Florence
Florence sounds like music and fills with inspiration. This beautiful Italian city hides among green hills on the banks of the Arno River in the heart of Tuscany. Bright sun, blue sky, the whole palette of colors reflected in the flowers of parks and gardens, street musicians — all this makes the city charming and so attractive to tourists. It's breathtaking when you think about the names associated with Florence, the great people who wandered these streets, inspired by this magical nature. This is where Leonardo da Vinci, Petrarch, Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo, Dante worked and created their masterpieces. Florence is the very embodiment of the spirit of the Renaissance. It was here that the first advanced ideas in art, culture, science appeared. In Florence, everything is imbued with love for art and luxury, harmoniously combining the lush splendor of architecture and its refinement. Come and enjoy the unique masterpieces and recharge yourself with the powerful energy of this fantastic city.
Districts of Florence
San Lorenzo received its name from the church located on its territory, where the remains of the members of the Medici dynasty are buried. Here you can also find the central market, the heart of the medieval life of the city.
In the Santa Croce area, you will find magnificent palaces; the Oltrarno district is home to many architectural monuments, parks, and the famous Boboli Gardens.
In Coverciano, the old buildings are in perfect harmony with the ultra-modern facilities, and here you will find the famous Italian Football Hall of Fame. Each district is attractive in its own way and deserves the attention of tourists.
Map Florence
Attractions of Florence
Florence is a magnificent museum that has collected examples of human genius over many centuries. It is impossible to single out just one thing; the whole city is worthy of attention and the sincerest admiration. Palaces that preserve memories of royalty, streets where geniuses of literature, art, and science of all times walked, majestic buildings in the Gothic style, architectural masterpieces of the Renaissance period, gardens, parks — here are collected the greatest world heritage, the importance of which cannot be estimated.
Population of Florence
The Florentines are temperamental, sociable, expansive, and have graceful manners and impeccable taste. They adore their city and are always ready to help tourists and to admire Florence together with them.
A brief history of Florence
In the III century AD, the city became the capital of the future Tuscany. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the times of troubles and stagnation came to Florence for a long time. The city was regularly exposed to attacks by numerous invaders.
In the XI-XIII centuries, communes appeared, and a new heyday for Florence began. Here they started minting the first gold coin in Europe — florin, the first banking system emerged, and trade was actively developing. An important place in Florence's history is occupied by the Medici dynasty, which had been ruling here for almost three hundred years. Its founder, Cosimo the Elder, made Florence the capital of art. He patronized cultural, scientific, and philosophical figures, for which he was nicknamed the "Father of the Fatherland". The peak of the city's development was under Lorenzo the Magnificent, Cosimo's grandson. At this time, Florence became a bulwark of humanism, the cradle of the Renaissance, and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
The XX century caused great losses to the city. Bombardments destroyed many bridges during the Second World War, and architectural and artistic monuments were damaged or completely destroyed after the 1966 flood. Volunteers from all over the world have been working successfully to restore the heart of Tuscany.
Today we see Florence as a beautiful city, where the majestic past is harmoniously combined with high technology and achievements of the present.
Trip budget
Before the trip, you should calculate the approximate budget that you will require for the travel:
Hotels | Apartment | Taxi | Gasoline |
Average bill | from 72 €/night | from 103 €/night | Start - 4.01 €, 1km - 1.8 € | 1.56 €/liter | 60 € for 2 person |
|---|
The best time to visit Florence
Florence can delight and amaze tourists all year round, as there are places to visit and plenty to see and admire in any weather. But the best time to visit this magical, memorable city is in April and May. Florence is magnificent in spring! The city is buried in greenery and flowers, fully justifying its name. During these months, the temperature reaches +23 ºC.
Useful notes
Every first Sunday of the month, state and municipal museums are open free of charge. The churches and cathedrals of Florence are free to enter. As they are not worse than the world-famous museums for the masterpieces of the greatest masters kept in them, we encourage you to visit them. The most famous is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Santa Trinita, San Marco. Please note that you can only photograph in them with no flash.
From Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence, you can take the Volainbus to the city center (Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station). The trip will take about 30 minutes. The bus runs daily every 20 minutes from 5.30 AM to 8.30 PM and every hour from 8.30 PM to 00.30 PM. A one-way ticket costs €6, and a round-trip ticket costs €10 and can be purchased from the driver or at the airport ticket office.
For more convenient and economical use of public transport (buses and trams) we recommend buying a day, three days or a week pass for 5, 12 or 18 Euros respectively, depending on the length of your stay in Florence. These tickets are sold at the station of Firenze Santa Maria Novella in a special hall of the ATAF transport company, in newspapers or tobacco stalls.
Every day, at 11.00 and 14.00, groups gather in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella for free guided tours on two routes to choose from: one is dedicated to the Renaissance and the other one about the Medici family. Local guides conduct the tours, usually, in Italian and English, you can clarify this on the day of the tour.
What should a tourist do in Florence?
- See the magnificent XV century frescoes in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Its dome is an observation deck, which is definitely worth climbing up to see Florence in all its beauty and charm from a bird' s-eye view.
- Have a fragrant coffee in one of the many lovely cafes on Republic Square: sit at the coziest table, inhale the life of this city, enjoy the play of street musicians, and the beauty of life.
- Walk through the eastern gate of the octagonal marble building of the XI-XII century, the Baptistery of Saint John, with its gilded panels decorated with scenes from the Bible. Dive into the unique atmosphere of the sacred place where the glorious Medici dynasty and the great Dante were baptized.
- Taste the famous Florentine steak. According to a classic recipe, this meat is cooked on fire without adding salt or spices. A dish is not to everyone's taste, but it is worth trying and understanding the soul of the Florentines.
- Walk along the embankment of the Arno River, walk along the bridge which dates to the Ancient Rome — Ponte Vecchio, get aesthetic pleasure from jewelry and buy something in the boutiques located here.
- Make the most devout wish and throw a coin in the Fontana del Porcellino. It will come true, and the main thing is to rub the nose of the bronze sculpture.
- Visit the market of San Lorenzo, which is almost 150 years old, and dive into the whirlpool of colorful market life. It sells top-quality products, and the pavement salesmen give performances.
- Dive into the world of high art in the Gallerie dell'Accademia, admire the outstanding sculpture "David" by Michelangelo. At the Uffizi Gallery, you can admire a beautiful painting of the great Botticelli "The Birth of Venus" and other masterpieces of world art.
- If you don't buy it, then at least understand exactly why Salvatore Ferragamo's shoes are known all over the world and considered to be very comfortable. For this purpose, visit the museum dedicated to the works of the famous master.
- Take a picture in the setting sun on Piazzale Michelangelo, which offers a superb panorama of the city. At this time, it is particularly beautiful in the shimmering lights.
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