The Campanile, at the Florence Duomo.

Lorenzo Ghiberti’s beautiful three-dimensional Gates of Paradise from the 1400s.

It was an easy hour train ride into Florence from Livorno. Advance info said all trains were at 12 minutes after the hour – but we caught one about 15 minutes earlier. Italian trains are always a bit of an experience and you have to validate your tickets prior to each trip (or you get a hefty fine); I had read to look for the yellow machines. PS, they are all green and they don’t all work.  Another note, you still have to pay a Euro to use the toilet at the Florence station – an annoying blast from the past.

We enjoyed visiting Florence again and just walking . . . a little shopping at the San Lorenzo market, seeing the statuary at the Loggia dei Lanzi, strolling by Dante’s church and museum, and time to see the beautiful bronze doors (actually a replica) at the Baptistery of San Giovanni. Lunch overlooking the Ponte Vecchio and, of course, chocolate gelato.

The day fittingly ended with an AzAmazing evening at Livorno’s historic Goldoni Theater and a performance by three tenors singing Italian opera favorites.

Grazie Azamara.