Florence - A Travel Guide to the Capital of Tuscany in Italy
Florence,
known by the Italians as Firenze, is the world famous Romanesque, Gothic
and Renaissance city whose beauty has been
praised by poets and lovers of beauty through the centuries.
Sucessive building and alterations have not managed to spoil the harmonious architecture about Florence lovingly created by the endeavours of Italian merchants and artists.
Florence is known as The City of the
Lily, Birthplace of Dante, Cradle of the Renaissance and the Town
of The Medici family.
Travelling to Florence on an Italian holiday you will discover the many coloured marble facades of the numerous Romanesque and Gothic churches, the treasures in the museums and Art Galleries and the chiselled, gilded or frescoed, ceilings of the great halls in Palazzo vecchio, 'Palazzo Pitti or Palazzo-strozzi and the grandeur of Florentine architecture.
A holiday in Florence will captivate you as you travel along the alleys
which
still keep to the lines laid down by the City's Roman founders in 59 B.C.
THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO VISIT IN FLORENCE
Florence is famous for the
Piazza del Duomo and the neighbouring Baptistry of St John
which was first
built in the 7th century.
Even strolling through the streets you won't be able to avoid the many public sculptures, but there are many other fantastic places to visit for those who travel to Florence.
Recommended below is just a small selectionof Florence attractions not to be missed!
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence - one of the most famous museums in the world. The Uffizi Gallery houses a spectacular collection of Italian Renaissance art, featuring works by such masters as Michelangelo Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci.
The Basilica di Santa Croce - the richest medieval church in Florence with a chapel by Brunelleschi and wall frescoes by Giotto.
Erected during Roman times
The Ponte Vecchio is the most ancient bridge in Florence, it has two wide
arcades on each side housing the famous "botteghe" or shops.
The Galleria dell'Accademia was Europe's first school of drawing. This Art Museum is famous for its sculptures by Michelangelo, notably his David. The Galleria dell'Accademia also has a large collection of 15th and 16th century paintings.
The Palazzo Vecchio is Florence's principal palace. Work started on the Palace in 1299 .
Museo Nazionale del Bargello in the Palazzo del Podesta was built in 1255 AD as the dwelling for the Chief Magistrate. The Bargello museum contains an impressive collection of Italian sculpture from the Renaissance period.
FLORENCE HOTELS
There are many good hotels in the City of Florence amongst the most popular are the 3 star Hotel David in the Viale Michelangiolo and the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze at Borgo Pinti 99, 50121 Florence, Italy