A DAY OF SURPRISES ....

The idea of this day was to head south to reach Firenze and to see the one or other interesting spot on the way and we did!

Our breakfast was some brioche and a strong italian espresso still in Oggiono.  We found on top a fuel station with unbeatable prices for diesel. We tried to get our tank full but this is not as easy as it seems. There is only a machine and if you don't work correctly the other guy next to you will get your fuel! It was a lovely discussion with an Italian guy until we had our fuel.

Later on the half way to Parma we left the freeway and we found the Chiaravalle della Colomba. This monastry of the Zisterzienser is a lovely spot in the middle of nowhere but on Sundays there is a lot of action. We saw part of a catholic service with a beautiful choir, a fleamarket and it seems that everyone knows everyone - we were the only tourists there.

Gothic Colums-knots in Chiaravalle

The whole area on the way to Parma is filled with music again - this time classical music. We passed the birth place of Stradivari (the guy who made this wonderful violins), in Busseto Guiseppe Verdi was born and almost every small place reflects the fact that this important italian musician was living there.

In Parma we wanted to celebrate the most important export articles from this town: Proscuitto crudo and Parmgiano Reggiano. Before that we visited Dome and the Baptisterium - a wonderful place much too big for this small city. Beside these buildings the most impressive monument was the Theatro Farnese - one of the oldest theatres in the world made fully out of wood. It smells gives atmosphere and on top we could enter the stage!! We acted without audience in Parma ... our debut!!!!!

Duomo di Parma

In a very small street cafe we found a perfect lunch with a so called "Mama" organizing everything. Great food (of course fresh pasta, some proscuitto und parmigiano) for very, very reasonable prices. Mama (more granny as she was at least 65) organized everything and pushed the whole team in service and bar to do their best. Well organized and excellent price/quality ratio. As a customer you can feel happy there!!!

Late afternoon we reached our hotel in Firenze and we started a nice evening walk downtown. We had a romantic dinner on the Piazza della Signoria and were surprised that the museum of the Palazzo della Signoria is open until midnight!? A federal museum open during the night? Yes and it worked because the atmosphere in such a museum is completely different then during the day! A great palace where the Medici lived and the Signoria (a sort of parliament) worked in the Renaissance time!

Palazzo della Signoria & unfriendly animal ...