Florence: history,
art and culture

Dedicated to Christ’s mother, protectress of the city, the Cathedral is the outcome of the extraordinary work of various artists who collaborated on its construction and decoration during the centuries. The Brunelleschi dome of the cathedral is a masterpiece of the artist. He projected it and built it between 1420 and 1434.

Florence’s main square, headquarters of the civil power and heart of the city’s social life. With its particular L shape, it is considered one of the most picturesque squares in Italy and includes Palazzo Vecchio, the Loggia dei Lanzi and Neptune’s Fountain.

Florence Cathedral’s bell tower stands majestically in Piazza del Duomo (Duomo square). Giotto began building it in 1334.

The baptistery stands in front of Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore and it is dedicated to Saint John, the patron saint of the city. It has an octagonal map, typical of baptisteries, and its three bronze doors depict biblical stories. Inside, one can admire amazing mosaics, sculptures and marble or granite ornaments.

One of the largest Franciscan churches and one of the greatest gothic buildingsin Italy. Some of the most eminent Italian personalities are buried here, such as Michelangelo Buonarroti, Galileo Galilei, Niccolò Machiavelli, Vittorio Alfieri, Ugo Foscolo and Gioacchino Rossini, which is why it is also called “the temple of the Italian Glories”.

This church is in the historical center of Florence. Originally, it was part of the great complex of the convent of San Marco, where many of the most important fifteenth-century personalities of spirituality and culture used to live and operate.

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is a magnificent museum comprised of the Gallery of the Statues and Paintings, the Corridor of Vasari and the collections of Palazzo Pitti. Together, the three galleries represent one of the most important museums in the world for number and quality of artworks.

Built in 1345, it is an iconic symbol of Florence and one of the most famous bridges in the world. It crosses the Arno River and its promenade is flanked on both sides by small artisan workshops.

Since Roman times this square has been one of the most important meeting points in the city. After year 1000, it started hosting the market, defining the public space for trades and distinguishing from Piazza del Duomo, dedicated to religious affairs, and Piazza della Signoria, dedicated to political and civil affairs.

One of the most outstanding Renaissance palaces in Italy. It was built at the behest of Filippo Strozzi, a rich merchant belonging to one of the wealthiest families in Florence, traditionally opposed to the Medici family.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, benchmark of the Dominican Order, is one of the most important churches in Florence and is located in the square of the same name. Its marble façade is among the most renowned work of the Florentine Renaissance.

Located in Florence’s historic center, in the square of the same name, it is one of the city’s most ancient churches. Nearby is the popular San Lorenzo market.

The Medicean Chapels, partly designed by Michelangelo, were built between the 16^th and 17^th centuries as extensions to the Basilica of San Lorenzo to celebrate the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. The Medici family is buried here.

The fourth most visited museum in Italy, it exhibits the largest number of Michelangelo’s sculptures in the world, including the famous David. The Galleria hosts other artwork, such as the largest collection of golden-background paintings in the world and the Museum of musical instruments.

During the centuries, Palazzo Pitti was the residence of mighty families, such as Medici, Asburgo and Savoia. Today the palace hosts various museums, such as the Galleria Palatina (which features masterpieces by Raffaello and Tiziano), the Royal Apartments, the Modern Art Gallery, the Museum of Fashion and the Museum of Porcelain. Also, the Boboli Gardens is part of Palazzo Pitti.

Boboli Gardens are a historical park in Florence and extend over 11 acres. The Medici family started building it in the 16th century. It is one of the most beautiful parks in Italy, welcoming more than 800.000 visitors every year. Boboli Gardens represent the most renowned example of Italian garden in the world and they host an extraordinary collection of sculptures from the Roman times to the 18^th century.

The 13th century church houses a cycle of frescos in the Brancacci Chapel, a fundamental Renaissance artwork, decorated by Masaccio and Masolino and later completed by Filippino Lippi.

The most famous panoramic viewpoint over Florence, a “must see” destination for tourists visiting the city. It was built, starting from 1869, by the architect Giuseppe Poggi on a hill just south of the historic city center, as part of regeneration work on the left bank of the River Arno. From that year on Florence became the capital of Italy and, for this reason, the whole city was engaged in urban renewal – the so-called Regeneration period.

The Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, dedicated to the city’s first martyr, is located at one of the highest points in the City of Florence and is one of the masterpieces of Florentine Romanesque architecture.

Medieval and Renaissance statues and reliefs in marble, bronze and silver created by major artists of the time. Here, you can admire masterpieces by Arnolfo, Ghiberti, Donatello, Luca della Robbia, Antonio Pollaiolo, Verrocchio and Michelangelo.