HERE. TO VIEW THE LATEST TOURS GO TO: WWW.INTUSCANYWITHPATRIZIA.BLOGSPOT.COM
In The Chianti Countryside - April 17
We rented a car today for our drive from Florence to the beautiful Chianti area. Our first stop was the American Cemetery where there are 4,398 burials of World War II soldiers. Such a peaceful and serene place to honor our war dead. A few miles later we were climbing up the hill to the Verrazzano Castello birthplace of the New World explorer, Giovanni Verrazzano who not only discovered New York Bay in 1524 but was also the first known European to enter the Cape Fear River at Southport! We toured the lovely grounds and the wine cellars and then enjoyed our delicious lunch and wine tasting. Afterwards we drove to the charming town of Greve where we happened on a commemoration for Verrazzano there as it was on April 17, 1524 that he discovered the New York Bay and they claim that as Verrazzano Day in Greve. By the way, Verrazano was captured and eaten by a tribe of cannibals on his third exploration to the Caribbean in 1528. Getting the car back into Florence at rush hour was a little harrowing, but we did it!