Florence seems small when compared to big European cities, but it holds priceless treasures. It is the city of art and culture, home of the venerable Dante and of the legendary Medici family, and it never ceases to surprise you. At every corner, the trace of its memorable past, in every church, the echo of the Renaissance. Walk around Florence and prepare for a dive into History.
Florence’s best-known bridge and iconic background to pictures and postcards, it is located few steps away from QK Costa58 Home Tower. Originally populated with butcheries and grocery shops, thanks to a Medici ordinance it acquired its present look: an extremely elegant stroll featuring gold and jewellery shops.
Do take a full day to immerse in the largest museum collection in the world: the Uffizi Gallery. The series of wonders starts even before entering the building, with the statues of famous Florentines along the U- shaped perimeter of the structure. In the majestic rooms, a sum of medieval and Renaissance art that will take your breath away. Cimabue, Giotto, Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, Leonardo are only some of the great inspired artists whose masterpieces are exhibited here.
A few steps away from Ponte Vecchio, along the river, you will find yourself in Piazza Pitti, with all the majesty of Pitti Palace in front of you. Former Medici residence, the aristocratic palace has preserved its charm over the centuries. The different museums hosted inside – the Silver Museum, the Costume Museum, Palatina Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art -tell the glories of Florence in the past, next to the masterpieces by Tintoretto, Tiziano, Caravaggio and Botticelli.
Boboli Garden holds Pitti Palace in a warm embrace of greenery and stone allegories. Realized over four centuries of refined work, it is a rare union of nature, sculpture and architecture in the beating heart of the city. Wandering around in the large park, you can walk into true works of art: the fountain of Oceanus by Giambologna, the Big Grotto by Buontalenti, the picturesque Kaffeehaus, with its 18th century tower.
Palazzo Vecchio – Old Palace – strikes you at a first glance for its imposing and austere aspect: the ashlar facade, the imperious Arnolfo tower, the coat of arms of noble Florentine families characterize the profile of the city’s political centre. Hosting today the city council, Palazzo Vecchio boasts elegant halls, such as Salone dei Cinquecento, embellished with Vasari’s paintings.
Surrounding Palazzo Vecchio we find the beautiful Piazza della Signoria, now as then at the very heart of the city’s life. The equestrian statue of Cosimo I de’ Medici by Giambologna, stands with the white fountain by Ammannati – for the locals, il Biancone – to celebrate the political hegemony of Florence in the Renaissance.
If you can’t resist the famous Made in Italy brands, a walk along Via de’ Tornabuoni is the ideal chance to indulge. The undisputed destination for exclusive international brands, this street will welcome you with a series of glazed windows, elegant boutiques and luxury jewelleries. From Via de’ Tornabuoni begins a veritable fashion district that continues on Via Roma, Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Strozzi and Via della Vigna Nuova.
Palazzo Strozzi stands out for its grandeur, offering itself as a small fortress at the centre of the city, just like the commissioners of the Strozzi family intended it. Perfect embodiment of the Renaissance residence, today the palace hosts museum collections and temporary exhibitions or renowned artists in the main building and on the lower floor, Strozzina.
As the burial site of San Lorenzo cathedral, The Medici Chapels include spaces of unique prestige. Started by Michelangelo and completed by Vasari, the chapels conserve the tombs of some members of the Medici family: Lorenzo Il Magnifico, Giuliano de' Medici, Lorenzo Duke of Urbino e Giuliano Duke of Nemours. The Princes Chapel, union of marbles, Baroque marquetry and hardstones is a source of amazement for locals and tourists from all over the world alike.
The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore - or Duomo – features on all souvenirs and city skylines. Symbol of Florence around the world, with its stunning cupola made by Filippo Brunelleschi the duomo is a balanced mix of simplicity and majesty. The sober interiors evoke the values of Christianity, while the marble floor, the frescoes by Vasari and Paolo Uccello and the evocative Deposition by Michelangelo ennoble the church.
The church of Santa Maria Novella, a few metres away from the train station of the same name, stands out against the vast square thanks to the Romanic facade realized by Leon Battista Alberti in the second half of the 15th century. The unspeakable charm is reaffirmed also in the indoor spaces: among the crucifixes by Giotto and Brunelleschi and the frescoes by Ghirlandaio and Massaccio, the artworks are difficult to miss. Do visit the lateral cloisters, with the superb frescoes by Paolo Uccello.