Florence
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At the heart of Tuscany lies the jewel of the Renaissance, the city of Florence. Known in Italian as Firenze, this is the capital city of the region with a population of 378,839.
In terms of numbers it's only the 8th biggest city in Italy but when it comes to things to see, it's almost beyond compare. The starting point for any tour of Florence is the Piazza Duomo where you'll find Florence Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore), topped with Brunelleschi's famous dome. |
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You can climb up to the dome of the cathedral and get one of the best views of the city, or alternatively, scale Giotto's Bell Tower which is slightly shorter, slightly easier and on the same piazza. Also on Piazza Duomo is the beautiful Florence Baptistery with its marble exterior matching that of the cathedral.
This is a city where you really can see everything on foot if you're fit enough and just a short walk from Piazza Duomo you'll find the famous bridge, Ponte Vecchio, one of the symbols of Florence. From there you can walk across the River Arno and visit the expansive Boboli Gardens, which is often held up as the best example of a real Italian garden.
Back on the other side of the river there's the enormous Uffizi Gallery with its endless corridors of mainly Renaissance art work including the likes of Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Caravaggio and Rembrandt to name-drop just a few. There are also dozens of other galleries and museums in the city, among which is the Palazzo Vecchio which stands proudly on Piazza della Signoria, bustling day and night with its bars and restaurants always busy.
Such are the riches of Florence that I can get this far without mentioning the Statue of David. There are in fact two David statues, the real one in the Galleria dell'Accademia with the impostor keeping a watching brief on events outside the Palazzo Vecchio.
Another key area of Florence is Santa Maria Novella where you'll find a Basilica and square of the same name. This is also the location of the city's most important train station and transport hub. From Stazione Santa Maria Novella you can take a train to the major cities of Italy or just outside the station, use the bus system to make your way around the city's itself. Also located here is the tram stop, Unità, from where you can take a tram ride to Florence Airport, a journey of around 23 minutes.
There is so much more to say about Florence which is why it has its own website, Florence Review, that you can find the link for below.
This is a city where you really can see everything on foot if you're fit enough and just a short walk from Piazza Duomo you'll find the famous bridge, Ponte Vecchio, one of the symbols of Florence. From there you can walk across the River Arno and visit the expansive Boboli Gardens, which is often held up as the best example of a real Italian garden.
Back on the other side of the river there's the enormous Uffizi Gallery with its endless corridors of mainly Renaissance art work including the likes of Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Caravaggio and Rembrandt to name-drop just a few. There are also dozens of other galleries and museums in the city, among which is the Palazzo Vecchio which stands proudly on Piazza della Signoria, bustling day and night with its bars and restaurants always busy.
Such are the riches of Florence that I can get this far without mentioning the Statue of David. There are in fact two David statues, the real one in the Galleria dell'Accademia with the impostor keeping a watching brief on events outside the Palazzo Vecchio.
Another key area of Florence is Santa Maria Novella where you'll find a Basilica and square of the same name. This is also the location of the city's most important train station and transport hub. From Stazione Santa Maria Novella you can take a train to the major cities of Italy or just outside the station, use the bus system to make your way around the city's itself. Also located here is the tram stop, Unità, from where you can take a tram ride to Florence Airport, a journey of around 23 minutes.
There is so much more to say about Florence which is why it has its own website, Florence Review, that you can find the link for below.
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Category: Cities of Tuscany
Administrative area: Metropolitan City of Florence Population: 378,839 Highlights: Florence Cathedral, Uffizi Gallery, Giotto's Bell Tower Close by: Fiesole, Mugello, Scarperia, Lake Bilancino, Certaldo Recommended accommodation: Hotel Spadai |
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By train: Rome - 1 hr 25, Milan - 1 hr 48, Venice - 2 hrs 6 mins
By tram: Florence Airport - 23 minutes |
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