A sunny city located in a basin bathed by the Arno River and its tributaries, Florence is crowned by hills that border a large valley between the mountains. The city is characterized by the suave elegance of its streets and the grand andmonumental imprint of its buildings. A meeting point of important road and rail communications, Florence is known for its historic commercial and entrepreneurial inclinations. Florence is abundant in historic and artistic testimonies, which make it famous around the world.
A mandatory visit is to the Duomo (Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore), a sublime expression of Gothic architecture. It was erected atop the foundations of an older church and afterwards, Brunelleschi added his famous dome, famous for its ribbed, terracotta tiled roof. The austere, solemn, and luminous interior with its magnificent windows is divided into three naves. From the right nave, the visitor can descend to the basement of Santa Maria del Fiore and view the last resting place of St. Reparata, vestige of the ancient cathedral. The bell tower, designed and initiated by Giotto in 1334 was completed by Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti (1359).
The 144 steps of the bell tower lead up to its scenic terrace. Completing the visit is the Baptistery, the result of renovation of a Paleo-Christian bunding. The nearby Museum of Works of the Duomo was founded in the late 1800s to give a home to the works of art that would have perished in left in the monumental complex of the Duomo.
There are many other beautiful churches dotting the city. The Church of San Lorenzo, with its unfinished facade, is also known as the "Basilica Ambrosiana". With 3 naves, it also holds invaluable works of art. The church of Santa Maria Novella, overlooking the plaza of the same name, is a supreme example of Gothic architecture in Italy. The Gothic Church of Santa Trinita dates back to ancient times (11th century), while the Church of San Marco has a single nave and its interior was redesigned by Giambologna at the close of the 1500s.
An elegant example of Renaissance architecture, Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, is characterized by the ashlar masonryof the ground floor. Also dating to the Renaissance period is Palazzo Strozzi, while elegant architecture and a 16th century loggia crown Palazzo Davanzati, a graceful residence of the 14th century. Pitti Palace, a grandiose building in the typical rusticated stonework, previously gave a home to all the great dynasties, the grand dukes of Tuscany, the Lorraines and the Savoys. Its magnificent appearance is due to a series of expansions and additions made to it until the mid 19th century. Located in the apartments of the grand duchy, the Galleria Palatina has many halls, named after mythical personalities and adorned with works by eminent artists. Following this is the Gallery of Modern Art, the Silver Museum and the Contini-Bonaccorsi endowment.
An inseparable complement of Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens are a quintessential example of italian gardens and bear the hallmark of many different artists.
Museums worth a visit include the famous Uffizi Gallery which hold noteworthy collections. The Accademia Gallery, locaed near Piazza San Marco, also holds an imminent collection, including a number of undisputed masterpieces.