A Peek at One of My Favorite Piazzas

You will find a lovely carousel tucked away in the back corner of the Piazza. But, you can miss it if you don't look closely.

The carousel horses are decorated with brightly colored paint and mirror details mimicking jewels; and, feather plumes atop their heads.

If you enlarge this picture you will see the lovely painted scenes that ring the top of the carousel along with the sweetest cherubs. My new blog header is the scene painted of Florence and the Ponte Vecchio.

If you continue on through the archway you find an assortment of designer boutiques and little restaurants. Evenings in the Piazza were my favorite past time while in Florence; sipping a cup of hot chocolate, nibbling on a sweet treat and watching people. It is relaxing after a day of adventures in the countryside.

The Piazza della Repubblica became the center of Florence during the years 1865-1871 when Florence was the capital of the newly unified country of Italy. It was the site of the Forum, the main square of the Roman City of Florentia, and in medieval times it was the city's principal food market.

The Piazza is lined by some of Florence's oldest and best known caffe's:

Giubbe Rosse (1897)
Gilli (1910)
Caffe' Donnini (1893)
Concerto Paskowski (1846)

Cafe' Gilli is the most notable of the quartette. It's interior is done in Belle Epoque style. I will share pictures of Gilli's wonderful pastries and sweets in another post. Gilli's is famous for its hot chocolate that comes in five flavors: almond, coffee, orange, gianduia (which is 50% hazel nut paste and sweet chocolate) and cocoa.

The plaque above the arch which is at the rear of the Piazza says: "The ancient heart of the city brought to new life after centuries of squalor ".