Dearest Readers,
Today, I’m sharing photos of our visit to the beautiful city of Florence—-and giving away another lovely glass necklace I purchased in Venice, Italy!
Note: CLICK ON IMAGES TO INCREASE THEIR SIZE.
STEP INTO FLORENCE, ITALY!
There are two things you find a lot of in Florence. Leather. And the statue of David. Well, one particular part of David, actually.
His penis. Seriously.
Aside from the fact that they’ve been trying to slap a fig leaf on that particular part of his anatomy for hundreds of years, I don’t think there’s been anyone’s genitals more debated or photographed on this planet than that of Michelangelo’s David. Heh.
This is the second most popular postcard in Florence. The first is a close up of his …you guessed it. His privates. And he’s uncircumcised. Just sayin. I don’t think Michelangelo ever imagined that David’s penis would become more popular than the rest of the statue.
Replicas of David are all over the city.
The magnificent city of Florence (taken at the top of the Duomo). Isn’t it beautiful?
The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore
(originally called “The Duomo”). The construction on this cathedral was first began in 1296
It is an engineering masterpiece.
It’s facade is made of white, pink and green marble.
INSIDE THE DUOMO:
Want to climb to the top of the dome to get a close look at the stunning murals? It’s 463 steps. No elevator.
Mr. D and I escaped to the outskirts of Florence for lunch. This is the view from the restaurant, Aurora. Fantastic food! Mr. D tried wild boar. It’s very popular in Florence. I passed. LOL
Pet the wild boar’s nose and put a coin in his mouth for good luck. The crowds are crazy in front of this statue. I don’t think Florence is a lucky place for boars, given that it’s on the menu in just about every restaurant in the city. 🙂
You can’t go to Florence without visiting the Galleria degli Uffizi, Italy’s most crowded museum. 🙂 Its collection of Renaissance art is incredible.
We weren’t allowed to photograph the art. But we did stop at the museum’s patio restaurant located at the top.
A pic of me trying to decide what to eat.
Our lunch! Yeah, we ate. A lot. The food is sooo good in Italy!
An antique carousel in Florence.
Mr. D and I stumbled upon a little restaurant called, Il Profeto. (The Prophet). It’s a family run restaurant with the best food I ever tasted. The owners, husband and wife, were so much fun. Mr. D ordered the pasta and lobster.
I ordered pasta with mushrooms and ham. It was to die for! The restaurant owner told me that John Travolta had eaten at his restaurant on a few occasions and that the dish I chose was Mr. Travolta’s favorite.
I didn’t believe him. So he brought me out not only my food, but a pic of John Travolta he’d taken the last time he’d dined at his restaurant. LOL
I hope you enjoyed our Florence photos!
Question: Tell me, what’s your favorite food or restaurant? It doesn’t have to be restaurant food at all! Maybe it’s a recipe your grandmother makes. Share your favorite food and a random commenter will win their choice of one of the glass necklaces I purchased in Venice, Italy. GIVEAWAY OPEN WORLDWIDE.
Be sure to return next Tuesday Oct. 25th for another chance at a Italian glass necklace….and to see my photos of Rome!
Oh, one more thing! I’m giving away TWO copies of A MIDNIGHT DANCE — HERE. The contest on Romancing the Book runs through until Oct. 29th. 🙂
RULES for the Glass Necklace from Venice:
To win you must:
1. Answer the question or leave a meaningful comment.
2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua’s blog (through Google Friend Connect).
3. Must be at least 18 years of age.
Contest for the Glass Necklace from Venice ends Saturday Oct. 22th 2011. Winner will be selected at random on Sunday Oct. 23th, 2011.
See you all next Tuesday! *muah*
My favorite food isn’t from a restaurant but a recipe my Aunty Helen gave my mother who made it every year at Thanksgiving. It was milk cracker stuffing and everyone loved it. Unfortunately they don’t make the crackers anymore so this is just a distant pleasant memory now…
Hi Lila,
Love the necklaces.. Love your Pictures.
Favorite food? Love homemade food. We have been having a blast make homemade pizza lately. But give me a a Grilled Burger or BBQ Chicken wings any day and I would be a HAPPY Girl.
Thanks for a chance to win one of your pretty necklaces.
Kelly M
Books-n-Kisses
crazybookfairy(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite food is a homemade Mac & Cheese It takes 4 different cheeses.I was making it one day when my daughter had a friend over and they were watching me make it. When they left my daughters friend said to my daughter does your mother know se can buy mac & cheese in the store.
My favorite food is anything with seafood in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great pics! My favorite food is my mom’s recipe for Chicken Fried Steak. The only problem is that it is just never as good when I make it. I guess that’s because she always put so much of herself in her cooking for her family. She was a wonderful woman.
Poor David would never “measure up” in one of today’s erotic romances, would he? 😉 I don’t know if anyone could have dragged me back if I got to go to Italy – how gorgeous!
My favorite food (right now, anyway) is portabella stuffed ravioli with vodka sauce. I love portabellas in just about anything but the combo of pasta and the vodka sauce – yummy!
