Spotlight on Florence, Italy (Firenze, Italia)
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Florence, Italy: Guide to a Renaissance City
Florence, or Firenze in Italian, is a Renaissance city and its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also known as the art capital of Italy.
I've traveled to Italy twice and included Florence in both of my itineraries. Its duomo is magnificent - both from afar and close up. Its immensity, beauty and intricacies live up to its reputation of being one of Florence's most recognized architectural wonders. My fondest memories of Florence are the panoramic views that can be captured from strategic locations such as San Miniato and the Boboli Gardens, while a stroll on Ponte Vecchio will provide stunning photo ops of Florence and the Arno River.
{Photo of the duomo(cathedral) in Florence, Tuscany, taken during an extended holiday in central and northern Italy.
Article and travel photographs copyright Heidi Brault.
© 2010 Heidi Brault. All Rights Reserved}
Contents at a Glance
Florence, Italy - On the Map
Map of Italy
Although we opted to travel by bus from Lucca to Florence, it is also reachable by car, train and plane. Florence's Stazione Santa Maria Novella is on the rail line between Rome and Milan and it is also served by Amerigo Vespucci Airport and Pisa's Galileo Galilei Airport. You won't need a car in Florence as its historic center is easily visited on foot.
{Map of Italy - public domain map courtesy of the CIA World Factbook.}
Florence, Italy - Historical Map
Firenze - Historical Map (1913 AD)
Map of Florence, Italy, as it was in 1913. {Map of Florence (Firenze), courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries; University of Texas at Austin.}
Map of Tuscany - Tuscan Provinces on the Map
Provinces of Tuscany, Italy - Map
Map of Tuscany showing the provinces within its borders. Florence is located within the province of Firenze in Italy. Map courtesy of author Ras67 on Wikimedia Commons. GNU Free Documentation
Florence, Italy - Historical Notes
Florence and the Renaissance
Art fanatics flock to Florence - it was the birthplace of the Renaissance. During the 15th century, it dominated the art world. The Medici family, the most powerful banking family of the city, sequestered and supported Italy's best poets, artists, architects, musicians, and philosophers. They organized workshops and mentoring programs for young artists to follow in the footsteps of the masters. Leonardo Da Vinci, whose name is linked with the Renaissance, was a key figure during Florence's heydey.{Photo of Florence - view from the Boboli Gardens taken during a multi-day stay in Florence as part of an extended holiday in Italy}
Florence, Italy - Renaissance City
"In the 15th century, the city reached the apex of its splendour, thanks partly to the presence in Florence of such geniuses as the architects Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti, the painters Masaccio, Paolo Uccello and Sandro Botticelli, and the sculptors Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Luca della Robbia, as well as the unforgettable Michelangelo Buonarotti and Leonardo da Vinci."
Florence's Historic Center
Florence, Italy - Museums and Churches
Museums and Churches in Florence
Florence is a museum city. You would need to spend several weeks in Florence to visit all of its museums, churches, and places of interest. Tourist guide books list Florence's major museums, such as the "Gallerie degli Uffizi", and the "Galleria dell'Accademia", home of Michelangelo's statue of David. Florence's world-famous Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore, is as beautiful up close as it is from a distance. Its marble pattern of green, pink and ivory repeats itself on Florence's numerous churches, such as Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, and San Miniato.The Florentine Hills are best seen (and photographed!) from the site of la Basilica di San Miniato al Monte, near Piazza Michelangelo. There you will also find a bronze copy of Michelangelo's David - there are three other copies in Florence.
"La Chiesa di Santa Croce" (Santa Croce church), the largest Franciscan church in Italy, is located in Piazza Santa Croce and holds the tombs of both Dante Alighieri and Michelangelo. "La Basilica di Santa Maria Novella" is located in Piazza Santa Maria Novella, across from Santa Maria Novella train station, Florence's main railway station.
{Photo of the San Miniato al Monte chuch in Florence, Italy.}
Florence, Italy - Ponte Vecchio
Florence's Old Bridge
If you stroll over to the Ponte Vecchio, one of several bridges that cross over the Arno River, you will be walking on the only bridge in Florence that wasn't bombed during World War II. Ponte Vecchio is well-known for its jewelry shops (mostly gold), predominantly family-owned businesses. Some shops have been owned by the same family for over three hundred years. Ponte Vecchio is an interesting from a distance where you can see its jagged line of boutiques extending over the Arno River.{Photo taken along the Arno River in Florence, with the Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio) in the background.}
Floods in Florence
"The Arno River washed away Ponte Vecchio in 1177 and 1333. And on November 4, 1966, a huge rain turned the Arno River into a wall of water, inundating the city with mud stacked as high as 20 feet...a huge amount of art was destroyed or damaged. (Rick Steeves' Florence & Tuscany, 2010, p.191.)
