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If you are walking through the small
streets of Florence full of artisan’s shops and suddenly you
feel a sort of suprise, don’t worry, you are arrived in front
of one of the most beautiful squares of the world: Piazza
della Signoria. This square, with its imponent Palazzo
Vecchio, symbol of the Medici Family, its impressive Loggia de’
Lanzi will bring you back to the Middle Ages, and if you close your
eyes, only for a moment, you can immagine some famous heroes of
the past that is walking with you or, if you’re very concentrate,
you can imagine the rowdy goldsmiths and silversmiths selling theire
jewels from the lively and, at the same time, romantic Ponte Vecchio…
Going on this fantastic tour, don’t forget to visit the rich
collections exposed in the Uffizi Gallery with
its works by Botticelli, by the ingenious Leonardo da Vinci and
many other famous artists from all times. |
What to see
in Uffizi area |
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That’s the area in which
the symbols of Renaissance architecture are predominant: the well
known Palazzo Strozzi, the biggest and most famous
palace of Florence, is one of these.
Between the ancient Palazzo Antinori, Palazzo Rucellai and many
suggestive churches such as Santa Trinita and San
Pancrazio (now the Marino Marini Museum, an italian abstract artist),
you’ll find the most interesting shopping area of the city:
around Via Tornabuoni there are the most prestigious fashion shops
of the world that will grant you unforgettable walks thanks to theire
shining windows framed in spectacular ancient buildings.
The above mentioned reasons are only a few of the many reasons because
of we really like Florence…everywhere past and present are
so well-mixed together!! |
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What
to see in Palazzo Strozzi area |
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The pleasant sensation that you’ll
have in front of the beautiful Piazza del Duomo
(Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral) is very difficoult to be described:
in a so small and charming area, the Giotto’s belltower,
the gilded bronze doors of the marbled Baptistery and the Gothic
Loggia del Bigallo look like elegant Florentine landlords ready
to welcome all the visitors in their coloured and fascinating property.
Walking here around, look everywhere: you’ll be suprised to
discover so many ancient buildings, picturesque corners and scents
of Florentine’s tradition. |
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What to see in
Duomo area |
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The most important Gothic Church
of Florence is Santa Maria Novella and here, elegant
and timeless, this basilica dominates its square, its cloister and
the red roofs of the buildings around. The characteristic lanes
of Via de’ Fossi area look like a network around this charming
church. People gravitate here also because close to the church lies
the Florence central railway station: the modern
and omonymous Santa Maria Novella station. Thanks to its strategical
position, really in the heart of Florence and easily reachable from
every side of the city, this area is considered one of the principal
starting point for visiting museums and major monuments. One of
the most important european music festivals, the prestigious “Maggio
Musicale Fiorentino”, is represented in the famous Teatro
Comunale, located in a suggestive position of this area, very close
to the blond river Arno. |
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What
to see in Santa Maria Novella area |
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This imponent fortress, built thanks
to the Sangallo family around 1534, was one of the first italian
“citadels”. Its turbolent and fascinating history has
remained during the centuries well represented by its powerful bastions,
its secret passages and parapet walks.
Today, the Fortezza da Basso has completely changed
in its functions: it houses the main Florence Exhibition Centre,
the Palazzo dei Congressi and Palazzo Affari, helding
at its interior, all of the most important international fairs,
shows and events.
In this area, we must mention the richest italian Library: the Biblioteca
Nazionale. The collection includes about 4 millions of volumes and
above all, the well-known Galileian Collection. |
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What
to see in Fortezza da Basso area |
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Artlovers will be so happy to discover
this area so rich of culture, art and traditions. Everywhere, there
is something to appreciate, study and admire. In its following of
Churches, Cloisters, Gardens, Galleries and ancient buildings, the
visitor will be really enthusiast. The San Marco’s
convent is the symbol we choose to represent this area.
In its simple cloister there are many beautiful frescoes by Beato
Angelico, one of the most famous painters of XV century.
Walking through the charming Piazza SS. Annunziata, with its Brunelleschi’s
porch, and the Ospedale Innocenti (the place in
which orphanages were recovered during the XV century), you’ll
find on your sides two beautiful gardens: the botanical garden “Giardino
dei Semplici” and the verdant “Giardino della Gherardesca”. |
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What to see
in San Marco area |
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Let your fantasy run away and imagine
to live in Florence during a Carnival of the XV century: you are
in Piazza Santa Croce and people are playing a spectacular football
match.
In 1530, the most famous football match between the florentines
against the German occupiers (that have lost the match) was played.
Today, the competition is kept up annually in historic costumes
in the same square, to commemorate the historical event.
The beautiful Church of Santa Croce, located in
the square, presents on its interior some precious frescoes by Giotto
and his pupil Taddeo Gaddi and, in its cloister, is a masterpiece
of Renaissance’s architecture: the Brunelleschi’s Cappella
de’ Pazzi. Going on our walk, we’ll find the
interesting church dedicated to Sant’Ambrogio and the imponent
Synagogue of Florence in its great Spanish-Moorish style. |
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What to
see in Santa Croce area |
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The beautiful terrace of Piazzale
Michelangelo will give you the perfect idea of how magic
is Florence: on the top of a small hill, you will enjoy the most
beautiful view over the city, from the river Arno,
the Giotto’s belltower and the red roofs of Florence, a sense
of peace and immensity will open your hearts. Florence is a small
world itself: art, religion, tradition, entertainments are so well
mixed together to let you feel complete.
You will not forget any moment spent here in Florence, this city
will be a part of yourself forever. |
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What
to see in Belvedere Michelangelo area |
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Palazzo Pitti
and the Boboli Gardens underwent many alterations
during the centuries: the first idea was probably by Brunelleschi,
altered by the Medici family year after year. Today, this building
houses many interesting Museums and Galleries such as the Gallery
of Modern Art and the Palatine Gallery. The first includes collections
from neo-classicism to the XX century. The second one houses true
msterpieces of XVI and XVII centuries. The beautiful garden of this
palace (the Boboli gardens), has in its interior many staues, fountains
and box hedges clipped into symmetrical patterns. Other characteristic
of this area is the well-known district of San Frediano, the artisan’s
quarter, with shops of of many antiques dealers and restorers, and
it is often associated with leather and wool industries. Another
intersting church of this area is Santa Maria del Carmine, best
known thanks to the beautiful Brancacci Chapel, frescoed by the
genial painter Masaccio, the first artist using perspective. |
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What
to see in Palazzo Pitti area |
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