Plus, even a cooking dummy like me can’t mess this one up. 🙂
Love the pictures! I’ve been to Europe a few times but never Italy. Ones of these days…
As far as favorite food, when I’m not feeling well and I want homemade chicken noodle soup or chicken ‘n dumplings. No question, it always makes me feel better. 😀
Hi Lila, Thanks so much for sharing your pics with us Italy is my fav place in the entire world all though I have never been there it is the one place I would go to and never come back ! It has everything I want my fav food PASTA AND PIZZA ! Gorgeous art and it is home to the Ferrari factory which I am addicted as formula one motorracing is a addiction much like reading ! So aside from the art ,food , and fast cars there is also the gorgeous men ! Thanks for the chance to… Read more »
I can’t help but think that David is staring over the city saying “Look at this!” LOL
I’m all about the pasta.
Thanks for sharing your pictures with us.
Such a lovely photos, I would love to travel some day to anywhere in Italy is such a lovely country!
My favorite food is a homemade chicken soup my mom always do for cold weathers or even when a feel depress or sad, its really good, she knows i love noddles too so she always puts them in the soup, plus some cheese and avocado with lemon! YUM!! My dad makes a Pasta to die for!
Thank you so much for the giveaway and the photos of your trip!
ilepachequin(at)hotmail(dot)com
Lovely pictures. I love Italian food and my all time favorites is my mothers Lasagna. She has made it for Christmas Eve, and birthdays.She doesn’t even stick to the same recipe every time, but each time it is delicious. She just has the magic touch.
Czech Kokache’s are the best!!! I make them and Dumplings… My house is half Czech and half Italian.. Our Spaghetti Gravy is also homemade.. It’s not Sauce.. In this house we cook all day and eat all nigt!! Homemade only!!! Lol
Debbie L.
Such beautiful pictures, kind of had a hard time taking in the panoramic view on the third pic because I couldn’t quite get past the sculpted backside lol! As far as favorite foods, I’d have to say its undoubtedly Yorkshire pudding with roast beef gravy. My father (who was born in Scotland) would fix a “traditional” English meal at Christmas of prime rib roast and Yorkshire pudding. The pudding is simple to make but unless you can afford the roast to go with it, its just not the same. I’m also partial to Fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken breasts and… Read more »
Wow. ok, now that I’m thoroughly hungry, (no, not for David’s penis), my favorite food is chocolate covered strawberries. I love them so much I’ll even spring for the ridiculously overpriced ones at the mall.. don’t tell my husband I spent $5 on a strawberry, k? 🙂
Thanks for sharing the gorgeous pics and so generously giving away those awesome necklaces!
Poisnivyred AT gmail.com
Wow..The necklaces are beautiful as were the pics. I would love to be able to travel to Italy.
My favorite food is boiled crawfish (Otherwise known as mudbugs). They look like tiny lobsters that are boiled and seasoned to perfection!!!!!
My mother makes the best chicken enchiladas with verde sause! Very authentic,her first husbands Great Aunts taught her authentic Mexican cooking! YUMMY
evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com
GFC follower
Thanks for sharing your pictures! My mom’s homemade biscuits with butter and a little bit of sugar. Yum yum.
I don’t have a favorite dish or restaurant. My husband is on the road and rarely home. My daughter has very bad food allergies and is also a picky eater. Cooking is usually something very simple and plain for them. I love to experiment and try different foods when I can. My favorite ethnic cuisines would be Italian and Mexican.
Thank you so much for sharing the beauty of Florence with us – fantastic pictures! Thanks also for the chance to win one of those gorgeous necklaces.
kacbooks(at)hotmail(dot)com
GFC Follower
Wow, those are fantastic photos. Thank you for sharing them! I would love to travel overseas some day.
My favorite food is from a little dive of a Mexican food shop… their regular burritos are to die for!!!
I am a blog follower.
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
my favorite food is lemon pepper chicken
i love pasta and steak ^^
I love all kinds of food; what I want depends on my mood, the temperature, how hungry I am, do I have to fix it? Italian is definitely a favorite! Miss my Mom’s cooking – she made a great pot roast.
sallans d at yahoo dot com
Beautiful pics! I guess my favorite food is chicken and homemade dumplings like my grandmother use to make. Also real fond of fried fish if its cooked right.
More beautiful (and mouth watering) pics. The Prophet sounds like this little hole in the wall Italian restaurant close to my house (my husband’s and my favorite place to get away from the kids). The husband and wife who own it are Italian, have wonderful accents and are the nicest couple you will ever know…oh and they cook food to die for!
Does it make you want to go back when you look at your pictures =) sure would make me want to.
GFC follower Lexi
I hope to visit the Uffizi one day. My favorite dish is beef fried noodles. It’s also my dad’s specialty.
GFC follower
My favorite food would have to be pretty much anything my mom makes, she just puts something in there that makes it the best food anywhere. Some of my favorites are enchiladas, tamales, you get my drift 🙂
Current GFC follower: Eva Perez
evitap67(at)gmail(dot)com
My favourite restaurant is chiqitos which have the best churros!
Great pictures. It sounds like you had an amazing time, my friend.
