The grounds of Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

Florence Pt.1

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July 28th 2010
We arrived at Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station at 06:18 to good solid Italian sunshine, after trying to sleep through a horrendous thunder storm all night. Clare got pretty scared at one point as she thought the lightning hit the train but I was far too drowsy and oblivious to notice. We grabbed a map and instantly headed for the hostel, negotiating our way through the narrow streets ... read more

Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Florence

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Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI establis... ... read more