There’s a lot to do in Florence, if you into art, sculpture, churches, food or even just mooching*. We’re into the latter two.

We spent a couple of days walking the streets sucking-in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings of the city instead of bouncing from queue to queue for the main attractions. (No kidding here: If you catch a top-tier venue at the wrong time, you’ll be queuing for six hours — no thanks!)

In-between spreading gelatti around my face, we did manage to drop 12 Euros (for both of us) for the privilege of climbing 463 steps to the top of the beautiful Duomo dome with assurances of wonderment at the fresco paintings and jaw-dropping views over the city from the roof.

Neither of us knew that Squiffy was claustrophobic. Now we do. In fairness, our Rough Guide to Tuscany & Umbria does note:

“Claustrophobics should note that the climb involves some very confined spaces.”

So here’s my advice to any claustrophobics wanting to climb the Duomo in Florence:

Please note that the climb involves some very confined spaces, so don’t do it.

On a separate note, when I was younger and needed the money, I posed nude for an college art class. I was a little embarrased to see that one of the students, called Michaelangelo, was displaying his Statues of David around town. *blush*

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* Mooching: The fine-art of immersing oneself into an environment without necessarily participating in anything more than wandering round looking up and down and around to take-in one’s surroundings.