Saturday September 13, 2025 Florence, Italy Iconic Ponte Vecchio. More information about this bridge is below. Yesterday (9/12) We went wine-tasting in the area east of Florence. We visited two wineries. Had fun at both. Bought more wine....Both wineries were interesting and had a long history in the area. At the first winery, Tenuta Bossi, we got lucky because the young man serving us really seemed to enjoy our knowledge of wine, and when we asked questions or made comm

September 11, 2025 Florence, Italy Fattoria del Teso, a winery outside of Lucca. Greetings from Florence, again!! We have had a wonderful few days here, and in the surrounding areas. The drives were breathtaking, the food is delicious, and the wine is outstanding. We drove to Lucca, a city in Italy near Florence, to look around and enjoy the local culture. It is an ancient walled city, with homes, shops, restaurants, and churches inside the walls. The wall still surrounds

September 9-14, 2025 Florence and surrounding areas Yummy Gelato!!! Fun Facts: Florence The city boasts the largest brick dome ever built, the Duomo. In 1339, Florence became the first city in Europe to have paved streets.  Birthplace of Opera:  The first standard opera, "Dafne" by Jacopo Peri, was written in Florence in 1598.  Gucci's Roots:  The famous fashion house Gucci was founded in Florence in 1921.  Ponte Vecchio's Survival:  The Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in