Florence one of the cities of Love in Italy

Florence is one of the most popular travel cities in Italy and holds many attractions for the tourist. Florence, a Renaissance city in the heart of Tuscany, has some of Italy's best museums, beautiful cathedrals and churches, and interesting streets and squares with elegant buildings and shops.

Florence is known for its rich architectural and artistic masterpieces which symbolize the Renaissance and the important role Florence has played in history. It has a population of around half a million inhabitants, spreads on the banks of the Arno, between the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian seas, almost in the middle of the Italian peninsula. Being on the main national railway lines, it is easily accessible from Italy and abroad.

History:

Florence came into existence during Roman Times. From around the eighth century B.C. until 59 B.C., central Italy was ruled by the Etruscans who preferred to build their northernmost stronghold on the hill top where modern day Fiesole is located.

It was during the reign of Julius Caesar that Florence came into existence, in the year 59 B.C. After conquering the Etruscans, the Romans established Florence as an important trading center around the third century A.D. During the re-unification of Italy in the 19th century it was made temporarily capital of Italy , until Rome finally joined the newly created Italy . Florence was the capital of Italy for 5 years from 1865 to 18

Major Attractions:

Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio- Florence's most famous square is Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the historic center and a free open-air sculpture exhibit. The Loggia della Signoria holds some important statues including a copy of Michelangelo's David (this is one piece that we all know of, regardless if we have been there or not!)

The piazza has been Florence's political center since the middle ages and Florence's town hall, the medieval Palazzo Vecchio, sits on the piazza. The palazzo contains elaborately decorated public rooms and private apartments. Around the piazza are cafes and restaurants. The Palazzo Vecchio is a monument of exceptional artistic and historical importance.

Duomo - Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore: Florence's most popular site is its Duomo (cathedral), the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore.

Designed by Arnolfo di Cambio at the end of the 13th century, the Cathedral's trademark dome is now the symbol of Florence.The huge Gothic duomo was begun in 1296, consecrated in 1436, and holds 20,000 people. The exterior, made of green, pink, and white marble, has several elaborate doors and interesting statues. Inside, Brunelleschi's Dome is a masterpiece of construction. Buy a ticket to climb the 463 steps to its top.

The Baptistry- A beautiful building best known for its elaborately sculpted doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti and is one of Florence's oldest buildings. Its exterior is made of green and white marble and has three sets of amazing bronze doors (reproductions - the originals are in the Duomo Museum, also worth a visit).

Inside, you can see some mosaics and a marble pavement of the zodiac. In Piazza San Giovanni, off Piazza del Duomo, open 12:00-7:00 daily except holidays and 8:30-2:00 Sundays.

Badia Fiorentina- The Badia Fiorentina is a beautiful abbey church located in the Duomo District of Florence Italy (Firenza). The abbey was founded in 978 and is visible from many areas of Florence. The Filippino Lippi masterpiece entitled "The Virgin Appearing to St. Bernard" (1485) can be found in the abbey.   Boboli Gardens- Cross the Ponte Vecchio to the Giardino di Boboli, a huge park on a hillside in the middle of Florence behind the Pitti Palace. The gardens can be accessed from the Pitti Palace. Here you'll find beautiful gardens and fountains and a great view of Florence from the Forte Belvedere. Open daily at 8:15 (except some Mondays in winter) with seasonal closing times. The Pitti Palace, Florence's largest palazzo, was once the seat of the Medici family. You can visit 8 different galleries, including art, costumes, jewelry, and apartments.

Campinile - Bell Tower: The Campinile, bell tower, is in Piazza del Duomo. The first story was designed by Giotto and it is commonly called Giotto's Campinile. Buy a ticket and climb the 414 stairs (no lift) for great views of the Cathedral and its dome and the city of Florence and surroundings. Open 8:30 am - 7:30 pm.

The Brancacci Chapel-The Brancacci Chapel is located in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine in the Oltarno district of Florence Italy (Firenza). The Brancacci Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine is a stunning example of Renaissance art and Florentine history. Comissioned by a wealthy Florentine silk merchant in the 1420s, the chapel was decorated in frescoes by Masaccio and Masolino depicting the life of St. Peter and the theme of redemption.

In later years, the chapel suffered at the hands of Florentine government when its patron, Felice Brancacci, was exiled and declared an enemy of state. The Damnatio Memoriae was executed, and the faces of the chapels patrons were destroyed, only to be restored by Filippino Lippi fifty years later. The Brancacci Chapel has one of the supreme masterpieces of renaissance painting. The Brancacci Chapel is a chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence. It is sometimes called the "Sistine Chapel of the early Renaissance" for its painting cycle, among the most famous and influential of the period.

