Florence:Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square)

After a day of outlet shopping our driver brought us to Michelangelo Square to end the day with some culture.
 
Designed in 1869 by Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi, Piazzale Michelangelo offers panoramic views of Florence and the Arno valley and is a popular spot with locals and tourists.

Created as part of major restructuring of the city walls in 1869, Poggi’s sumptuous terrace is typically 19th century. Poggi designed a monument base dedicated to Michelangelo, where copies of Michelangelo’s works, including the David and Medici chapel sculptures from San Lorenzo would be displayed. When the terrace was finished, Poggi designed the hillside building with loggia as a museum for Michelangelo’s works. For some reason, Poggi’s project was not realized as it was intended. The building that was to be a museum is now a restaurant.

Today, the piazza is filled with tourists, vendors, and a bronze replica of Michelangelo’s David. Just remember that most of Piazzale Michelangelo is a parking lot, and one comes here to enjoy the view. It can be reached by taking either bus 12 or 13 from the center or the red two-level sightseeing tour bus. It can also be reached by foot, climbing up from Piazza Poggi found at the base of the hill upon which Piazzale Michelangelo sits. source

You can see the famous Ponte Vecchio from here.

Even the magnificent Duomo was clear as day.

Here Rochelle posed with some ‘interesting’ aprons.

I wish I bought a magnet from this stall.