Florence
Firenze, the birthplace of the Renaissance is located in the Italian region of Tuscany. Florence offers great Tuscan food, Chianti wine, gelato and is home to some of the most recognizable artwork in the world. One of my memorable experiences in Florence is walking under my umbrella on a drizzly night up the seemingly never ending cobblestone steps to Piazzale Michelangelo to see a bird's eye view of the city of Florence. I also lost my voice that night. The view of the Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, Duomo and Santa Croce in the Florentine background was well worth it!
TRANSPORTATION
How do I get from Amerigo Vespucci - Peretola airport to Florence? How do I get around Florence? How do I get to Florence by train?
Use Florence's public transportation system.
MUSEUM TICKETS
Purchase official tickets for all museums in Florence, Italy. - Uffizi, Accademia, Palazzo Pitti, Bargello, Giardino di Boboli... and more.
PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO
Take in a beautiful panaramic view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo.
UFFIZI GALLERIA
La Gallerie degli Uffizi in Florence houses some of the greatest artwork of Italian artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Botticelli, Giotto and Raffaello. The Uffizi, "offices" was initially intended to display the artwork of the Medici family but was later opened to the public as a museum.
ACCADEMIA GALLERIA
La Galleria dell' Accademia in Florence is home to Michelangelo's David.
PONTE VECCHIO and VASARI CORRIDOR
Walk along the Ponte Vecchio Bridge by day and shop for gold jewelry or window browse the gold shops. Enjoy the view of the bridge at dusk with the locals along the Orno River while enjoying a gelato. Notice the Vasari Corridor that runs atop of the shops.
PALAZZO VECCHIO
City government building situated in the Piazza della Signoria which houses a museum known for its great medieval architecture.
PIAZZA della SIGNORIA
A copy of Michelangelo's David and Bandinelli's Hercules and Cacus is one of several statues that line the square where tourists gather daily to take in the sights.
LOGGIA della SIGNORIA
An outside sculpture museum situated in the Piazza della Signoria adjacent to the Palazzo Vecchio.
FONTANA del PORCELLINO
The Fontana del Porcellino is ocated in the Mercato Nuovo. Visitors will put a coin into the boar's jaw and hope that it falls through the grate below for good luck and they rub the snout to ensure a return trip to Florence.
DUOMO of FLORENCE, BRUNELLESCHI'S DOME and GIOTTO'S CAMPANILE
Located in the Piazza del Duomo, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore is the main icon of Florence attached with Brunelleschi's Dome and Giotto's Campanile with an adjacent Baptistery.
SANTA CROCE and LEATHER SCHOOL
The Basilica of Santa Croce is the final resting place for Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo and a few others. In the back of the Santa Croce church is the Scuola del Cuoio where you can watch the craftsmanship of the master artisans working with fine leather.
SAN LORENZO MARKET and MERCATO CENTRALE
San Lorenzo Market has an outdoor section and an indoor section Mercato Centrale. Bargain for leather goods and shop for souvenirs in the outdoor section. Most importantly, be courteous, respectful and have fun. Eat where the locals eat and shop for local ingredients in the indoor section.
