Relaxation and lunch with a view

(This is part of our series of posts from our six-week Road Scholar Independent Living and Learning in Florence trip to Italy in Spring 2025. We have an index to all the posts from that trip here.)

After a very busy week, we were ready for a quiet day today (Sunday, May 11). We slept late, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast (and a few espressi) at home, had lunch and did homework at the casual restaurant in the Bardini Garden, then went grocery shopping and cooked dinner.

On our way to lunch, we passed Galileo’s house, which is almost directly across the street from our apartment on Costa di San Giorgio. Note the colorful paintings on the wall, including a portrait of Galileo. The inscription above the door translates to: “Here where Galileo lived, the majesty of Ferdinand II de’ Medici did not disdain to bow to the power of the genius.”

The casual restaurant, La Loggetta, in the Bardini Garden has a spectacular view over the city of Florence. I shot this one from our table while we were waiting for our meal.

From the far end of La Loggetta, we were able to see the skyline from the Duomo past the Basilica of Santa Croce.

There’s a key to all the sights visible from the restaurant.

I needed an apron to help keep my clothes clean when I am cooking, and Cheryl found me just the right one. It even had my name on it (on the side, but not visible in the photo)! As they say, “when in Florence…”.