Ponte Vecchio

A visit to Florence should include a walk across one of the oldest bridges in Europe, the Ponte Vecchio.

When we crossed it late in the afternoon of October 12, there were street musicians playing and a huge crowd had gathered to listen. We stood here and talked for a while with a couple from Australia who took this photo for us.

The bridge consists of three segmental arches: one large center arch with shorter arches on either side. Shops along the bridge sell gold jewelry.

The Ponte Vecchio crosses the Arno River.

Here's Sharon with the Ponte Vecchio in the background. The Vassari Corridor -- "prince's passageway" -- above the bridge was built so the Medici Grand Dukes could travel safely between the Palazzo Vecchio (old palace) and the Uffizi to the Palazzo Pitti (new palace).

By the time we left it was dark.

Palazzo Vecchio

The Palazzo Vecchio was intended to be the seat of government for the city and today houses Florence's City Council.

When it was built in 1299 it was a palace for the Priors, who were then the governors of Florence.

Later it was the palace of the Duke Cosimo I de' Medici.

Michelangelo's David originally stood outside the Palazzo Vecchio.

In 1873 it was moved to the Accademia Gallery, and now a copy stands in its place.