art fashion firenze

art fashion firenze

Florence, Italy - Something for Everyone

Welcome to Florence, Italy, rated the number one destination city for tourists worldwide. If you have only a few days, a week or more, there's plenty to keep you busy in Florence and its surroundings.

Florence, or Firenze in Italian, is located Italy in the heart of Tuscany Region in western Italy along the Arno River. That is 277 km north of Rome and 298 km south of Milan. It is the capital of the Region Tuscany and has a population of about 400,000 people, with approximately 200,000 more in the surrounding suburbs.

Florence is a unique repository art and architectural treasures, masterpieces of geniuses such as Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Cellini, Donatello, Fra Angelico, Ghiberti, Giotto, Raphael, and of course, Leonardo and Michelangelo.

The best time to visit Florence is in the spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October). June, July and August not only are the hottest months, but also the busiest months of the year. During this time, the streets of Florence are overrun, and the streets were not designed for mass tourism. Fighting the crowd tends to take a bit of joy to wander through the streets and can also be difficult to get tickets for attractions popular.

Getting to Florence
Most major airlines can be reached with just one stop. For more options, You can also fly to Pisa, 93 km west of Florence and take the train to travel from one hour to Florence. For most flight options, can fly Rome. The train trip from Rome is 2-3 hours depending on connections.

City Design
Florence is a city designed for walking to all major attractions in a compact area. The only problem, as I mentioned earlier, is that sidewalks are unbearably crowded in the summer.

Florence not divided into districts on how many cities are. Most locals refer to either the left bank or right bank of the Arno River and is about it. The following neighborhoods are really only focus on areas of a palace, a church or a square, are quite arbitrary, but give an idea of where the main attractions.

Centre could include the entire historic center of Florence, but mostly uses the term to describe the area southwest of the Cathedral. Via dei Tournabuoni Center is the city's most elegant shopping street.

Piazza del Duomo and its environs are dominated by the tricolor Duomo, one of the buildings largest in the Christian world.

Piazza della Signoria is home to most photographed law Florence, Loggia dei Lanzi, with Cellini's Perseus holding a severed Medusa.

Galleria degli Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio degla south is the civic heart of the city, known for its museums.

Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) area, located southwest of the Piazza della Signoria is the oldest bridge in Florence. Built in the Middle Ages was the center of the leather artisans, fishmongers and butchers.

Piazza Santa Maria Novella train station in the extreme northwest of downtown Florence. Thousands flock to this area to see Michelangelo whose tomb figures symbolic of the day and night are some of the most famous sculptures of all time.

Piazza Ognissanti is located southwest of the Piazza Santa Maria Novella. It is a fashionable Renaissance square overlooking the Arno River. Here is where two of the most legendary hotels of the city, the Grand and Excelsior.

Getting Around
Florence is perfect for walking. It is small and compact enough that walking is really the ideal way to travel. It also gives the opportunity to enjoy in all that Florence has to offer. When planning your business and exits to note that Florence has two numbering systems, one in the red and one in color numbers black. The red numbers identify commercial enterprises such as shops and restaurants. Black numbers identify office buildings, private homes, apartment buildings and hotels. Because street numbers are chaotic, the best is to cross streets and landmarks to some of the search for easier handling.

Top Things to See & Do
Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio - the most famous square of Florence is the Piazza della Signoria, the heart the historic center and an outdoor sculpture exhibition. The Loggia della Signoria has some important statues, including a copy of David by Michelangelo. Plazza Vecchio is the city of Florence. This massive, Tuscan Gothic fortress-palace is among the most impressive town halls of Tuscany. One of the most important public places Italy. The palace contains elaborately decorated public and private apartments. Around the square are cafes and restaurants.

Il Duomo Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore - the most popular site in Florence is the Duomo (cathedral), the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The huge Gothic cathedral began in 1296, consecrated in 1436, and has 20,000 people. The exterior, green marble, pink and white, has several interesting statues and elaborate gates. Inside, Brunelleschi's dome is a work master construction.

