|
Florence apartments - Florence guide
»
Italian-Tourism.com »
Florence guide
A visit to Florence (Firenze) is a must for any art lover. UNESCO
estimates that 60% of the world’s most important artworks are in Italy,
with over half of them located in Florence. Situated in the
northwest of Italy, surrounded by the wine-growing hills of Chianti. Few
can dismiss the image of Brunelleschi’s cathedral dome bursting through
the morning mist – a terracotta balloon hovering above the medieval
rooftops.
Often called the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence owes much of her
wealth to the Middle Ages. Banking became big business on the back of
the city’s profitable wool trade and, in 1235, Florence minted the
florin, the first gold coin to become standard currency across Europe.
In their turn, these bankers commissioned some of the finest art and
architecture in the city. The names Strozzi, Rucellai and Pitti can be
found all over Florence, but it was the Medici family (who led the city
for over 300 years, off and on) that nurtured the greatest flowering of
Renaissance art. The paintings of Botticelli, the sculptures of
Michelangelo and the rusticated palaces of Michelozzo all flourished
under their rule.
Then, as now, most of the action in Florence took place between Piazza
del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, the city’s civic heart. Here, in
the historic centre, Dante (forefather of the Italian language) first
glimpsed his muse, Beatrice. Here, the Florentine Republic rose and
fell. And here, Savonarola’s Bonfire of the Vanities blazed.
Early autumn, when the countryside glows with mellow fruitfulness, is
the best time to visit, capitalising on the soft light, empty streets
and the abundance of wild mushrooms and just-pressed olive oil.
PLACES OF NOTE
It is impossible to mention here all of the
city's monuments, most of which date from the 13th to 15th cent.
Florence was the center of the Italian Renaissance during which time the
artistic and intellectual life of the city flourished. Dante, Boccaccio,
Botticelli, Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo were
among the authors and artists who were born and were active there.
It was dominated by the Medici family from the fifteenth to the
eighteenth centuries. The city's many works of architecture include the
cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Pitti Palace, and the Uffizi.
A tour of Florence
At the heart of the city is the Fountain of Neptune, which is a
masterpiece of marble sculpture at the terminus of a still functioning
Roman aqueduct.
The Arno river, which cuts through
the old part of the city, is as much a character in Florentine history
as many of the men who lived there. Historically, the locals have had a
love-hate relationship with the Arno -- which alternated from nourishing
the city with commerce, and destroying it by flood.
Many of the bridges across the Arno were
built by the Romans. One of the bridges in particular, however, stands
out as being unique - The Ponte Vecchio, whose most striking
feature is the multitude of shops built on it. First constructed by the
Etruscans in ancient times, this bridge is the only one in the city to
have survived World War II intact.
The most famous palace in the city is
San Lorenzo palace, which has become a monument to the Medici family
who ruled Florence during the 15th century.
Nearby is the Uffizi Gallery, one of
the very finest art galleries in the world.
In addition to the Uffizi, Florence has
other museums which would be the premier art collection of almost any
other major city in the world:
The Bargello concentrates on sculpture, containing many priceless
works of art created by such sculptors as Donatello, Giambologna, and
Michelangelo.
The Accademia dell' Arte del Disegno (often simply called the
Accademia) collection's highlights are Michelangelo's David and his
Slaves.
Across the Arno is the huge Pitti Palace lavishly decorated with
the Medici family's former private collection. Adjoining the Palace are
the Boboli Gardens, elaborately landscaped and with many
interesting sculptures.
The elaborate Santa Croce church contains the monumental tombs of
Galileo, Michelangelo, Dante, and many other notables.
The crowning architectural jewel of Florence is the domed cathedral of
the city, Santa Maria del Fiore, known as "The Duomo". The
magnificent dome was built by Filippo Brunelleschi. The nearby Campanile
Tower (by Giotto) and the Baptistery buildings are also highlights.
Other important sites in Florence include the church of Santa Maria
Novella and the Orsanmichele.
|
 |
|
visit
also:
»»
Venice
Guide
»»
Rome Guide |