Florence, Italy - Boboli Gardens
Firenze - Giardini di Boboli
You get a panoramic view of the city from the top of the stairs of the Giardini di Boboli (Boboli Gardens). Shaded paths and ponds are a cool alternative to the concrete below on a hot summer day. Look out towards the hills from the flower garden at the summit and see the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte perched across the valley from you. Some of the best views of the Tuscan hills are from the Boboli Gardens. Tons of photo ops here!{Photo taken in the Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy.}
Merry-go-round in Florence
Piazza d'Azeglio - Florence, Italy
This merry-go-round is located in Piazza d'Azeglio in Florence. Play structures such as slides and a wooden castle are also in this public square.
Short Stay in Florence, Italy
What to See in Florence in a Few Days
If you only have a few days in Florence, research what you'd like to see. Try to avoid any attractions where you know there will be a long waiting line (hint - The Uffizi :)) You will see more of the city if you don't spend up to three hours just waiting to get into the Uffizi, so unless you really have your heart set on it, it's best to spend your time visiting the Duomo, some of the churches, such as Santa Croce and San Miniato, the Boboli Gardens, Ponte Vecchio, and walking along the Arno River.{Photo taken in Florence - view from Ponte Vecchio. Copyright Heidi Brault.}
Florence, Italy - Fun Quiz
Fun Test on Florence, Italy
Fun quiz on Florence, Italy.
Florence, Italy - Poll
Florence - Travel Poll
Florence, Italy - Travel Guides (E-Books)
Travel Guides in E-Book Format
Select your e-book on Florence, Italy.
Florence: Tours, Tickets, Maps, and Accommodations
- Your Way to Florence
- Travel guide to Florence and Tuscany. Includes accommodations, walking tours, museum tickets, and Tuscan recipes.
- Florence Walking Tours
- Descriptions of walking tours of Florence, including duration and prices.
- Context: Walking Tours in Florence
- In-depth walking seminars lead by scholars and specialists in various disciplines.
- Agriturismo Tuscany
- Accommodations in farmhouses and rural settings in Tuscany, Italy.
- Map of Florence
- An interactive map of Florence, Italy, indicating the location of major attractions.
Florence, Italy - Vintage Image
Vintage Poster of Florence (Firenze)
Guide Books - Florence and Tuscany
Florence & Tuscany Travel Guides
Choose your travel guide.
Florence and Tuscany on DVD
Tuscany on DVD.
Parliamo italiano
Language Schools in Florence, Italy
Consider signing up for Italian courses in Florence.
- Michelangelo
- An Italian language and culture school in Florence, Italy.
- Scuola Leonardo da Vinci
- Scuola Leonardo da Vinci offers various types of Italian language courses in Florence, Milan, Rome and Siena.l
- Istituto il David
- Istituto il David offers Italian language, culture, arts and crafts in Florence.
- Apple Languages
- Apple Languages offers Italian courses in Florence, as well as in other cities in Italy.
- Cactus Language
- Cactus Language offers Italian courses in Florence as well as in other cities in Italy. They also offer Italian culture courses and gastronomy courses.
- Spirito Italiano
- Spirito Italliano in Florence also offers Italian courses as well as cultural and singing courses.
Florence - Maps
Maps of Florence
If you're going to Florence, you'll need a map!
Tuscany & Italy on Squidoo
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Your Turn!
Did you enjoy your visit to Florence?
My guestbook is open for comments from both visitors and Squidoo members. Let me know you've dropped by!
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iijuan12
Apr 29, 2012 @ 1:17 am | delete
- I loved visiting Florence! Nice lens!
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SheilaMilne Apr 28, 2012 @ 7:39 am | delete
- We spent a week in Florence in an apartment in the historic centre not too long after the Uffizi was bombed. It was July but as you may imagine, it was relatively quiet. In spite of having only limited access to the Uffizi, it was one of the most memorable holidays I've ever had.
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angelsigh
Apr 19, 2012 @ 2:16 pm | delete
- High Five! Great lens. I don't remember Florence like this. I like your version better :D
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Upon-Request
Apr 12, 2012 @ 12:46 pm | delete
- I haven't been...yet, but it's on my bucket list!
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MSchindel Mar 30, 2012 @ 10:37 am | delete
- My husband and I honeymooned in Florence. I'd go back in a heartbeat!
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