The Baptistery - The Baptistery of San Juan Bautista, Century 11, is one of the oldest buildings in Florence. Its exterior is made of marble green and white and has three sets of bronze doors surprising (reproductions - the originals are in the Museo del Duomo and well worth a visit).

Campinile - Belfry - The Belfry Campinile, is located on the Piazza del Duomo. The first story was designed by Giotto and is commonly called Campinile of Giotto.

Ponte Vecchio - Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), built in 1345, was Florence's first bridge across the river Arrno and is the only surviving bridge from medieval times Florence (the others were destroyed in World War world.) The Ponte Vecchio is still full of shops selling gold and silver jewelry. From the bridge, have a great view along the Arno River and beyond.

Galleria degli Uffizi - The Uffizi Gallery contains the world's largest collection of Renaissance art, but is also the busiest museum in Italy. The Uffizi contains thousands of paintings from medieval to modern times and many ancient sculptures, miniatures and tapestries. The artists whose will include works by Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Perugino and Raphael.

Galleria dell 'Academia - Florence, Galleria dell' Academy's major paintings and sculptures from 13 to 16 centuries. Michelangelo's David, probably the world's most famous sculpture is in the Galleria dell 'Academia, and other sculptures by Michelangelo. You will also find an interesting collection of musical instruments, begun by the Medici family.

Garden Pitti Palace and Boboli - Cross the Ponte Vecchio to the Giardino di Boboli, a huge park on a hill in the center of Florence, behind the Pitti Palace. Here are beautiful gardens and fountains and a great view of Florence from Fort Belvedere.

The Pitti Palace, the biggest palace in Florence was the seat of the Medici family. You can visit eight various galleries, including art, clothing, jewelry, and apartments.

Santa Cruz - Santa Croce, Piazza Santa Croce, is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and houses the tombs of several important Florentines including Michelangelo and Dante. The vast interior contains some exceptional stained glass windows and frescoes. One of the most important Brunelleschi, the Cappella dei Pazzi, Santa Cruz.

Shopping - Florence has one of the best shopping in Europe. In Florence, you will find leather goods, items paper, and jewelry as well as pleasant memories and artistic productions. Florence has a number of outdoor markets selling food, clothes and antiques. The most famous is around Piazza San Lorenzo, where there are leather, too. Another good place is Mercato Nuovo (Porcellino) in Via Porta Rossa. Mercato Centrale a great place to shop for food or just.

Cafes, Coffee Shops, Restaurants wandering and people watching - What I like to do in Florence is simply to get up early, arriving at a small cafe and start your day with a hot cup of coffee, good pastries and see the city come alive. I check out my map, choose an area to detect and can spend all day wandering the streets, taking in everything that Florence has to offer. I stop occasionally one of the endless number of coffee shops, cafes and restaurants to recharge. I marvel at the quantity and variety of people around me and remember about the memories that have already done that day. Before I know it, it's time to go out again and I'm going to make more memories.

Florence Tours
Tuscany Region - Go a day touring one of the most bombastic of Tuscany, known worldwide for its scenery of incomparable charm, where woods alternate with vineyards and olive groves in a landscape dotted with Romanesque churches, farmhouses, villas and castles of rare beauty.

Pisa - Take a stroll through the fertile and picturesque Tuscan countryside to historic university city of Pisa, famous for its architectural beauty. Take a scenic drive along the banks of the Arno, and then turn the Piazza dei Miracoli, with the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Baptistery and other important monuments. Be sure to visit inside the Cathedral, is an unsurpassed masterpiece of Romanesque art constructed between the ages 11 and 12.

