Etched portrait of horse and rider

Mellowing in Italy - Florence, Thursday 2007 May 24

---

May 24th 2007
This morning we gathered early (8:35) to walk to a bus stop near the Arno where we waited for our tour bus, which wasn’t really supposed to use the transit stop. We were very early (to avoid being even a little late), so we had ample opportunity to watch the rush hour – many, many urban motorcycles, i.e., upright seating usually with a place by the feet for a briefcase or backpack – well div ... read more

Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Florence

---

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