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!
La Galleria dell' Accademia
Home to Michelangelo's David and the largest number of Michelangelo's sculptures in the world. The museum also holds paintings and sculptures from early Florentine artists and musical instruments from the Medici and Lorraine families and Grand Dukes of Tuscany.
Michelangelo's - The Prisoners
Variouos Florentine Artists
Michelangelo's - David
Pietro da Cortona's -
Ratto delle Sabine
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.
Uffizi Galleria
Uffizi Galleria and Vasari Corridor
Leonardo's - Annunciation
Botticelli's - Birth of Venus
Walk along the Ponte Vecchio Bridge and shop for gold jewelry or window browse the gold shops. Enjoy the view of the bridge at night with the locals along the Orno River while having a gelato. Notice the Vasari Corridor that runs atop of the shops.
Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio and Vasari Corridor
Palazzo Vecchio and Loggia della Signoria
is a city government building situated in the Piazza della Signoria which houses a museum known for its great medieval architecture. 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. The Loggia della Signoria is an outside sculpture museum situated in the Piazza della Signoria adjacent to the Palazzo Vecchio.
Palazzo Vecchio Museum
Loggia della Signoria
The Fontana del Porcellino is located 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.
Fontana del Porcellino
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.
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
Giotto's Campanile
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
Baptistery
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 and buy high end quality leather goods.
No worries if you don't want to splurge. You can visit San Lorenzo Market for less expensive leather goods from local street vendors where haggling is encouraged.
Santa Croce
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. Shop in the indoor section with the locals for spices, meats and fresh pasta to-go dishes made on the spot. For an authentic inexpensive Tuscan sandwich visit All'antico Vinaio. Definitely get buffalo mozzarella on your sandwich. You won't be disappointed. Mangia.
