Firenze

Holy night, silent night at the Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 for Cosimo I de'Medici to house the Granducal Magistratures of Tuscany.
(A few more words about Giorgio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgio_Vasari)

Rudolf is on strike.

An optical illusion at Piazza del Duomo, Florence. Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral is the fourth church of Europe by size, its length is 153 m and its height is 116 m.

The Laurentian Library (Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana) by Michelangelo is accessed from the side of the church in the cloisters.

Ponte Vecchio by night. Butchers initially occupied the shops of the bridge; the present tenants are jewellers, art dealers and souvenir sellers.

Officina di Santa Maria Novella.

Last minute Christmas shopping.

Legend has it that good luck will come to those who place a coin on the muzzle of Florence's wild-boar "Porcellino" and let it fall into the underlying grate.

Something red, hot and Italian for Xmas:
Bruschetta http://bit.ly/MCKzbD