Travel & Leisure Facts and Notes

Florence, well-known as Firenze in Italian is the capital of Tuscany which is an area of Italy. It is thought to be one of the most stunning cities in the world. Florence is located in the centre of hills and mountains and is known for attractive architecture on the credit of some of the great masters like Leonardo, Dante, Machiavelli, and Michelangelo.

While you are in Florence, don’t forget to you visit a number of museums, of which the most famed is the Uffizi. This is considered to be one of the world’s best fine art museums. It has a enormous collection of paintings together with some by Boticelli as well. There are generally long queues of people to get into the museum, so try to get an advance reservation through the website.

The Bargello exhibits some of the best examples of Renaissance sculptures in the world. You are able to see the sculptures by Michelangelo, Donatello, and others in this Museum. The Accademia Gallery should not be missed with Michelangelo’s David being on display. Other museums that are considered to be the must see include the Pitti Palace, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, and the Institute and Museum of the History of Science.

Sights to see include the Duomo de Firenze also known as Santa Maria del Fiore, which is a beautiful cathedral. The dome is an architectural marvel and there is a statue of Brunelleschi in the Piazza looking up at his dome. You can also climb inside the dome to really understand how big it is and get some great views of the surrounding areas. You should also visit Giotto’s Tower next to the Duomo where you can get a 360-degree view of the area. There is also the Pallazo Vecchio which is the old city hall and is decorated with works of art.

The Ponte Vecchio, the most famous bridge over the Arno, and is the oldest as well. In fact it is the only bridge that survived World War II. It has shops along its sides, mostly jewelers and makes for a very nice walk.

You can also rent a bike and take a ride elsewhere out of the city if you are worn-out of all the buildings and want some rustic charm. Tuscany is a stunning region and you don’t need to go far-off to find a hill, but be ready to have to use your power to go over the hilly routes. You might also think of going through the Boboli Gardens which are behind the Piti Palace and contains attractive sights of the city. Furthermore there are street performers by the Uffizi that will keep you amused for quite a while if you decide to hang out in a caf.

The Piazzale Michelangelo, a square on a hill, is also a well known place to spend some time. You can make it through the Rampe di San Niccolo. You can go there whenever you want during the day or at night to enjoy the night lights of the city as this provides a great view point.

Florence is a gorgeous city filled with magnificently inspirational architecture and history all around. Be positive of the fact that you have enough time to tour all historic museums to in reality get an understanding about the Renaissance and the great masters of the time.