Italy never disappoints and Florence is one of its queen cities. The Duomo is a magnet with its magnificent dome which can be seen from the hills surrounding the city.
The Spedale degli Innocenti isn't as well-known but for hundreds of years the pass through seen here was where families left their babies to be taken into the orphanage.
One of the rarest sights in the city is the Vertical Warper, a device created by Leonardo da Vinci for the silk industry which was a major industry in the 16th & 17th centuries. The Warper is the only one of its kind and is still being used today.
Marbling paper is a beautiful, old craft. Olive oil and water are in the tray. The artisan blends several colors into the mix and pulls the paper through with almost magic results.
In a city of many churches the Basilica di Santa Croce is a standout. Not only breathtakingly beautiful, it houses the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, to name a few.
