FLORENCE 3: A visit to the Pitti Palace was on the cards today: one of the Medici family's villas, which is now an art galleryThe outside of the palaceThe music room Part of the art gallery, in what looks to be a huge ballroom. Don't know who has to clean all the chandeliers but I feel sorry for them

This enormous table is apparently priceless, there are several of them throughout the palace A closeup on the detail on one of the tables; beautiful inlaid enamel. I want one in my house!


This was a simple room by the standards of the rest of the Medici apartments; no photos were allowed in there but I bought postcards. Imagine gold everywhere, floor to ceiling curtains and ornate decoration. Completely over the top! The Boboli Gardens at the back of the Pitti PalaceAnother photo of that view along the river I love so much. Love how the bridge reflects in the water

After lunch I walked back across the river to visit the Museo di Storia della Scienza (Science History Musuem), which has scientific instruments from as far back as the 11th century, mainly from the Medici family collections Some of Galileo's mathematical instruments
Galileo's telescopesA celestial globe and an armillary sphere: a prize for anyone who actually knew what that was. I had to look it up; it's a model of the location of celestial bodies and is used to demonstrate the motion of stars around the Earth. Now you've learnt something for today!

I may have mentioned that they seem to have a thing for relics here: relics (ie/bits of hair, fingernails, clothing etc) of saints that are kept in churches and prayed to. This takes it to another level I think, it's Galileo's finger! Revolting!!