Patrizia rented a car today - a snappy blue Nissan - and we were out of the city and into the countryside. Just out of Florence, we stopped for a short visit at the American Cemetery. Over 4,000 World War II soldiers are buried there and it's a very peaceful and beautiful place. After about a half hour of driving we arrived at Castel Verrazzano in the heart of Chianti. We toured the castle grounds and the centuries-old wine cellars. New World explorer Giovanni Verrazzano was born here, became a sailor, and discovered much of America's East coast including North Carolina's Cape Fear area, New York Bay and Nova Scotia in 1524. His life sadly ended in the Bahamas where he and others in his party were captured and eaten by island cannibals - 1528. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch and wine tasting then stopped in the small town of Greve before returning ourselves and the car back to Florence It was a lovely day in a lovely place!
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Sunday Strolling - May 5
After a leisurely Sunday morning and waiting out a brief afternoon rain shower we did some more strolling around Florence. Passing by Duomo Piazza again we saw the statues of the architects and admired the bronze doors on the Baptistery. We followed a narrow street to the medieval home - now a museum - of 13th century poet, Dante Aligheri. We joined the other tourists in Santa Croce (Holy Cross) piazza. The church was closed so we will try again later to go inside. We had an "American" dinner at The Diner - a little break from the Italian dishes we been consuming (you've seen all those pics!). Afterwards Dianne and Jan headed for home and Patrizia took in a movie, "Night Train to Lisbon", at the historic Odeon theater.