Santa Maria Novella

After climbing the famous dome of Il Duomo, Dave and I were hungry.  We bought a sandwich on the most delicious bread and found a place to sit in the Piazza Santa Maria Novella.  As we enjoyed our sandwich, we engaged in a favorite past time, people watching.

The Piazza used to be the site of a horse race.  There are columns around which the competitors raced their steeds.  The turtles seem humorous given the fable of the tortoise and the hare.

After our yummy sandwich, we had our first encounter with a pay-to-use toilet.  It was clean; I was happy.
(While we were in Italy, I threatened to do an entire post on Italian bathrooms; I didn't take pictures; it wouldn't be nearly as interesting without the pictures.)

A quick picture of the front door of the church, then it was off to tour the chapel.  (An interesting note, the main center doors of the churches are typically only opened on Easter or other high holy days in the church.  The remainder of the year side doors are used; whether they are on the front, but not the main doors, or literally a side entrance.)

No pictures were allowed inside Santa Maria Novella, but these are pictures of the garden that runs parallel to the chapel.