Yesterday, I shared that we spent our Florentine nights at the Piazza della Signoria, listening to street artists. We spent quite a bit of time during our days there as well. The grand piazza is part of the social and political history of the Florentine Republic and still a civic figure today. The Palazzo Vecchio is the de facto city hall of Florence, the Loggia dei Lanzi houses great Renaissance sculptures, and a replica of the famous David is right there. Let's not forget the fancy cafes and shops (Chanel, among others) that also surround the piazza.
The bell tower atop the Palazzo Vecchio would ring when Florence was threatened (like by the Duke of Milan) and would summon the militia. The real "Bonfire of the Vanities" took place here in 1497, when Girolomo Savonarola burned books and valuables to "teach" fellow Florentines to be less occupied by material possessions. Savonarola's revolution lasted until the follwing year, where he was burned on the stake by his follows in the exact same place as his bonfire.
We enjoyed a late afternoon aperitivo at Rivoire. That orange drink is a spritz Aperol, a cocktail I first had in Trieste last June made of prosecco, a splash of sparkling water, and Aperol. Aperol is a somewhat bitter aperitif made by Campari (much less bitter than Campari though). It's usually topped with a slice orange and is an incredibly refreshing cocktail for a warm weather patio.
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