Florence is one of the most famous cities in Italy, particularly well-known for its rich history and cultural and artistic heritage. It is one of the most visited cities in the world.
The city is quite unique and special, offering visitors a richness in history, art, culture and architecture unlike that found anywhere else.
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Florence and Tuscany
The city of Florence is in the heart of Tuscany, in an ideal position for anyone wishing to visit the main areas of interest within the region. Using Florence as a starting point, you can quickly and easily reach Siena, Pisa, Lucca and Arezzo, to name just a few of the major artistic and cultural cities in Tuscany.
Florence and its history
These are some of the main historical events in Florence's history:
- Florence was founded around 59 B.C. by Romans with the name of Florentia.
- Formation of the first Comune (the city-state) in which Florence is run by a 100-strong assembly.
- Between the 12th and 14th centuris Florence is caught in the struggles between the Guelphs (supporters of the Pope) and the Ghibellines (supporters of the Emperor).
- In 1424, Florence is ruled by Cosimo "the Elder" de' Medici at the head of the Signoria.
- Between the 15th and middle of 16th centuries Florence is the "cradle of the Renaissance", a period of great artistic and cultural splendor.
- In 1569, Tuscany becomes a Grand Duchy. Cosimo I de' Medici is named the Grand Duke of Tuscany by Pope Pius V and the members of the Medici family passed down the title for the next two centuries.
- Once the Medici family died out, the Lorraine family ruled over the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
- In 1861, Tuscany was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.
- From 1865 to 1871 Florence was the capital of Italy.
The Historical Center of Florence
Florence's historical center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. This certainly is not a surprise, as anyone who walks down the streets of Florence can admire historical squares and buildings, ancient churches, beautiful monuments and much more with every step.
Visiting the center of Florence one truly can have the sensation on being in an open-air museum!
Among Florence's churches, the most important aside from its size, is the beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, also commonly referred to as the Duomo of Florence. Construction of the cathedral began at the end of the 13th century by Arnolfo di Cambio. Giotto designed the bell tower and Brunelleschi designed and supervised the construction of the famous dome that can be seen from anywhere in Florence.
Another of the main symbols of the city of Florence is the famous Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, that crosses over the Arno, the main river in Tuscany.
Piazza della Signoria is one of the main squares of the city, where you can admire a copy of Michelangelo's David (the original is in the Accademia Gallery museum) and Neptune's Fountain, by Ammanati, which symbolizes the Medici's maritime ambitions.
Palazzo Vecchio stands tall overlooking Piazza della Signoria, and is still today the home of Florence's city government. The Palazzo houses the majestic Salone dei Cinquecento, the assmbly hall for the city's five hundred members general council. The hall is adorned with frescoes by Vasari and by Michelangelo's Genius of Victory marble statue.
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The main museums in Florence
Florence's most famous and visited museum is the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important in the world. The Uffizi houses priceless masterpieces of art such as Cimabue's and Giotto's Majesties and the Primavera and Birth of Venus by Botticelli, to name just a few of the museum's most famous masterpieces.
The Accademia Gallery also hosts many important works of art, among these Michelangelo's David and Prisoners.
The Basilica of San Lorenzo and its Medici Chapels, where the remains of Medici family rest, should also be visited. The Medici Chapels include the New Sacristy, where Michelangelo created the sculptures of the allegories of "Dawn and Dusk" and "Night and Day" for the sepulchres of Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino, and Giuliano, Duke of Nemours. Here also is the tomb of Lorenzo the Magnificent.
Accommodation in Florence
Florence, as the main city in Tuscany, offers many different types of accommodation and is the perfect base for day trips to other towns in Tuscany. From hotels, bed and breakfasts, apartments and even farmhourses, Florence welcomes visitors both in the historical center where all of the main attractions are steps away as well as in the surrounding Florentine hills for anyone wishing a more relaxed, tranquil setting but still close enough to hop on a bus or taxi and enjoy the city's sights.
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