Santa Croce- Santa Croce, in Piazza Santa Croce, is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and holds the tombs of several important Florentines including Michelangelo and Dante. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians.

It is best known for its Florentine artwork and its tombs of illustrious dead, including Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli.The construction of the church started in 1295 by architect Arnolfo di Cambio and completed in 1442. The church is simple basilica style with a nave and two isles. The nave is 19m wide and wodden ceiling is the succession of early christian architecture. Baisicly the building is modified-gothic style which has come from Cistercian church and has brung into Tuscany.

The vast interior contains some exceptional stained glass windows and frescoes. One of Brunelleschi's most important works, the Cappella dei Pazzi, is in Santa Croce. Admission includes the museum and tours given by volunteers when available. Audio tours are extra. Open Monday-Saturday, 9:30-5:30 and Sunday, 1-5:30.

Ponte Vecchio- The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge), built in 1345, was Florence's first bridge across the Arno River and is the only surviving bridge from Florence's medieval days (others were destroyed in World War II). This is noted for still having shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewelers, art dealers and souvenir sellers. It has been described as Europe's oldest wholly-stone, closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge. From the bridge, you'll have a great view along the Arno River and beyond. Ponte Vecchio is one of the city's best known images. Probably going back to Roman times with its stone pillars and wooden planks; it was built in stone but then newly destroyed by a flood in 1333. It was built again twelve years later.

Galleria degli Uffizi- The Galleria degli Uffizi holds the world's most important collection of Renaissance art but it's also Italy's most crowded museum. This is the most famous museums of paintings and sculpture in the world. The Uffizi Gallery occupies the top floor of the large building erected by Giorgio Vasari between 1560 and 1580 to house the administrative offices of the Tuscan State.

The Gallery was created by Grand-duke Francesco I and subsequently enriched by various members of the Medici family, who were great collectors of paintings, sculpture and works of art. You can buy tickets ahead to avoid long lines.

The Uffizi holds thousands of paintings from medieval to modern times and many antique sculptures, illuminations, and tapestries. Artists whose works you'll see include Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Perugino, and Raphael. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 8:15 am - 6:50 pm.

Shopping: Many visitors to Florence Italy like to spend a little time, (or should l say a lot?) shopping. Popular items include bags, shoes, clothes and jewelry. There are lots of small shops and boutiques throughout the city. Florence, isn't a city for bargain shopping, though. Most visitors interested in gold or silver jewelry head for the Ponte Vecchio and its tiny shops.

If you're looking for a charm or souvenir, these shops are fine. But the heyday of finding gold jewelry bargains on the Ponte Vecchio is long gone. The street for antiques is Via Maggio: some of the furnishings and objects d'art here are from the 16th century. Florence's Fifth Avenue is Via dei Tornabuoni, the place to head for the best quality leather goods, for the best clothing boutiques, and for stylish but costly shoes. Here you'll find everyone from Armani, Gucci, Versace, Coveri, to Ferragamo. Besides shops, Florence is rich in open-air markets.

The Market of San Lorenzo, situated in the center of the city, is the preferred destination of tourists. The New Market, where one can acquire leather goods and souvenirs, is sheltered under the sixteenth-century Loggia del Porcellino. At the Flea Market, near Piazza Santa Croce, one can make good deals on small antique items. The last Sunday of every month except July, the market expands into the adjacent streets.   

There are many tours and hotels easily available in Florence. Hotel Davanzati is recommended if you are on a romantic holiday or honeymoon. But there are hotels to suit everyones budget, you just have to shop around online before you go. Transportation is very comfortable as you can ride a bike or car on rent to travel in the city.  And remember to try all the wonderful foods Florence has to offer, after all you are in Italy! So leave room in your stomach for all the tasty pastas, pizza, foccacia MMMM the list is endless. Oh yes and do not forget the wines and great coffees.

If you are a person with interest in architecture and culture of our world, Florence is a must visit destination. You'll find history and culture in every corner, tucked among the city's many piazzas, beautiful churches and fascinating museums. The spectacular Uffizi Gallery houses the works of such masters as Titian, Botticelli, Michelangelo and da Vinci. Don't miss the Duomo, the symbol of Florence and the sunset over the Arno River.

(Source: aboutflorence.com, tripadvisor.com)