Private Walking Tours: A Stroll through Firenze

One of my favorite things to do in a new city is go on a walking tour. Sometimes I pull out my trusty DK travel guide and meander through the streets on one of their short walks. They always seem to take me double or triple the time, as I read through all of the history and pause to imagine what it would be like to see the area through time.

This photo is from a walking tour through Florence. The couple of hours of discovery ended at dusk in front of the beautiful Basilica Santa Maria Novella. We sat on the bench across and watched the light fade over its facade. We listened as the crowds passed. We returned the next day for a peek inside. We saw many churches in our exploration of Italy. Too many to remember; too many to pick out. But this one, this architectural beauty, was worth noting. They say it was the first great basilica of Florence. 

More info about the basilica: http://www.chiesasantamarianovella.it/