The best things to do in Florence
The capital of Tuscany and the former capital of the Italian Republic of Florence is a very ancient city, founded in 59 BC. e. by Julius Caesar. It is Florence that is considered the place where the Renaissance was born. Here lived such outstanding figures of that period as Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio. Florence is called a museum city since there are a large number of unique works of art. The symbol of the city is the sculpture "David" by Michelangelo. Also here are the works of Benvenuto Cellini, Donatello, Giambolonia, and others. Florence is conveniently located, has an airport and excellent train connections. The best time to visit Florence is March-May and September-October. Here is a list of the best things to do in Florence if you decide to visit this beautiful Italian city.
Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most famous museums in the world, thanks to the huge number of unique works of art stored in it. The gallery is located in a magnificent building designed by Giorgio Vasari specifically for the Medici dynasty. Construction work began in 1560 and was completed only twenty years later. Located in the heart of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery has great paintings of prominent Italian artists. You will find there works of Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Rafael. The gallery has pieces of art from different centuries, but most of them relate to the period from 12 to 17 centuries.
Piazza Signoria
Signoria Square has been the main square of Florence since ancient times. Previously, the Holy Inquisition held bonfires and executions here. Located in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza Signoria has many interesting sculptures - from David by Michelangelo to Judith and Holofernes by Donatello. There is also a stone with a scratched human profile behind the sculpture. According to legend, Michelangelo left him here, saying that he could carve a portrait of a man who was about to be hung in the square. By the way, almost all the sculptures in Signoria Square are copies. The exception is only the "Perseus" of Cellini.
Palazzo Vecchio
The former Signoria Palace, now named Palazzo Vecchio, is probably the most luxurious building in Florence. Built at the turn of the 13-14th centuries, the palace is an architectural pearl itself. It has breathtaking interiors filled with unique paintings and sculptures. Indeed, Palazzo Vecchio is a must-visit place in Florence. The 94-meter high Arnolfo Tower deserves special attention. It was built in 1314 on the site of the more ancient tower of La Vacco.In the XV century it served as a place of detention for special persons. Now Arnolfo Tower is a real decoration of Signoria Square. It offers amazing views of the nearby areas of Florence.
Michelangelo’s David
Statue of David created by Michelangelo Buonarroti is situated in the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts (Galleria dell’Accademia) in Florence. The sculpture is made of a monolithic block of valuable Carrara marble. Michelangelo’s David has a height of 5.17 meters and a weight of more than 6 tons. Michelangelo created the statue of David alone, without assistants, ans it took him more than two years of work. David was recognized as the standard of male beauty of the Renaissance and one of the most significant masterpieces of world art.
Academia Gallery
Florence has about a third of all the cultural values of Italy. However, if this city did not have this great Gallery, many treasures of world culture would be forever lost. The Academia Gallery in Florence is not just a museum where priceless paintings and the original “David” by Michelangelo are stored. This is a collection of the best examples of fine arts, which was created as an ideal teaching tool. In other words, in the halls of the Gallery collect the most perfect works of all times to inspire painters and sculptors to create new pieces of art.
Bus City Tour
One of the best solutions to visit Florence in a short time and see all the main attractions is a Bus City Tour. The Hop-on Hop-off bus offers convenient excursions on double-decker buses, during which you can visit the most important sites of Florence. Buses circulate along two lines called Line A and Line B. The first one will take you to all the most famous places, such as Piazza Torquato Tasso, Piazzale Donatello, Teatro Verdi, Basilica di Santa Croce, Piazzale Michelangelo, Galileo Museum and others. The second line of the bus goes to Piazza Mino. After getting a voucher, you can use the bus all day long, moving around the city.
Tuscan Countryside
Tuscany is an amazing region of Italy, which must be visited at least once in a lifetime. It occupies the central part of Italy and has access to the Tyrenian Sea. Florence is the main city of Tuscany. The main nine major centers of the region are Arezzo, Grossetto, Livorno, Massa Carrara, Lucca, Pisa, Prato, and Siena. There are many wineries and tourists visit Tuscan countryside to taste local wines and cuisine. This is where the famous Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine is produced. Tuscany also has numerous palazzo castles built in the mannerism style in the 16th century. In the famous wine city, Montepulciano, is situated the church of Chiesa di San Biagio.This chirch is built in the middle of the XVI century according to the project of Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio. In general, to visit the best places in Tuscany, it is better to travel around the region by car or book a guided tour with a departure from Florence.
Trip to Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre National Park (Parco nazionale delle Cinque Terre) is located on the west coast of Italy, in the Liguria region, province of La Spezia. The name of the park means "Five Lands" because it consists of five small towns located near the sea, among the mountains. You can get to the Cinque Terre from other cities in Italy by rail or by car. Such a tour from Florence will take about one day. During this time you can drive to the Cinque Terre, explore the coast and return to Florence.
Duomo
The most beautiful and popular attraction of Florence is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo di Firenze). It is a symbol of the capital of Tuscany. The tower of the cathedral rises 90 meters above the ground and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. The construction of the Duomo began in the 13th century, and the last works on the facade decoration were completed only by the end of the 19th century. The Duomo is open to tourists for a fee. Remember that the entrance to the Duomo is prohibited in inappropriate clothes. Shoulders and legs must be closed; sandals, hats, and sunglasses are also prohibited.
Bargello Museum
Bargello Castle, near Signoria Square, houses the first Italian Museum of the Art of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Since the 13th century, the building served as the residence of the head of the city administration and the chief judge of Florence, then it became the Palace of Justice and the prison. Prisoners were tortured in the basements; convicts were executed in the courtyard. Today Bargello Museum specializes in sculptures and decorative art. You can find there works by such famous Italian masters as Michelangelo, Tino da Camaino and others.
