Florence
Florence is in Tuscany, it's a household city. It lies in a spectacular basin formed by some rolling hills, which have always been praised by poets.
The river Arno flows through the city, which is one of the best known in the world thanks to its impressive palaces, important churches, museums and magnificent renaissance monuments attracting millions of tourists each year. Florence originates as a Roman colony and by the 11th centrury had become a great banking and commercial centre in Europe. From 1421 it was ruled by the Medici family when the city was considered the "cradle of the Renaissance". Florence has been the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (1865-1871) It was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1982.
By the year 1300 Florence had become an important center of textile production as well; nowadays the city has printing, engineering, and optical industries. It's a very famous centre of modern international fashion industry. Pitti Uomo takes place in June, one of the world's most important platform for men's clothing and accessory collections promoting new dress fabrics, with lots of workshops for lauching new projects in men's fashion.
Most of Florence's fascinating treasures are all within a relatively small area which can be easily covered on foot in less than an hour. Among the most famous eye-catching sites in Florence,
- the domed cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo, built by Brunelleschi (XIVth century), a nearby Campanile (XIVth century,partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery of San Giovanni (XIIth century) are also highlights.
- the Uffizi gallery, one of the most important museum in the world with a superb art collection, where you will admire famous paintings from XIIth century to XVIIIth century. It's the ideal setting to admire the beauty and perfection of works by Raphael, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci.
- Piazza della Signoria (XIth century) in front of Palazzo Vecchio (XIVth century) which was the focal point and the origin of the Florentine Republic. Piazza della Signoria is the political hub of the city and a meetingplace of Florentines and tourists. Piazza della Signoria is is a gateway to Uffizi Gallery and is located near Ponte Vecchio.
- Ponte Vecchio the "Old Bridge"(XIIth century) is one of the most ancient typical bridge in the world. It's a shop-lined bridge across the river Arno. It represents Florence in postcards and was the only bridge which wasn't bombed by the Nazi during the 2nd World War.
- Palazzo Pitti (XVIth century) or Pitti Palace, a wide Renaissance Palace with the Palatine Gallery and its paintings from the Medici grand-dukes times.
- The Accademia Gallery (XVIIIth century) and its staue of David by Michelangelo.
- The church of Santa Croce (XIIIth century) in Piazza Santa Croce where the historic Florentine Soccer Tournament was played. The church was remembered because of the Florence Syndrome suffered by Stendhal, a kind of psychological disorder which causes heartbeat and fainteness when an individual is exposed to a particular beautiful large amount of Art.
- the Museo del Bargello (Bargello National Museum, XIIIth century) and the Cappelle Medicee (XIIIth century)
If you go to Piazzale Michelangelo (XIXth century)or up on Florentine hilltops, you will enjoy amazing panorama of the city and of Fiesole.