A leisurely sit-down breakfast is a welcome change from our fast-paced European adventure.

Pastries & coffee makes for a happy morning. <3

My kuya‘s brother in law’s brother in law John, lol. 6 degrees of separation! ;)) Outside our apartment waiting for our host to let us in. Knock knock!

My kuya‘s daughter who is a tourist guide in Florence. How apt! <3

Sushiko is actually a fast-food Japanese resto with a chinese buffet, lol.

In fairness, may ihaw-ihaw din! 😛

We-fie with my niece Cheen.

Gelato is always a welcome dessert. <3 Especially with the hot Italian weather.

Thank you so much for your warm hospitality! <3 With love from the GOppets. Iba talaga ang pamilyang Pinoy.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa, known worldwide for its unintended tilt. The tower’s tilt began during construction, caused by an inadequate foundation on ground too soft on one side to properly support the structure’s weight. The tilt increased in the decades before the structure was completed, and gradually increased until the structure was stabilized (and the tilt partially corrected) by efforts in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

It is situated behind the Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisa’s Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo) after the Cathedral and the Baptistery. The height of the tower is 55.86 metres (183.27 feet) from the ground on the low side and 56.67 metres (185.93 feet) on the high side. The width of the walls at the base is 2.44 m (8 ft 0.06 in). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 metric tons (16,000 short tons). The tower has 296 or 294 steps; the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase. Prior to restoration work performed between 1990 and 2001, the tower leaned at an angle of 5.5 degrees, but the tower now leans at about 3.99 degrees. This means that the top of the tower is displaced horizontally 3.9 metres (12 ft 10 in) from the centre.

The GOppets trying to push it back into place! ;))

It’s always more fun when you have friends as guides.

One on the ‘Florence boxes to tick’ list is Michelangelo’s David, housed in the Galleria dell’Accademia. There is a copy standing in Palazzo della Signoria (above), but the boy himself is a walk away. Pressed for time, we didn’t get to go to the original David anymore. But this one spoke to us just fine, teehee!

David was commissioned in 1501 by the Cathedral Works Committee (Opera Del Duomo). At the age of 26, Michelangelo was given a leftover block of marble that came from the mountains of Carrara, one which had previously been worked on by various other artists. The piece was intended as a monumental work, a testimony to the city’s republican pride, not one for close confinement, but was moved to the Accademia in 1873 (from outside the Palazzo Vecchio, where a replica now stands ) to protect it from the ravages of time and the weather. Viewed as a gallery piece, David looks odd; his upper body and head are both out of proportion, and out of keeping with the Renaissance obsession with the perfect harmony of form and proportion. However, it’s argued that this is yet more evidence of Michelangelo’s bravura – not only is David an incredible feat of technical skill, the scale is deliberate, as from the original viewpoint of the viewer the upper body would have been much farther away.

A few steps down the lane & you’ll see a captivating view of the beautiful city.

You just can’t help but break into a huge smile & fall in love with the awesome scenery.

The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore in English “Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flowers“) is the main church of Florence, Italy. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival façade by Emilio De Fabris.

The cathedral complex, located in Piazza del Duomo, includes the Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile. These three buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historic centre of Florence and are a major attraction to tourists visiting Tuscany. The basilica is one of Italy’s largest churches, and until development of new structural materials in the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. The cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence. SO BEAUTIFUL!! <3

Nothing beats homemade pasta like this yummy Pasta Fresca. <3

Cousin bonding. <3