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Florence was the first city in Europe to have paved streets and sidewalks. So, it is best to experience the city on foot, strolling down the narrow alleyways and cobblestone streets. A first stop might be the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge across the Arno River. The bridge dates from the 14th century and houses many shops that sell gold jewelry. Palazzi (palaces), piazze (open squares), churches, statues, and museums are some of the other sights awaiting the visitor.
From the Ponte Vecchio, one can walk to the Uffizi Gallery. One of the greatest museums in the world, the Uffizi offers masterpieces by Italian and other artists, including Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Francisco de Goya.
A short walk from the Uffizi is the spacious Piazza della Signoria, where one can see the proud Palazzo Vecchio. Built in the 1200's, the palace is now the town hall. Nearby, in the Piazza del Duomo, is Florence’s cathedral, called the Duomo, which is topped by a mighty dome. Next to the cathedral is the magnificent Campanile, or bell tower, designed by Giotto di Bondone, who is considered the father of Renaissance art. The tower is covered with white, green and pink marble tiles and stands 276 feet (84 meters) high.
Across from the Duomo is the eight-sided Baptistery of San Giovanni, with its white marble and fancy geometric decorations. The Baptistery, which dates from the 6th to the 12th century, is thought to be the oldest surviving building in Florence. It is famous for its bronze doors. On one door, the Florentine Lorenzo Ghiberti sculpted the Life of Christ, on another, scenes of the Old Testament.
Not far from the Baptistery is the Accademia Gallery, where visitors from all over the world come to see Michelangelo's giant statue of David, a symbol of Renaissance male beauty. The statue took three years to complete and stands 14' 3 " feet tall (4.4 meters).
Children like to visit Florence's Institute and Museum of the History of Science, where they can see the compass, celestial spheres, and telescopes used by Galileo Galilei to transform Renaissance astronomy.
Florence's most famous park is the Boboli Gardens, which offers beautiful flowers and hundreds of fountains and statues. The Boboli Gardens served as a model for many of Europe's royal gardens, including Versailles in France. Florence's Iris Garden has more than 2,500 varieties of irises, the flower that has symbolized the city since 1251.
One of the most respected libraries in Italy, the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale is located in Florence. It is second in size only to the National Library in Rome. Young people from all over Italy, as well as international students, come to Florence to study. Founded in 1321, the University of Florence is one of the largest in the world, with 60,000 students and over 2,000 professors.
Many visitors to Florence arrive at the Santa Maria Novella train station in the center of the city; others land at Vespucci Airport. It is possible to get around Florence by bus, especially from the train station; taxis are also available. |
Florence guide
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