Living There
Florence is one of the few places where you needn’t go specifically to explore the sights and interesting objects, because, in fact, the whole city itself is one big attraction.
This small town has played a significant role in the world history of art. After all, this is the place where the Renaissance flourished. If you travel around Tuscany, make sure you come to stay in Florence for at least one day to enjoy strolling down its streets and discovering the masterpieces that are found there on every corner. But before you set off to Florence, check out a short review below on the places you definitely need to see there.
Piazza della Signoria
This gorgeous and famous Italian square is immortalized in millions of tourists’ photographs all around the world. People love coming there to enjoy the beauty and harmony.
Piazza della Signoria, in fact, used to be the part of Florence, where rich houses and towers belonging to the fraction of Guelphs and Ghibellines were located. When the Ghibellines lost the battle with the Guelphs and their houses were destroyed, this place became recognized as “the curse of the land”, and it was forbidden to build anything there.
The area became the center of civil, political and social integration of citizens, but today it is a jewel of art and architecture. You can also see at the square such famous sights as Palace Vecchio, and the Fountain of Neptune.
Palazzo Vecchio
For over 9 centuries the old palace located at Piazza della Signoria has been the most important civic institution in Florence. Its powerful, but at the same time graceful battlements, 94-meters high tower with a clock and a sculpture of David by Michelangelo are famous worldwide.
Palazzo Vecchio was decorated by the most famous Italian masters, such as Michelangelo, Vasari, Leonardo da Vinci and Ghirlandaio. The halls of the palace are decorated with many ancient frescoes and sculptures, and in one of them the violins of Stradivarius and Amati are kept.
Museo Nazionale del Bargello
The building is now owned by the National Museum of Bargello. At various times it served as a barracks, a seat of the Florentine judge and a prison. The today’s art collection is the most valuable one in Italy and includes the famous sculpture of XIV-XVI centuries, including works by Michelangelo, Benvenuto Cellini, Giambologna and many other Italian masters. Externally the palace with its high turrets and battlements reminds a fortress. The elegance of its appearance is provided by airy arches and amazing windows of the unique shape.
Campanile di Giotto
The bell tower with its rich sculptural decoration and colored marble inlays, designed by Giotto, is a Florentine Gothic masterpiece. You may climb the tower to enjoy the great views of Florence.
The height of Campanile is 85 meters, so be ready to climb over four hundred steps to get to the top of it. There are 7 bells at the top of the tower. Want to know why? Because the Italians are very fond of the number “7”, and believe that it symbolizes human perfection.
Ponte Vecchio
This unusual stone bridge crossing the Arno River is so old that remembers even the Roman times. The history of the Ponte Vecchio is very long: it was many times washed away by the floods, and afterwards it was reconstructed to be destroyed again and again. In the XV century the numerous butchers were replaced to the bridge away from noble mansions and administrative palaces.
Since there were lots of butchers in the city and the bridge was not big in length it was rapidly expanded. So this is how the bridge got the appearance we can see today. The only difference is that you won’t see the butchers there anymore, but there are expensive jewelries instead.
Galleria degli Uffizi
The worldwide-renowned Museum of Fine Arts, the Uffizi Gallery, is situated between Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria. The history of the gallery began in the XVI century, when the city ruler decided to place the whole city administration next to each other, in the Uffizi Palace, which was specifically constructed for that. However, in the course of time, the Italians known for their love to the beauty and art have decorated even such a serious institution with paintings and sculptures.
Owing to the donations from patrons and artists the collection on the walls and in the bays of the building was expanding, and by the XVIII century the place became the first public museum in the city, which is currently a world-wide known attraction.
Palazzo Pitti
Once this majestic building served as the residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany and King of Italy, when he paid important state visits to the city. Nowadays, the Pitti Palace is a magnificent museum complex, where valuable collections of paintings and sculptures, costumes, silverware and porcelain are kept.
The famous Boboli Gardens, being one of the most striking examples of Italian garden art, also belong to the palace. At the large oval area in front of the building you may often observe travelers, students and artists reclining on the ground on a warm summer day.
In addition to the numerous attractions in the city itself, there are also many beautiful places in the suburbs of Florence. Therefore, if you have enough time you may rent a car at the airport and after exploring the city sights to go outside of Florence for new experiences. By checking out the review on Florence airport car rental deals you may quickly select the most suitable one that meets your requirements.
We hope that regardless of the availability of time for staying in Florence, your visit there will be interesting and full of fun. And even if you don’t manage to see all the sights of Florence, do not despair, because simply strolling along the streets is enough to appreciate the city’s beauty and grandeur.
Author Bio: Lily Berns is an avid writer and traveler from Europe. She uses every chance she gets to travel around the world with friends and family
