Newt and David

I'm used to seeing political figures in Florence.

Kentucky, that is. Not Italy.

But there we were on a bright sunny afternoon standing on the worn cobblestone streets of Florence, Italy, outside the Galleria dell Accademia when my sister Kate elbowed me and said, "Hey, that guy kinda looks like Newt Gingrich."

He did kinda. Because it was Newt Gingrich.

The most famous tourist in Florence on Saturday talks to one of his fans -- or at least someone who recognized him. 

Gingrich and his wife Callista, like the rest of the line, were on their way to see Michelangelo's "David." And the former presidential candidate attracted a bit of attention from some tourists, who were either Americans or devoted CNN International viewers with a penchant for "Crossfire."

Striking a pose: A bonus photo op for this tourist before seeing Michelangelo's masterpiece.

Inside the Accademia awaited the most impressive work of art we had seen ... at least since taking in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel on Thursday.

A look that killed: David prepares for a different kind of crossfire. 

We got our picture taken with David instead of Gingrich. (Hey, I'm on vacation -- no politics, at least from this century). 

- By Ryan Alessi