Art and culture in Florence

Florence is Italy’s renaissance city home to a magical atmosphere and fascinating art on the banks of the River Arno. This city it the capital of the country’s amazing region, Tuscany, that boasts of new visitors every year. Springtime is very popular because this is the time when the city warms up. During the summer it’s a lot warmer but the crowd is huge. If you want to get to Florence be prepared for a change in Rome because the city’s small airport services mostly inland flights. It’s easy to get to Pisa with low cost airlines and then take a train to the nearby Florence. Railways and motorways are excellent too

Things to see in Florence

The cradle of renaissance holds many treasures. Above the River Arno you can see the Ponte Vecchio. This is one of the oldest bridges still in use around the world. In the Middle Ages people used to live on the bridge. These houses are now shops. Take a walk around the old bridge and try one of the best cafés around there. The Uffizi Gallery is another symbol of the city. The museum’s collection rivals that of the Louvre’s though the renaissance dominates. The entrance fee maybe a bit high but it worth the visit. A special thing to see is the crypt of the Medici. Inside the San Lorenzo basilica you can see the crypt where the family’s tombs can be found. The façade of the church was designed by Michelangelo made of Carrara marble. The Piazza della Signoriát is only one block away from the basilica, which is the historic centre of the city. The Palazzo Vecchio overlooks the square and has been serving as the city hall of Florence for the last centuries. In front of the Palazzo Vecchio stands a copy of Michelangelo’s David and other statues. Inside you’ll find balconies and arcades.

If you feel you need a little break try one of the great Italian restaurants to taste local specialties. From the starters taste the crostini toscanit, which is small sandwich of salami or ham with some pâté. The panzanella salad is a wonderful summer meal with great tomato. Beef is also famous in the region with parmiggiano on top. Olive oil is a basic ingredient for everything around here since Tuscany is one of the largest producers in Italy. All major wines are represented here but the chianti is a real Tuscan red wine traditionally served in a fiasco basket.

Firenze is not only a home of art but football too. The calcio storico or Florentine football has hundreds of years of tradition. The blue, white, red and green teams represent a district of Florence and they play to win the cup. The game takes place in a pitch at the Piazza Santa Croce. Continue your walk along the famous palaces. The Pitti Palace was the property of the renaissance banker Luca Pitti, today it is a museum and a gallery. The Palazzo Borghese has a giant neoclassical gallery with richly decorated walls which amaze visitors. Churches offer unique experience in Florence like everywhere in Italy. The Santa Croce basilica was founded by Franciscan friars and it is a resting place for people like Michelangelo, Machiavelli or Galileo Galielei. Visit the Piazza della Repubblica to enjoy the Italian mood with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

From Florence you can easily get to the rest of Tuscany. Siena is only an hour away like Pisa with the seashore. Spend some time hiking in the nearby mountains or visit Perugia.