Florence
From Imakoopedia
- This is Florence in Italy. Other places of this name include Florence, Alabama and Florence, South Carolina.
Florence (Italian: Firenze) is the capital of the region of Tuscany in Italy, with a population of some 400,000. It is a fantastically beautiful city, a cultural, artistic and architectural gem.
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Understand
This was the center of the Renaissance, and is one of the world's top attractions for art lovers.
Get in
By plane
The airport is Amerigo Vespucci (http://www.safnet.it/) (code FLR). It has good connections to the center of the city, which can be reached in about fifteen minutes by taxi. The Ataf-Sita Vol in Bus ("Fly by bus") service costs €4 one way, and makes the circuit between the airport and the central train station about every half an hour from 5:30AM to 8:30PM, then once an hour afterwards.
By train
Local trains from other parts of Italy and express trains from around Europe arrive in Florence. The main station is Firenze Santa Maria Novella (http://www.firenzesantamarianovella.it/), on the edge of the historic old town.
By car
Florence is connected by good highways to the rest of Italy. Cars aren't allowed in the small old town center, so plan on parking your car and leaving it for a while.
By bus
Many ..
Get around
Much of the town center is blocked off to automobiles; motor-bikes are common.
By foot or motor-bike in the city center; decent bus service in other parts of town.
See
Museums
The Uffizi is the most famous, but Florence also has other amazing museums a short walk away with world class artistic treasures.
- Uffizi. [1] (http://www.uffizi.firenze.it) Justly one of the world's most famous fine art museums. The collections of Renaissance paintings and sculptures from classical antiquity are superb. There are often long lines-- a tip; you can make a reservation in advance and walk right in. The restaurant/cafe has a large balcony overlooking the main plaza and is a great place to take a break for art lovers making a non-rushed visit to this fantastic collection.
- Bargello - perhaps the world's finest collection of Renaissance and Mannerist sculpture.
- Accademia - more sculpture, highlights are Michelangelo's David (the one on the main square is a replica) and The Slaves.
- Pitti Palace - Across the Arno. The Medici family palace contains galleries of their art and treasures.
- Museo dell'Opera del Duomo - the Cathedral museum, with artworks formerly in the Duomo and surrounding religious buildings
For those making longer stays in Florence, the city also has an interesting archaeological museum (the Etruscan art collection is particularly good), a Contemporary Art gallery, and other collections.
Other sights
American Cemetery of Florence: Arlington-like US WWII military cemetery. Expansive and beautiful, 6,000 laid to rest (the Yanks who died between Rome and the norther borders. 20 minute bus ride from the Sita Station, just ask agent (get a return ticket) no cost to enter.
In the old town center:
- Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as the Duomo di Firenze is the city's beautiful cathedral, the symbol of the city.
- Giotto's Tower - you can climb the tower for a magnificent view of the Duomo, Florence, and the surrounding area. Small entrance fee, and requires some tenacity to climb 400+ steps.
- Baptistry
- Palazzo Vecchio - old city palace, adorned with fine art
- Ponte Vecchio most famous bridge over the Arno with shops lining it
- Santa Croce church contains the monumental tombs of Galileo, Michaelangelo, Dante, and many other notables in addition to artistic decorations
- Santa Maria Novella
- Orsanmichele
- Medici Chapel
Across the Arno:
- Boboli Gardens, elaborately landscaped and with many interesting sculptures, behind the Pitti Palace
- Santa Maria del Carmine has famous frescos in the Brancacci Chapel
- Michaelangelo Square plaza on a hilltop with a great view of the city
Do
See art, eat, drink, see more art, hear music, shop, take a day trip into the Tuscan countryside, people watch, climb to the top of the Duomo or Campanelle, see more art, eagerly plan for your return visit.
Learn
Work
Buy
Books, leather goods, art
Eat
Remember that restaurants have separate prices for food to go or eaten standing up verses sit down service; don't try to sit at a table after paying for food from the restaurant's to go booth.
Florence's food can be as much of treat to the palate as the art is a treat to the eye! There is good food for any price range, from fine restaurants to take out food from window stands.
There are many gelato (Italian ice cream) stands; some connoisseurs consider the better Florentine gelato the finest in the world.
Drink
Tap water is safe, but those who prefer bottled water will find it plentiful. Sample the excellent wines of the region.
Sleep
Find accommodations in the old town center and attractions and food will be within a 10- to 15-minute walk.
Florence accommodations isn't very cheap, you can find a low cost hostel at http://www.ostello.it
Contact
Stay safe
Florence is generally safe, but take precautions against the opportunistic thieves common to major tourist attractions-- pick pockets and purse snatchers.
Stay healthy
Beware of Stendhal syndrome, namely, dizziness caused by being overwhelmed by Florence's fantastic art. Yes, it's a real syndrome, named after 19th-century French author Stendhal, who suffered from it during his stay in Florence. If you get overwhelmed, rest your eyes and legs, get some food (remember gelato?), and save the rest of Florence for tomorrow.
Get out
Florence is a great starting point and base for a tour of Tuscany. Attractive day trips include Pisa and Siena, and of course the wine zone of Chianti. Greve in Chianti is the market town of the Chianti zone and it is in the hills surrounding Greve that you can rent a B&B room or a small apartment on a working vineyard for less than a hotel in Florence. The SITA pullman buses take you to Greve and Panzano in about an hour. From then on you see few cars and many cypress and olive trees.
External links
- City of Florence (http://www.comune.fi.it/inglese/) - official site (in English).
- Greve in Chianti (http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/) - market town and accommodations centre of Chianti
- Impruneta, (http://www.impruneta.com) home of Tuscan terracotta (in Italian, English and German).
- Panzano (http://www.panzano.com/) - a tranquil Tuscan hill town
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