Siena and San Gimignano - Take a beautiful hike through the hills of the delightful countryside of Chianti, and see an ever-changing scenery of vineyards and olive groves.
In Siena, visit the old city center, walking the small medieval streets, admiring the splendid palaces and ending at the Cathedral where you can visit the splendid interior including the Libreria Piccolomini (Library) which was founded in 1495 by Pope Pius III, and the adjacent Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana (museum).

Piazza del Campo, one of the square in medieval Europe in the world, where the City Hall, a palace began in 1297 and ended in early 1300.

Siena, San Gimignano to a small city that has remained intact through the centuries, situated on a hillside, is famous for its numerous towers, frescoes and art. Back to Florence, do not miss the medieval village of Monteriggioni enclosed by its famous walls, still intact.

Favorite Places to eat
San Miguel - Located in a 11th century monastery of Villa San Michele, a small luxury hotel, is home to San Michele restaurant. Located in the hills about 20 minutes from Florence, San Miguel offers one of the most spectacular views of Florence and one of the most memorable dining experiences. The view is only matched by the Florentine and Tuscan cuisine and stellar service. For a real pleasure to deal ribollita, a traditional Tuscan vegetable and bread soup, which is the best there was in Florence.

Reservations are necessary. When making your reservation be sure to request a table with a good view and some are blocked by trees. Plan to be there just before sunset so you can enjoy the breathtaking view of both daytime and romantic city lights at night.

Trattoria Za Za Za Za aka - Miscellaneous, crowded, lively with good food at a reasonable price. A few minutes from the Duomo Square and Republic, Za Za is a favorite tourist.

This is the perfect place to go with friends, meet new friends or just sit and watch people. Must be both the entry and exit doors. I recommend sitting outside, especially if you like to People see there is much to see!

Za Za menu is extensive and varied, with classics and unexpected dishes. Try the three special soups. It is delicious and a great way to pappa al pomodoro experience and ribollita, two traditional soups of the region.

Dei Cantinetta Verrazzano - In the mood for a snack, coffee or cake? Then try Cantinetta Dei Verrazzano, never in my wildest dreams I waited so charming a place existed in Florence.

Do you call a restaurant, cafeteria or coffee shop? To my delight, it was all the above. Cantinetta dei Verrazzano, is simply a small and cozy hotel in a former bakery that caters to the crowd eating on the run, "small snacks, coffee, plates of fresh cheeses, sausages, and" to die for dessert. "

If you are in need of a quick snack and coffee or want to relax after a long day, this is the place. Be prepared to wait for a table or be ready to be placed in one of the small bars and counters along the walls. If you like seeing people, this is the place to be. The tables turn faster so there's always plenty to do.

Paoli - Located a few blocks from Republic Square, between the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, Paoli offers genuine Tuscan dinner in a lively and sometimes crowded atmosphere.

Located in a part of a 13-century palace with vaulted ceilings and walls painted Fresco Paoli is casual and offers large portions of fresh water on your table prepared salads and true Tuscan pasta and meat dishes.

Try his "pappa al pomodoro", a traditional Tuscan soup made with a mix of old / left-over (day old) bread and farm-fresh tomatoes. In the Tuscan past poorest pappa al pomodoro used for prepare the food that had passed. To my delight, Paoli now serves not as a way to make your food last longer, but as a way for you to enjoy true Tuscan cuisine. Pappa al pomodoro I tried some different places, but by far, of Paoli was the best.

Presentation and service is more like what you expect at home (well, maybe an Italian home full of people) in a 5 star restaurant, but that only adds to the charm of the experience.
As you can see flamboyant Florence has something for everyone, art lovers, museum aficionados, shoppers, diners, observers and even people who just want escape to a beautiful Italian city to relax and unwind.

About the Author

Andrew Satkowiak is a freelance journalist who writes travel articles for various magazines and newspapers. When Andrew is not traveling, he writes for his website, Bombastic Life. More of Andrew’s travel articles, reviews, advice and information can be found at www.BombasticLife.com.

2008 - Art & Fashion Tours in Florence