FIRENZE - there are so many things to say about Florence!!!

Well, what about starting from the beginning? Florence is well-known mainly by its importance during the Renaissance, but it has much older origins back in time. Florentia was a Roman colony founded on the 59 b.C., during the govern of Adriano and at the same period when they have traced the famous Via Cassia. Florentia was a walled town, with many high-class buildings, thermal establishments (present Via delle Terme) and a beautiful amphitheater which traces are still visible along the curve lines of Via Torta.

After barbarians sieges and sacks, Florence has restarted its expansion during the Middle Ages. The most important example of the Florentine Romanesque style is the standing Baptistery of San Giovanni, located in Piazza San Giovanni, or Piazza del Duomo (the Cathedral square). Actually, the Baptistery was originally a pagan building coverted to Christian use – like many examples around the whole Italy, the most visible is the Pantheon in Rome.

The Baptistery has been reconstructed and renovated during the centuries, decorated with expensive white and green marble and beautified by three bronze doors graven with bas-reliefs representing scenes of the Old and New Testaments.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiori, in Italy called “Duomo” (that means “house” understood as the “house of God” and “house of people”), dates back the early Renaissance period, between the 14th and the 15th centuries. Its rich architecture and decoration has been made little by little in time, and nowadays what you see is a beautiful patchwork of white, green and rose marble sculptures and finishing touches. Paintings, sculptures and chapels represent the creativity of many Tuscan artists that have given their contribution to create this wonder. Its 44 coloured glass windows constitutes one of the most important whole of stained glass work in Tuscany.

There is much more to say about Florence Cathedral: Brunelleschi’s Dome and Giotto’s bell tower are the most famous work of these Florentine masters. Actually, the bell tower has begun by Giotto on the 1334, but continued by Andrea Pisano and finished in 1359 by Francesco Talenti, who created the large windows. You can climb up the tower and have an incredible panoramic view over the center of Florence!

The famous Brunelleschi’s Dome can be noticed from everywhere in Florence, there are many belvedere where to admire the beauty of this town, like from the Boboli gardens, from example. The peculiar creativity and intelligence required to build this Dome became famous. To support the weight of all tiles Brunelleschi and his staff needed to invent a structure based on balance principals that could keep the Dome up. And the interior of the Dome is a also an amazing mosaic work.

In Florence there is so much to do, so many monuments and museums to visit, so many street markets and outdoor shopping that I understand you will remain indecisive. But don’t worry, walk around, enjoy!

If you are particularly interested to visit the museums, book with much advance or be prepared to face long lines! Have a look below on some Museum tips. They are at the same time important buildings located in this UNESCO recognised heritage of mankind.

Palazzo Vecchio – represents the political center and symbol of Florence, dates back the 13th century and has been the Florentine lordship head office during the 15th century, period really important for Florence when its was the capital city of the Tuscan Grand Duchy. You will be able to visit the frescoed rooms of famous artists like Ghirlandaio, Francesco Salviati Il Bronzino and Vasari. Moreover, it contains important sculpture master pieces from the Renaissance like the Genio della Vittoria from Michelangelo and the bronze complex of Giuditta e Oloferne from Donatello.

Galleria dell’Accademia – very popular for the presence of Michelangelo’s sculptures like the Prigioni, San Matteo and David. From two old convents, the Gallery has extracted its rooms that contain important works of many Tuscan artists, mainly paintings of religious subject of different historic periods, from the 1200’s to the end of the 1500’s.

Galleria degli Uffizi – located beside Palazzo Vecchio, is one of the most famous museums in the world. It picks up a collection of paintings from the 1300’s to the Renaissance, with works from the most famous artists, just to mention a few: Leornardo da Vinci, Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Beato Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Raffaello, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. Moreover, the collection is enriched by foreigners artists like Dürer, Rembrandt and Rubens. The building is an art work itself, projected by Vasari and raised between 1560 e il 1580 by the will of Tuscany Grand Duke Francesco I from the Medici.

Palazzo Pitti – it used to be the residence of Tuscan Grand Dukes and later, even the king of Italy (1860 – 1919). It comprises many Galleries that contain important painting and sculpture collections. Each gallery coincide to a different part of the building, used in the past to host important characters of Florentine and Italian history. They are called: Galleria Palatina, Galleria d’Arte Moderna and Galleria del Costume. Then you have the Museum of Silver and the Museum of Porcelain. And to conclude your special tour of Palazzo Pitti, behind the building you can visit the fabulous Giardino di Boboli (Boboli Garden).

This small article obviously doesn’t exhaust everything there is to say about Florence, but it can give you a simple idea of a tour in Florence. Walking around its streets you will find street markets, Italian fashion shops, souvenirs and local products shops. The market of San Lorenzo, open every day around San Lorenzo church is particularly famous for the local leather products.

The Arno river crosses Florence, surrounded by the Florentine style Neoclassical buildings. This river has historic importance, tracing the born of important cities from the Roman times. It rises at the Casentino Mountains, on the north of Arezzo then  flows down to Florence and crosses the whole city and goes on, passing through Pisa and outfalls at the Tirrenian sea. The river Arno have determinated the grouth of these 3 important Tuscan cities and many satellite towns.

Don't miss a walk along the Lungarno and through its peculiar bridges. The most famous and romantic bridge at Florence is certainly Ponte Vecchio. Its known by the ancient goldsmith's art and nowadays you will find the greatest pieces of jewelry designed by artists that pass this knowledge from generation to generation.

What about the Churches? There are so many not only Catholic but also Ortodox and Protestant churches. Obviously the older and more numerous are the Catholic churches, following the Italian standard. To mention some of the most interesting: Santa Croce - a Franciscan church and convent that dates back to the 1294, probably projected by the same architect of Palazzo Vecchio. More examples: San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella and San Marco church and monastery, now is a museum.

Florence is also a very busy city, full of concerts, shows, theatre, cultural life, night life, good restaurants, cafes, gelaterias, art galleries and much more. But we can’t forget the tradition and the Tuscan folklore that is still preserved in the Florentine spirits.

Every year is full of cultural events and festivals: on April there is the "Carriage Bang" (Lo Scoppio del Carro); on May there is the Maggiolata (the month of the songs); on June happens the Calcio Fiorentino, a game with Ancient Greek origins; on August there is the San Lorenzo Festival (an event to celebrate the Saint Lawrence’s Day); and much more.

The façade of the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria Novella, that dates back to the 1200's, in Romanesque style. It marks the proximity to the central train and bus station at Florence; its thin and tall bell tower can be seen over the landscape beside the Dome of the Cathedral.

For more information, visit the official websites linked on this article, and have a nice stay!

Adriana Lucchesi for Tuscany - Villas .com

August 2007

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