FLORENCE

Florence American Cemetery and Memorial

Before we made it to our villa in Tuscany, our guide had a little surprise in mind for us. We made a stop at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial. Here lie the remains of 4,402 American soldiers who died during World War II, the majority during the fighting that followed the capture of Rome in June 1944. What an overwhelming experience to walk among the graves of so many Americans who never made it home to their families.

Tuscany

After arriving at our villa in Tuscany, we spent some time relaxing by the pool before heading inside for our Italian cooking lesson. After our fantastic lesson, we got to each everything we learned how to cook!

Basicilia di Santa Maria del Fiore

Also known as the Duomo Firenze, the Basilica is a sight to see with all the pink and green marble designs on the outside of this gothic church.

The "Baptistery"

Also known as the "Gates of Paradise" as Michelangelo called them. The 28 different compartments each depict an event from the bible.

Ponte Vecchio

After another delicious lunch on our own, we headed across the Ponte Vecchio for some famous Italian shopping.

Before heading out of Florence and back to Tuscany for the night, we stopped by the Academia to see Michelangelo's David. There are no words to express the magnificence of this incredible piece of art. It is definitely a must-see!