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Information About Florence

There is so much to see and do in Florence that it would be impossible to describe it all – a good guide book is essential and will help you take in the full beauty of the city, its unique atmosphere and incredible history, culture and architecture. It is said that 60% of the world’s most important art treasures are in Italy, and half of those in Florence.
Try not to suffer from Stendhal syndrome however – the condition of being overcome to the point of passing out due to having to take in so many famous, unique and beautiful works of art. (Apparently a dozen or so people a year are treated for it by the city’s medics)

A car is not a good idea in Florence. The whole of the centre is pedestrianised, and it is so easy to get around on foot that you really do not need your car. There are lots of landmarks so you shouldn’t get lost. Leave your car in the car park in Fortezza da Basso or Piazzale Michelangelo and walk down. (By the way, parking in Piazzale Michelangelo IS free – occasionally some unscrupulous people are about, looking official with tickets and bags, don’t pay them!)

If you are only there for a short time, the must-sees are;


Piazza del Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore)

Surrounded by buskers and street artists, the Duomo was begun in the 1290s and took nearly 150 years to complete. The Duomo itself is a remarkable achievement, the only Italian cathedral that you can walk right around, and it’s beautiful exterior of green, white and pink marble, along with it’s Campanile (bell-tower) and Bapistry will amaze you by its size and beauty.
Brunelleschi won a public competition to design the dome itself. You can climb up inside the dome – not for the unfit – and the views of Florence are unbeatable.
The Campanile (bell-tower) was designed by Giotto and you can also climb this.
The Baptistry was built on the site of a Roman temple. Dante was baptised here. The Baptistry is particularly famous for its huge bronze doors, especially its Eastern doors, the Gates of Paradise, built by Ghiberti and depicting scenes from the Old Testament.


Ponte Vecchio

The stunning Ponte Vecchio was built in the 14th century and originally was the site of the city’s butcher shops– leftovers were thrown into the Arno - until Ferdinando 1 de’ Medici objected to the smell. Ever since then it has housed a glittering row of gold jewellery shops. The bridge was the only one of Florence’s bridges to survive bombing in World War II.

Uffizi Gallery

In the building which originally was the seat of the city’s administrators and judiciary, the Uffizi Gallery now houses the world’s greatest collection of Italian and Florentine art. Up to 1.5 million visitors a year visit the gallery to see great works by artists including Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Piero della Francesca, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Tintoretto, Rubens, Van Dyck, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Canaletto and Goya.
But be warned, queues are always very long and it is often impossible to get in unless you buy your tickets in advance. You can book tickets in advance on (00 39) 055 29 48 83.


L’ Accademia – Michelangelo’s David

There are several copies of Michelangelo’s famous David around the city, including one in Piazzale Michelangelo and one in the Piazza della Signoria. The real one is in the Accademia gallery, along with many other great works of art by Florentine artists of the 13th to 16th centuries.
Michelangelo created David out of a single block of white marble, at the age of only 29.


Piazza della Signoria

The Piazza della Signoria is crowded with breathtaking sculptures including Ammannati’s great Fountain of Neptune (filmed in Room with a View) and a copy of Michelangelo’s David.
The Loggia della Signoria was built in the late 14th century as a platform for public ceremonies and eventually became a showcase for sculptures including Cellini’s statue of Perseus holding the head of Medusa, and Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabine Women.
The Palazzo Vecchio is found in the piazza, with its wonderful mediaeval tower, and the Uffizi is just off the Piazza.


Santa Croce

This fascinating church was begun in 1294 on the site of a Franciscan chapel and the façade and bell tower were added in the 19th century.
The church houses the graves and cenotaphs of many famous Florentines including Michelangelo, Dante, Machiavelli, Rossini and Gallileo. There are frescoes, crucifixes and other works of art by Giotto, Donatello and Brunelleschi, who designed the Duomo’s stunning dome.
The piazza in front of the church is the setting for the annual football match which has taken place there since 1530. Originally there were 4 teams – the verdi, rossi, bianchi and azzurri, which represented the 4 districts of Florence – S. Giovanni, Santa Maria Novella, Santo Spirito and Santa Croce and the game continued until the 18th century. In 1930 the tradition began again and there are now three games a year between the end of June (S. Giovanni’s day – patron saint of Florence) and the beginning of July. The game is a mixture of football, rugby and wrestling and often turns into a big fistfight with the referee desperately trying to keep control…

Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens

The Pitti family were a wealthy merchant family, great rivals of the Medici family, who began building the Pitti Palace in 1458. It now houses four museums including the Galleria Palatina where you'll find Raphael, Tintoretto and Rubens. Major exhibitions and fashion shows also take place here.
Don't miss the magnificent gardens - the Boboli Gardens - the biggest green space in the centre of Florence, with statues, fountains, grottoes lurking round every corner. A lovely place to relax, stroll and shade from the heat and get away from the bustling city centre for an hour or two.


MARKETS

SAN LORENZO The outdoor market sells everything from fashion, leather, bags, jewellery and gifts, while the indoor market sells a mouthwatering array of food - fish, meat, salami, fruit and vegatables,

IL PORCELLINO (MERCATO NUOVO) Commonly called il Porcellino (piglet) after the bronze statue there, (it's said if you rub its snout, you will one day return to Florence) here you'll find lace, leather, gifts, stationery and crafts.

FLEA MARKET In Piazza dei Ciompi, off Borgo Allegri. Antiques and bric-a-brac.

Related Links:
   Guide to the sites and art of Florence

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