Days 4-5 in Florence

On day 4 we arrived in Florence in the mid afternoon. We were supposed to have arrived before lunch and had the afternoon free, but that didn’t happen. Some people had plans (tickets for sites) and it made it a bit stressful, but everyone was still able to accomplish their plans. A walking tour was provided in the late afternoon for those who wanted to brave the heat. That evening dinner was provided for our group at a local restaurant. The next day, we had a free day in Florence. Some had reservations for museums and sites, others wandered the streets and shopped. It was St. John the Baptist Day – an annual event in honor of the patron saint of Florence (and maybe all of Tuscany? I should look that up). There was a parade through town a couple of times throughout the day – people dressed in medieval costumes with drums, horns, and flags. It was very crowded in town because of the festival. That night they had a fabulous fireworks display over the river with the bridges and streets along the river packed with people. It was very festive and a fun day (even with the heat).