A Guide To Holidays In Florence

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
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Florence is a beautiful Italian Renaissance city, situated in the heart of Tuscany. There is plenty to see and do here, including some of the best museums in Italy, some stunning cathedrals, and many interesting buildings and shops. Most of the attractions are within Florences compact city centre.

Piazza della Signoria is the most famous square in Florence, having been the political centre of the city since the middle ages. Here you can find the Palazzo Vecchio, which is a medieval town hall, which contains several extravagant public and private rooms. There is also an open air sculpture exhibit on the square, including a cast of Michelangelos David, and several cafes and restaurants.

Il Duomo, or to give its official title, the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore, is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world, and is full of renaissance era masterpieces. However, the main point of interest here is the massive dome, which took nearly 150 years to complete.

The eleventh century Baptistery of John the Baptist is one of the oldest buildings in Florence. It features a green and white marble exterior, ...
... and features three sets of astonishing bronze doors and several stunning mosaics, including a marble pavement showing the signs of the zodiac.

The Campanile, which means bell tower, is in Piazza del Duomo. It is usually called Giottos Campanile, due to the fact that the first storey was designed by the legendary renaissance master, Giotto. For a small fee, you can climb all 414 stairs of the bell tower for a stunning view of the city and the Duomo.

Ponte Vecchio, which means old bridge, was built in 1345 and was the first bridge to be built across the Arno River. It is also the only remaining medieval bridge in Florence, as all the others were destroyed in World War II. There are some great views of the Arno river and beyond to be had from the bridge, and there are many shops selling jewellery along the bridge.

If you do not mind fighting the crowds, The Galleria degli Uffizi is a must see for any fans of renaissance art. It contains some of the most famous works of the renaissance by artists such as Botticelli, da Vinci, Raphael, Giotto and Michelangelo. Book ahead to avoid long queues.

The Galleria dell Academia is a major renaissance art museum that contains many masterpieces, including Michelangelos David, which is probably the most famous sculpture in the world. There is also an interesting collection of renaissance era musical instruments that used to belong to the illustrious Medici family. This Florence tourist guide was written by Bonny Kominek. For great deals on Florence hotels, visit the Octopus Travel website.