Florence

Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy, was established by Julius Caesar in 59 BC. It is widely considered to be the birthplace of the Renaissance, having given rise to renowned artists, sculptors, philosophers and scientists like Michelangelo, Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante and Galileo.

The city is filled with architectural and artistic treasures including the Florence Cathedral, whose dome was the architectural triumph of Filippo Brunelleschi, the golden Gates of Paradise in the Baptistry of Florence designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti, the statue of David, one of the masterpieces of Michelangelo, and the countless works of art by renaissance painters like Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, Caravaggio and Michelangelo in the world-famous Uffizi Gallery.

Florence was ruled for several years by the Medici family, and their stamp is found all over the city, from the Palazzo Vecchio and the Palazzo Pitti, to the Vasari corridor that was constructed to connect these two palaces, and several other architectural and artistic achievements. From 1865 to 1871, the city also served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.

Today, Florence is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. In addition to its historical, architectural, and artistic treasures, the city exudes an irresistible, romantic atmosphere, with its charming alleyways, and excellent bars and restaurants serving fabulous Tuscan and international cuisine.

Destinations

Key sights to see

Florence Cathedral

Florence Cathedral, officially known as Santa Maria del Fiore (the Virgin of the Flower), was designed in 1296 but only completed in 1436, when Filippo Brunelleschi found a way to build the cathedral's world famous dome and cupola. The Florence Cathedral complex, located in Piazza del Duomo, includes the Baptistery of St. John, and the Campanile. Visitors can climb up to the top of the duomo for a spectacular view of the city.

Basilica di Santa Croce

The Basilica di Santa Croce is the principal Franciscan church in Florence and the largest Franciscan church in the world. It is most famous for being the burial site for Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini, and Galileo. There is also a memorial to Dante, but his sarcophagus is empty. Construction of the current church, with its sixteen chapels, began on May 12, 1294, possibly by Arnolfo di Cambio. It was consecrated in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV.

Galleria dell’Accademia

The Galleria dell'Accademia is the second most visited museum in Florence after the Uffizi Gallery. Opened in 1784, the museum has become famous worldwide for housing Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David. This white-marble sculpture, sculpted between 1501 and 1504 stands 5,17 meters tall and represents David before his fight with Goliath. The gallery also has several other sculptures by Michelangelo, and several paintings by other artists.

The Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi is one of the world's most famous art galleries. It is particularly known for some absolute masterpieces from Renaissance era artists like Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Beato Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo, Raffaello, Caravaggio and Michelangelo. The gallery also boasts a rich collection of statues and busts from the Medici family's collection.

Palazzo Vecchio

In 1540, Duke Cosimo I de'Medici moved his official seat to the Palazzo Vecchio, known at the time as the Palazzo della Signoria. Today the Palazzo is a famous museum, and the town hall of Florence. A copy of Michelangelo's famous David statue is installed in front of the entrance to the Palazzo. The original David was installed here in 1504 and was only moved to the Galleria dell'Accademia in 1873 to protect it from the elements.

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio (old bridge), one of the most iconic bridges in the world, is a medieval stone segmental arch bridge over the Arno river. In 1565, Cosimo I de'Medici had Giorgio Vasari construct the Vasari corridor to connect the Palazzo Vecchio through the Uffizi, to the Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the river. After the construction, butchers and tanners were not allowed to occupy the shops on the bridge, and these were taken over by jewelers and goldsmiths.

Palazzo Pitti

Dating back to around 1458, the Palazzo Pitti gets its name from its first inhabitant, Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker. The palace was purchased in 1549 by Cosimo I de’ Medici to serve as the new Grand Ducal residence. After the Medicis, the palace served as a royal residence for the House of Lorraine-Habsburg (which succeeded the Medici from 1737), and later as a power base for Napoleon. Today, the Palace is divided into four museums.

Piazza della Repubblica

Piazza della Repubblica is one of the main squares in Florence and marks the center of the city since Roman times. The Colonna della Dovizia, also known as the Column of Abundance, marks the point where the Roman forum once stood. The current appearance of the square is a result of the city planning that occurred from 1865-71, when Florence was the capital of a reunited Italy. The square is filled with excellent restaurants, shops and a merry go round.

Florence

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