Florence

After camping the night at a service station about an hours drive outside Florence, we got a fairly early start and were in Florence by 9:30. We visited the Commonwealth cemetry in Girone to pay our respects to one of Kirstie's grandfather who gave his life for the cause of the second world war. It is a very powerful, poignant place that is in an exceptionally beautiful place just outside of Florence.
After leaving the cemetry, the short drive back to Florence left some time to think about all the folks that gave their lives to let us maintain our way of life.
On arrival in Florence we were greeted with an Italian version of Wacky Races, and with us in a seven meter camper van, following a sat nav that had no more idea were it was going than us, to a camp site that I am convinced never existed, I decided to pull the pin and get out of the city traffic and recompose.
On arriving at the outskirts, the sat nav had a bit of a brainwave and actually looked like it knew where a camp site was. On arriving at "Villa Camerata" I thought the sat nav had pulled another fast one and stiched us up again. The driveway to the campsite was a long and desheveled track with no end in sight. On arrival at the place we were greeted by a most unexpected sight, the "Villa" was infact a 15th century nobles house that is now being run as a camp site and hostel by a Firenze association!
After setting up we travelled back into the traffic madness that is Florence, but this time in the (relative) safety of a bus. On arrival you are greeted to a torrent of great architecture and culture, the place literally sweats it.
The photo I have chosen today is of a door knocker,typical Firenze style "why have a doorbell, when you can have a wonderfully ornate set of knockers :) "
Siena tomorrow and the warmup for the "Palio"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena