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Ponte Vechio: Florence

The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is one of the touristy places to see in Florence, Italy. As the name says, it is an old bridge, it dates back from the Medieval Period and it crosses the Arno River (Hitler apparently spared it from bombing during the war).

The street leading to it is one jewelry shop after another (Italian gold of course are known to be of good quality), occasionally interspersed with gellateria and shops selling leather goods which are also good buys especially in Florence, vendors selling tacky tourist souvenirs such as aprons with David and Birth of Venus images (all of the above - gold, leather, gelato, tacky aprons) I am guilty of purchasing -- told you it's touristy.

If you are going with your significant other, bring a padlock. In the middle of the bridge is a place where lovers would declare their undying love by locking their padlock and throwing away the key (in the river).

Cripta dei Cappuccini (Crypt): Rome

This is a different and macabre way to display and see art -- human bones and skulls formed into intricate design patterns. 

“One of the most horrifying images in all of Christendom…” -Frommer's

There are bones and skulls everywhere - chandeliers, picture frames, wall art, etc.

http://www.cappucciniviaveneto.it/cappuccini_ing.html
http://www.roninrome.com/sites-and-attractions/cripta-dei-cappuccini

Perfumerie - Santa Maria Novella : Florence

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

This is a treasure of a find, it's so beautiful and oh so old world -- it is potions and lotions. This perfumerie is connected to Santa Maria Novella from the monastery side and very unassuming. This is the world's oldest pharmacy dating back from the 13th century of Giotto and Dante's time. Quite intimidating at first because it seems so fancy shmancy, but the staff are actually very helpful in letting you sample their products. Perfect place to get a gift (...er for yourself) to bring back home. Oh, and their honey are also divine.



I don't think they have a website, but here are  links for info about this very beautiful (and oh so girly) place:
http://www.italian.it/santamarianovella/smnuk.htm
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/heaven-scent.html#

Santa Maria Novella: Florence

In Florence, of course, it is a given that everyone goes to see The Duomo and Santa Croce (where Michelangelo, Galileo and almost everyone who was anyone was entombed). Santa Maria Novella is often bypassed; because it is close to the main railway station of the same name, it's a bit on the seedy side.

Florence back then is all about the powerful and the ridiculously rich families; they have financed this first great basilica to house their family's funerary chapels.  It is amazingly chock-full of frescoes by the masters of the Gothic and the Renaissance (such as Ghirlandaio, Michelangelo's teacher) era.

The most important art work here is,
The Holy Trinity by Massacio or "Trinita"

 "The first great painter of the Italian Renaissance, whose application of scientific perspective and depiction of natural lighting represent an important step in the development of modern painting.

... his work embodies some of the most important advances in Western realistic art. His paintings inspired Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael, and his artistic innovations contributed to a new way of looking at the world that gave birth to the Scientific Revolution."