Florence Review
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Florence Review is a guide to the city of Florence in Italy. The magnificent Renaissance city is the capital of Tuscany and famous the world over for its exquisite architecture and art collections.
Iconic sights abound here: from Brunelleschi's Dome on top of Florence Cathedral to Michelangelo's Statue of David and the Ponte Vecchio, one of the world's most recognisable bridges. Although it's packed with things to see, Florence isn't overpoweringly huge and it's easy enough to see the majority of sights on foot. A good starting point is Piazza del Duomo, home of the incomparable Florence Cathedral. Just in front of the Cathedral lies the Florence Baptistery while soaring just a few paces away is Giotto's Bell Tower which you can climb for one of the best views of the city. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, also on Piazza del Duomo is one of the most important museums in Florence and contains a wide range of exhibits that have by now outgrown the Cathedral itself. |
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Another of Florence's grand squares is the Piazza della Signoria. It's only a short walk from Piazza del Duomo and here you'll find another treasure trove of sights. The most famous building on this square is the Palazzo Vecchio; the city's town hall that also houses museums and exhibitions. You can also climb the Palazzo Vecchio Tower for another incredible view of the city.
Palazzo Vecchio is connected to the city's most important museum: the Uffizi Gallery. The two buildings are connected via the remarkable Vasari Corridor: an elevated walkway that passes through the Uffizi, across River Arno via the upper section of the Ponte Vecchio, and eventually on to Palazzo Pitti and the expansive Renaissance landscapes of Boboli Gardens.
The sights mentioned above represent just the very tip of the iceberg of sights in Florence; you can spend a week in the city and not see everything so some level of planning is a good idea before you arrive. However, it's also great to simply turn up and wander the beautiful streets, following in the footsteps of Dante, Giotto and Michelangelo.
Whether you're the type of person who likes to meticulously plan or instead, to just start exploring once you get here, I hope you find Florence Review to be a useful tool in helping you enjoy your trip to Florence.
Dion Protani: founder of Florence Review.
Palazzo Vecchio is connected to the city's most important museum: the Uffizi Gallery. The two buildings are connected via the remarkable Vasari Corridor: an elevated walkway that passes through the Uffizi, across River Arno via the upper section of the Ponte Vecchio, and eventually on to Palazzo Pitti and the expansive Renaissance landscapes of Boboli Gardens.
The sights mentioned above represent just the very tip of the iceberg of sights in Florence; you can spend a week in the city and not see everything so some level of planning is a good idea before you arrive. However, it's also great to simply turn up and wander the beautiful streets, following in the footsteps of Dante, Giotto and Michelangelo.
Whether you're the type of person who likes to meticulously plan or instead, to just start exploring once you get here, I hope you find Florence Review to be a useful tool in helping you enjoy your trip to Florence.
Dion Protani: founder of Florence Review.
HERE'S SOME OF WHAT YOU CAN FIND ON FLORENCE REVIEW!
Florence In - FocusNo trip to Florence is complete without a visit to the beautiful Florence Cathedral. The outside of the structure is covered with white, green and pink marble panels that form part of Emilio De Fabris' incredible façade with its intricate detail in the Gothic Revival style of the 19th century while inside, the mosaic floor is one of its most notable features. With the 140 year period that was required to complete the cathedral's construction, the work of many hands and the traces of history remain embedded within its walls. There are works of art including paintings, sculptures and stained-glass windows by Ghiberti -
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Florence Cathedral
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- Gaddi, Donatello, Andrea del Castagno and Santi di Tito; there's also a clock made by Paolo Uccello that still works.
Construction began at the end of the 13th century by Arnolfo di Cambio and after his death it was continued by Francesco Talenti and then Giovanni di Lapo Ghini. Even Giotto directed some of the works, in a period where the 85 metre tall bell tower (campanile) was built; one of the best examples of 14th century Gothic architecture in Florence and you can climb to the top of it. After Giotto it was Andrea Pisano who continued the work before Franceso Talenti finally finished construction in 1369.
The famous dome wasn't finished until 1434; a design by Filippo Brunelleschi that was chosen in a public contest, winning against, among others, a design by Michelangelo which however can be seen in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. The dome is the cathedral's most notable feature; it's still the world’s biggest masonry dome ever built and an object of study for architects and engineers around the world. If you are brave enough to climb its 463 steps, you will be rewarded with one of the best views of Florence from the terrace and during the climb you also have the chance to appreciate one of the biggest frescoes in the world from close range, an astonishing 3,600 m² work by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari.
The Crypt
The Cathedral is built on the site of the 7th century church of Santa Reparata, the ancient early Christian basilica of Florence and one of the major early Christian complexes in the region of Tuscia. Its remains can be seen in the crypt, just two and a half metres beneath the actual building. Santa Reparata houses notorious gravestones, including the tomb of Niccolò Squarcialupi and Giovanni Di Alamanno de' Medici as well as possibly, the tombs of two popes: Stephen IX and Nicholas II.
Construction began at the end of the 13th century by Arnolfo di Cambio and after his death it was continued by Francesco Talenti and then Giovanni di Lapo Ghini. Even Giotto directed some of the works, in a period where the 85 metre tall bell tower (campanile) was built; one of the best examples of 14th century Gothic architecture in Florence and you can climb to the top of it. After Giotto it was Andrea Pisano who continued the work before Franceso Talenti finally finished construction in 1369.
The famous dome wasn't finished until 1434; a design by Filippo Brunelleschi that was chosen in a public contest, winning against, among others, a design by Michelangelo which however can be seen in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. The dome is the cathedral's most notable feature; it's still the world’s biggest masonry dome ever built and an object of study for architects and engineers around the world. If you are brave enough to climb its 463 steps, you will be rewarded with one of the best views of Florence from the terrace and during the climb you also have the chance to appreciate one of the biggest frescoes in the world from close range, an astonishing 3,600 m² work by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari.
The Crypt
The Cathedral is built on the site of the 7th century church of Santa Reparata, the ancient early Christian basilica of Florence and one of the major early Christian complexes in the region of Tuscia. Its remains can be seen in the crypt, just two and a half metres beneath the actual building. Santa Reparata houses notorious gravestones, including the tomb of Niccolò Squarcialupi and Giovanni Di Alamanno de' Medici as well as possibly, the tombs of two popes: Stephen IX and Nicholas II.
THINGS TO SEE IN FLORENCEIn this section you'll find Florence's main sights categorized under different headings including Religious Buildings such as Florence Cathedral, Bridges like the Ponte Vecchio and much more besides.
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FLORENCE ACCOMMODATIONIn the accommodation section the main feature at the moment is the Florence Hotels Booking.com search engine but I'll soon be adding more here including a Florence Holiday Planner service.
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Areas of FlorenceSo that you can navigate your way around the city I've created a guide to its different areas. You can go from one area to the next to find what's there and then select the places you'd like to visit.
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Need Advice?If you're planning a trip to Florence and you're not sure about something or just need some advice, feel free to ask me, Dion Protani, via info@italyreview.com and I'll be happy to help.
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