Yesterday afternoon, Annie and I went to Florence on the train. San Giovanni Valdarno, where we are studying, is only a 30 minute train ride away. We were fortunate to have the father of one of the school’s administrators give us a commentary on the church at Piazzale Michelangelo, Chiesa di San Miniato al Monte. Oracio told us much of the history of the Basilica and spoke only Italian, so it was a real challenge for our language skills. The church dates to the 11th century and what really captured me were the unfinished frescoes showing just the outline of the figures in a red chalk or red earth, and the original inlaid marble floor in the centre of the nave depicting the signs of the zodiac. I could not get a good photo of it but there is one on Wikipedia.
Frescoes at Chiesa San Miniato al Monte
We had taken the bus up the hill, but walked back down the hill to the Arno river, across the Ponte Vecchio then proceeded into the city centre via the most incredible gelateria GROM – http://www.grom.it/ita/. Annie and I shared a coffee and yoghurt flavoured ‘coppa’ and it was truly a culinary bliss point. We are returning tomorrow and we are NOT sharing. It may be our lunch…
The last time I stood on the Ponte Vecchio was in 1980 with my oldest girlfriend Beth Parsons Forsythe. Yesterday I was so happy to stand there with my big sister Annie.
Ann and Lou on the Ponte Vecchio
Ten Weeks in Italy 
