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| A ten minute stroll from the Ponte Vecchio © A. Harrison |
Once considered the unfashionable side of the Arno River, today Florence's Oltrarno retains a medieval air. Indeed, in places little has changed since Dante wrote of his beloved city. The buildings are medieval but lived in; this is an area for locals.
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| A shoemaker at work © A. Harrison |
It is a place for wandering along empty side streets, and see artisans busy in their workshops, as they have been for centuries. The further the streets lead from the tourist tread, the more they are filled with artisan shops and work rooms. Paper makers, jewellers, cobblers, art restorers, painters, sculptors - the variety seems endless.
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| Doves with a perfect view of the Duomo © A. Harrison |
Trees and gardens are everywhere, so at times I felt as I were wandering a Tuscan hill town, not the heart of Florence. It's a world away from the melee of tourists filling the 'fashionable' side of the Arno.
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| Spring in Florence © A. Harrison |
Shops, restaurants and cafes abound. With so many students living in the area, the prices are affordable, offering a perfect place to sit and reflect on the wonders of Florence - whatever side of the Arno!
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| A perfect sunset © A. Harrison |
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