Florence and the cradle of Italian culture and language. Rich in artistic attractions, it has hosted illustrious personalities such as Dante Alighieri, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. The city was already call florentia by the Etruscans because it was located in a fertile basin crossed by the Arno river, which favored crops and trade. In the Middle Ages Florence became one great merchant power, despite the continuous internal conflicts between Ghibellines and Guelphs and later between "Whites and Blacks". There Lordship of the Medici began in 1437, his court was teeming with artists and writers and was the center of Italian Humanism. The cultural and artistic ferment of Florence grew further during the Renaissance. Invaluable works such as the Mona Lisa date back to this period Leonardo and Botticelli's Venus.
Old Bridge
The foundations of Ponte Vecchio, one of the most famous bridges in the world, date back to the second half of the XNUMXth century. Over the years it has been damaged several times due to floods of the Arno river, the most violent in 1333. In 1442 it became seat of the butchers' shops for a city ordinance, which aimed to solve the problem of bad smells and therefore to safeguard the health of the central areas of Florence. It was the only bridge in the city not to be destroyed by the Germans during the Second World War. Today the old butchers' shops have passed in the hands of the goldsmiths and the shop windows attract the many tourists to the city with their glow every year.
The Florence Cathedral and Brunelleschi's Dome
An important monument of the city is the Duomo of Florence: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Its construction began in 1296 and ended in 1435, becoming the largest church in the world at the time. The works were interrupted and resumed several times and passed from the hands of Arnolfo di Cambio to those of Giotto (which focused on the bell tower). They then continued with Francesco Talenti and Giovanni di Lapo Ghini. The Dome is the work of Brunelleschi and still represents today the largest masonry dome ever built with its 60 meters high and 43 meters in diameter. The dome can be visited and inside it is possible to see the frescoes by Judgement.
Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio is located in Lady Square and it has been one of the symbols of Florence since the Middle Ages. Its construction began in 1299 where a Roman theater once stood, the remains of which can be visited since 2008. The Palace is a imposing and overhanging building, designed to ensure a safe environment for magistrates during the turbulent periods of the 1865th century. Later it was also the seat of the city council of the Priors, the residence of Duke Cosimo I De Medici and the seat of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy when Florence was the capital (1871-XNUMX). Today Palazzo Vecchio is a museum and houses the seat of the Florentine Municipality. During the long weekend of 1 May 2015, the Palazzo was chosen as the location for the film Inferno based on the book of the same name by Dan Brown. Imagine the wrath of tourists when they were unable to visit it because it is closed to the public!
Discover the city with the Firenze Card or a treasure hunt
To visit the city it is possible to buy Florence Card, which allows you to access the various museums and attractions without having to queue and without reservation. The card is valid for 72 hours and by adding 5 euros it can also be used for public transport. A very nice gift to give and to receive is there treasure hunt in Florence. The guide allows you to choose the duration and difficulty level of the test, to try your hand at an adventure of riddles and discover the most hidden corners of the city by receiving directions via text message.