My favorite dish is my husband’s Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. He makes is several times in the Fall and Winter. He has to make big pots of it too.
koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos!
LOL, David’s butt is also a nice view! The lunch looks delish, especially the cheese. I’d love to go try some authentic and fresh Italian cheese someday. My favorite food/dessert is white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. I drool every time I think about it.
GFC follower
angeldream3[AT]gmail[DOT]com
LOL this post made me so hungry ;o)
My favourite food is for dessert a lemon meringue and main is a bowl of lasagne with home baked bread – YUM!
Rita from South Africa
bitemeash (at) gmail (dot) com
GFC follower
I’ve always wanted to visit Italy & not (only!) bcos of Michelangelo’s David. It’s such a beautiful & romantic country.
All the pictures I’ve seen of David were the censored version; this must be the 1st time I’ve seen him in all his glory.
I love Indian food but then I’m Asian so perhaps I’m slightly biased. Just adore the piquant flavour of all the spices.
My favourite food would have to be a lamb roast with all the trimmings. Such magnificent comfort food.
GFC: Mary Preston
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
My favorite food is a chicken casserole dish my mom makes, it’s my comfort food. No matter how old i am when my mom makes it, i feel like I’m a kid again. I started making it for my kids and they love it! 🙂
Your pasta looked divine, and made me want some – now! My favorite dish is steak and button mushrooms. Every cruise my husband tries all the new dishes, but I always have steak (boring, I know). Hubby won’t have it at home, so this is my time to indulge.
Second favorite is my home made macaroni & cheese – something about comfort foods.
Love your pics, Lila muah back.
I’m visiting Italy vicariously through your pictures. Gorgeous! I don’t think I could make it to the top. I can’t even get to the top of a lighthouse now. I was never afraid of heights until I had kids.I bet the food was awesome.
My favorite food is my husband’s pizza…He makes his own crust and sauce. Best pizza I’ve ever had.
Where are we going next in our Italian tour?
I’m a follower.
Wonderful post! I love the pictures. Beautiful! My favorite food is potato bake. Its cheesy potatoes that my mom makes. I love it! Yum! Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway! Those necklaces are beautiful! 😉
gfc- shadow_kohler
shadowluvs2read(at)aol(dot)com
I love my friend’s homemade chocolate covered toffee! I also love your post and the pictures of Florence. 🙂 I would so love to go there!
Robin D
robindpdx (at) yahoo (dot) com
Wonderful photos, Lila! They bring back so many lovely memories of my favorite city to visit. I’ve been lucky enough to go to Florence three times during my life and would happily go every year if I could – but that’s going to have to wait until I buy the winning lotto ticket. 😉
I love food. All kinds of food. One of my most memorable dishes was the tiramisu I had at a little neighborhood ristorante in Rome. To die for!
My favorite food is indian food..cause i am from india…i love to eat spice and theres tht special dish of india called dosai…which is my favorite. My mom makes it for me once in a while.
My Mom’s chicken paprikash made with bread dumplings that are so big you have to cut them with thread! Or her plum dumplings (a whole pitted plum wrapped in a dumpling) served with melted butter, large curd cottage cheese and a bit of sugar sprinkeled on top. YUM! Now i’m going to have to bribe her to make some!
Let’s try this again with my name this time 🙂 My Mom’s chicken paprikash made with bread dumplings that are so big you have to cut them with thread! Or her plum dumplings (a whole pitted plum wrapped in a dumpling) served with melted butter, large curd cottage cheese and a bit of sugar sprinkeled on top. YUM! Now i’m going to have to bribe her to make some!
Diana Gould
There’s always time for pho (Vietnamese rice noodle soup). Unfortunately, I would have to drive quite a bit to get any. What I really enjoy is the broth which is made from boiling the bejabbers out of meat and bones, not “beef flavored”. Also, the selection of meat is unusual to the typical American palate; I like soft tendon and fatty flank myself.
ironss [at] gmail [dot] com
GFC follower
thanks so much for sharing such gorgeous pictures. i really am jealous! lol my great grandparents came over here from Sicily. As for fav food its not from a restraunt its from my mom. She makes some of the best dishes ever…from her home made pasta sauce to her chicken and rice…i can never get enough of her food.
babydoll82959307(at)aol(dot)com
All of your pictures are beautiful Lila.Thanks for sharing. Even the pics of David in all (or not)his glory. lol
My favorite food is my grandmother’s meatballs. To just die for. Those necklaces are really beautiful too. Thanks Lila for the opportunity.
GFC follower under Lucy47.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
I love to see the photos and hear the stories from other peoples travels, esp outside of the US. Other than one cruise, I haven’t ever gotten outside of the US/Canada. Someday I will- and I use everyone elses trips to plan mine! I think the best thing I have ever eaten was on that cruise- the chef had made a ricotta cheesecake that I about died for! I had more than once piece that night (and he saved me some for the next night). I have had other cheesecakes (ricotta and regular) but this was the absolute best ever.… Read more »
Micaela::
Hi Lila I’m not entering this as i can see i’m long over due…Just enjoying your pictures thay are great
Thank you