Italy Travel Guide
Florence
Florence can be crowded, commercial and touristy but it is also the heart of the Renaissance and home to some of the finest art in the world. Florence lies in Tuscany, an area beloved by so many as the very epitome of Italy. Along with those other smaller but no less archetypal Renaissance towns of Siena and Pisa, Florence sits amongst 'dream' Italian countryside of rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves.
Florence was first established by the Romans in 59 BC and it soon rose in stature because of its position on the trade route of the Arno river. The city began its real rise to prominence in the 1200's as the merchant guilds grew in power but the golden age of Florence came with the arrival on the scene of the family Medici. The Medicis' held sway in the city - off and on - from the late 14th century to the end of the 18th. Much of their power was derived from banking skill combined with an empathy for the common man. It was under the patronage of the Medicis that city became a centre for art and culture in mid-millennium Europe. Giotto, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Botticelli all worked in Florence, producing the work that defined the period and even now keeps the Florentian tourist board busy.
Where to Go and What to See
If its Renaissance art that you are after then make a beeline for the Galleria degli Uffizi, a place where a flying visit would be a waste of time. This is one of the worlds greatest collections and to fully do it justice would take several weeks, however it is laid out in such a way that it is easy to pick out your favourites and concentrate on these. On the downside you will be expected to queue to get into the museum, prices are high, some rooms may be closed for restoration and you can only go one way round. Highlights include Botticellis 'Venus', Leonardos 'Adoration of the Magi' and Michelangelo's 'Holy Family'. Italian Renaissance artists aside there are also works from Van Dyck, Rubens, Reynolds, Valazquez and many others. Don't miss it.
Architecture buffs should head for the city's most stunning building, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (unsurprisingly often referred to as simply the Duomo). Building work on the vast marble structure began in 1296 it was consecrated in 1436 but 'final' flourishes were still being added in the 19th century. The chief highlight is the dome, which was designed by Brunelleschi.
On the same site is Giottos Bell Tower - the Campanile. Reckoned by many to be one of the worlds most elegant bell towers it required major work after Giotto's death to stop it from falling down. The view from the top, over the city to the Tuscan hills beyond is well worth the climb.
In front of the Duomo stands the Baptistry, the oldest building in Florence. Again a marble edifice, the baptistery is distinguished by its three sets of bronze doors each depicting Biblical scenes.
Due to the Medici fear of attack and invasion many of the 'Palazzo' have a fort-like appearance, no exception is the Museo Nazionale del Bargello. This museum contains notable statuary from, amongst others, Donatello and Michelangelo.
If after a hard days culture you want to wander to and fro talking of Michelangelo then the Boboli Gardens is the place to visit. Laid out in the 16th century, typically for Florence, the gardens are embellished by fountains, statues and from atop the Fortezza di Belvedere a full view of the city.
Michelangelo's 'David' is the centrepiece of the Galleria dell'Academia. This 'David' is the famous one, and overshadows all the other works of considerable merit exhibited here.
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