Florence
Cradle Of Renaissance
General Information
Other Name: -, District: NA, State: Tuscany, Italy
Area: 102 km²
Languages Spoken: Italian,Florentine .
Long Distance Code: -
Importance: Florence is a Renaissance city famous for its art and architecture.
Best Time to Visit: March to May and -
International Access: -Description
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany, and of the province of Florence.The city lies on the Arno River and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture.A centre of medieval European trade and finance, the city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian.The historic centre of Florence continues to attract millions of tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1982.When you visit Florence, be sure to see the Italian paintings at the Uffizi Gallery and sculptures at the Bargello. You also won''t want to miss Michelangelo''s famous statue of "David" at the Accademia Gallery.Florence is known as the “cradle of Renaissance” (la culla del Rinascimento) for its monuments, churches and buildings. The best-known site and crowning architectural jewel of Florence is the domed cathedral of the city, Santa Maria del Fiore, known as The Duomo.The center of the city is contained in medieval walls that were built in the 14th century to defend the city after it became famous and important for its economic growth.At the heart of the city in Piazza della Signoria is Bartolomeo Ammanati''s Fountain of Neptune (1563-1565), which is a masterpiece of marble sculpture at the terminus of a still functioning Roman aqueduct.Location
-Climate
Humid Mediterranean climate
This is the richest medieval church in Florence, which features frescoes by Giotto, a chapel by Brunelleschi and one of the finest of all early Renaissance tombs.
Although the Baptistery''s precise origins remain unclear, its foundations are known to date back to Roman times. The central doors are stunning works of art, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament and they have been called The Gates of Paradise.Inside, the octagonal structure is richly decorated with Roman columns and gilded column heads.The floor''s marble inlay features Islamic-style patterns and the apse is decorated with 13th-century mosaics.
Dominican monastery that serves as a distinguished monument to the religious and artistic history of Florence, which features valuable examples of Florentine paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries.
The church can be found in one of the most lively piazzas in the Oltrarno. The scrolled plaster facade is from the 18th Century, but is only the last phase of the building. The building was started in 1444 by one of the greatest creators of the Renaissance in Florence: Filippo Brunelleschi. Brunelleschi''s geometric measurements are visible in the line of perspective that exists in the church''s foundation, with its three naves which run down into the transept.The internal perimeter wall is punctuated with apses in which there are aristocratic family chapels which are decorated with architectural motifs, altar pieces or paintings from different periods.
The Memorial is a beautiful spot amidst wooded slopes, near the Greve River and approximately 5 miles from the historic center. Green courts with white crosses, on either side of a pylon, consist of 4,398 graves of soldiers who died for their country. The names soldiers is written upon the Tablets of the Missing, which serves as a reminder of sacrifice and loyalty.
Inside this garden lies the Buontalenti grotto (1583-1593). Decorated with Mannerist-style scenes from Greek and Roman mythology, the grotto includes copies of Michelangelo''s famous Slave series, the originals of which were transferred to the Galleria dell''Accademia.In the 17th Century, the garden was extended as far as the Porta Romana , adding the Vasca d''Isola (pond) at the centre with a fountain and a statue of Neptune.
The Medici family reserved rooms for their prestigious collection during use of the gallery as magistrate''s court in the 1700s. Made up of 40 rooms, the gallery contains works by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio and Botticelli''s Birth of Venus and Primavera. Note the collection of Flemish, French, Dutch and German masters. The corridors, ceilings with splendid frescoes, are lined with Roman and 16th-century sculptures.
Renowned for its panoramic views of Florence and the Arno valley, this terrace is a popular spot with locals and tourists. Created as part of major restructuring of the city walls, Giuseppe Poggi''s sumptuous terrace is typically 19th century. In 1871, Poggi designed a monument base dedicated to Michelangelo. The monument itself was to be composed of copies of Michelangelo''s works, including David and the Medici chapel sculptures from San Lorenzo . When the terrace was finished, Poggi designed the hillside building, now a restaurant, as a museum for Michelangelo''s works.
As the city''s skyline symbol, the legendary Duomo is famous above all for its dome: Filippo Brunelleschi''s Renaissance masterpiece, completed in 1436, created a double dome shell so that the dome is entirely self-supporting. It still stands as the largest masonry dome in the world, containing over 4,000,000 bricks! Climb to the top (all 463 steps) to get an unforgettable panoramic view of the city which has changed little in the past 500 years.