only a few hour's drive northwest of italy'scapital rome, at the foot of the apennine mountains, standsidyllic florence. this flourishing mediterranean city full ofhistoric buildings is one of the highlights of a trip to europe. welcome to the city of dante, machiavelliand michelangelo
balu city, and the place where leonardo da vinci learnedhow to paint. welcome to "firenze"! florence's written history dates back to 59b.c., when julius caesar set up camp on the banksof the arno river.
explore the compact centro storica, which was built on early roman foundationsand shop for leather sandals and handbags. for good luck, put a coin on the snout of"il porcellino". even though it is just a replica, it mightjust work! more than 1,400 years after the first romansettlement, the church and wealthy merchant families ruledflorence. the medici family were responsible for thegreatest buildings and most elaborate art.
they handpicked master painters, architectsand sculptors and created one of the most cultural citiesin europe. an example of their efforts is the basilicadi san lorenzo. designed by filippo brunelleschi, this is a prime example of italian renaissancearchitecture. he also built the dome of the 750-year-old santa maria del fiore cathedral on the piazzadel duomo. lovers of religious art won't want to missthe uffizi gallery that spans the long city block
between the palazzo vecchio and the arno river. even outdoors there are sculptures everywhereyou look: on the churches, the fountains and the piazzas. the larger-than-life statue of king david,by michelangelo, is among the most famous sculptures in theworld. this version on the piazza della signora isjust a replica: the original marble david is kept safe in the gallery of the academy north of thepiazza. cross the 400-year-old ponte vecchio.
which was spared from world war ii bombardmentsbecause of its charm. on the other side of the river stands palazzopitti. as one of the old residences of the medicifamily, it houses some of their heirlooms in its expansivepublic galleries. florence is one of those destinations where you find yourself constantly pointingyour camera at yet another magnificent building. it is easy to imagine why this city has captured the hearts of so many travelers.
when it is time to say "arrivederci!", remember to look back over the river one moretime at the cradle of the renaissance.
only a few hour's drive northwest of italy'scapital rome, at the foot of the apennine mountains, standsidyllic florence. this flourishing mediterranean city full ofhistoric buildings is one of the highlights of a trip to europe. welcome to the city of dante, machiavelliand michelangelo
balu city, and the place where leonardo da vinci learnedhow to paint. welcome to "firenze"! florence's written history dates back to 59b.c., when julius caesar set up camp on the banksof the arno river.
explore the compact centro storica, which was built on early roman foundationsand shop for leather sandals and handbags. for good luck, put a coin on the snout of"il porcellino". even though it is just a replica, it mightjust work! more than 1,400 years after the first romansettlement, the church and wealthy merchant families ruledflorence. the medici family were responsible for thegreatest buildings and most elaborate art.
they handpicked master painters, architectsand sculptors and created one of the most cultural citiesin europe. an example of their efforts is the basilicadi san lorenzo. designed by filippo brunelleschi, this is a prime example of italian renaissancearchitecture. he also built the dome of the 750-year-old santa maria del fiore cathedral on the piazzadel duomo. lovers of religious art won't want to missthe uffizi gallery that spans the long city block
between the palazzo vecchio and the arno river. even outdoors there are sculptures everywhereyou look: on the churches, the fountains and the piazzas. the larger-than-life statue of king david,by michelangelo, is among the most famous sculptures in theworld. this version on the piazza della signora isjust a replica: the original marble david is kept safe in the gallery of the academy north of thepiazza. cross the 400-year-old ponte vecchio.
which was spared from world war ii bombardmentsbecause of its charm. on the other side of the river stands palazzopitti. as one of the old residences of the medicifamily, it houses some of their heirlooms in its expansivepublic galleries. florence is one of those destinations where you find yourself constantly pointingyour camera at yet another magnificent building. it is easy to imagine why this city has captured the hearts of so many travelers.
when it is time to say "arrivederci!", remember to look back over the river one moretime at the cradle of the renaissance.