We left home in Wales on the Monday 5th June and drove to Folkestone in the van, arriving at the Premier Inn about 5pm. The following morning we took the 9:20 Euro Tunnel and then drove to Nancy. We stopped overnight at the Kyriad Nancy Sud which was fine, near the motorway and a nice meal in the restaurant.
We filled up with fuel at a near by Intermarche supermarket and then set off for Como. The first part of the journey was very picturesque via Charmes, Epinal etc towards Mulhouse. The roads were busy around Mulhouse and into Switzerland via Basel (where we bought the necessary vignette (€45)). We had to go via the motorway to Zurich to get to the Gottard tunnel and then unfortunately met stationary traffic towards Como. We arrived at the Ibis Como about 6.30.pm and had a disappointing meal in the restaurant.
On Thursday morning we set off for Florence but, again, there was very heavy traffic around Milan. We eventually arrived in Florence about 3.30.pm and found the B&B we had booked, very easily as it was just off the motorway. The owner of the Il Poggiolo Delle Rose B&B, Fabrizia was waiting for us and after checking us in gave us lots of advice about where to go, what to see and where to catch the bus. She also had the bus tickets available to buy (€1.50 each), and told us where to get off the bus. The B&B building is 1400 years old but has been very sympathetically renovated and converted to accommodate visitors in what was originally a farm. Its thick walls meant it was cool inside, even though it was very warm outside.



Taking the bus (which stopped at the end of the road of the B&B) into the centre of Florence, we had a walk round to familiarise ourselves with where things were. We walked across the Ponte Vechio and found the Uffizi.



Then we found the Mercato Centrale which Fabrizia had recommended for food and we had a very nice pizza. We then headed for the bus stop near the station and caught the number 37 bus back to the B&B.
After a good night’s sleep we had a very pleasant breakfast at 8am and caught the bus to the centre of Florence. We were booked to enter the Uffizi at 10am and we visited the second floor first before having coffee and the first floor. The museum has many famous paintings and sculptures and is quite overwhelming in its scale and variety. We then went on to the Santa Croce church, which has amazing frescoes and incredible architecture.

Heading back to the B&B we walked across the Ponte Vechio again and stopped near the Palazzo Pitti for a gelato which you just have to have in Italy. It was delicious! After a rest back at the B&B we walked down the road (which was a bit crazy as there was no pavement) to the Restaurant La Bianchina which Fabrizia again had recommended and booked for us. We had a very nice meal which lived up to expectations.
Saturday morning was a repeat of yesterday – early breakfast, bus ride and walk, this time to the Duomo. We were booked in for 10.30. to walk up the 463 steps to the top of the cathedral dome. After being advised by an American family to deposit our bags in the near by depositary, we climbed to the top where we had incredible views over Venice, it was really worth the effort.



We also visited the Baptistry, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo and the Campanile (Giotto’s tower). We again climbed to the top of the tower (414 steps) and had great views over Florence but also of the cathedral dome.

We had a quick pizza lunch and then went to the Galleria dell’Academia to see Michelangelo’s statue of David. This was carved from a 4m block of marble and is quite impressive in its size and grandeur.


After a quick look round the rest of the gallery we caught the bus back to the B&B. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Florence but were quite exhausted and ready for a rest in Vassiliki.
We had a good journey from Florence to Ancona via Perugia. HGVs are not allowed on Italian roads on Sunday so it was nice and quiet but also every where was closed so there was no where to stop for refreshments. We arrived at the port about 14.30. but our ferry had been put back to 22.30. We checked in and went and parked at the departure area. We then walked to the centre of Ancona (which was mostly closed) and had a look around and also had some food in a restaurant on the main square. We went back to the van and sat and waited for the ferry which arrived about 19.30. They started to load up our sailing and I walked on and got our cabin key. Mel waited in the van but didn’t embark until about 22.30. we were very tired by now so went straight to bed.