You are here: Home / Archives for Cities / Florence

Florence, Italy – An Orientation to Florence

Wed, Dec 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. If you are one of the ten million or so people throughout the world who say, “I want to go to Florence” each year and actually do so, then make the most of your trip by getting yourself oriented before you go. Otherwise, there is so much to see and do in Florence that you could end up wasting half your trip just deciding where to go on any given day.

If you are arriving by air, you have a few options. Recently upgraded, Amerigo Vespucci Airport now services over 2 million passengers every year. It only services direct flights from limited European destinations, though. International travelers need to get a connecting flight from [Read more...]

Filed Under: Florence Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Florence, Italy – The Medici and the Renaissance

Thu, May 26, 2011 By 1 Comment

For hundreds of years, Florence, Italy was one of the most important cities in the world. From the 14th to the 16th century, this stunning Italian city played a pivotal role in  our civilization.

Rooftops of Florence, seen from the Duomo

Rooftops of Florence, seen from the Duomo

Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, which finally pulled Europe out of the Dark Ages. Industry grew, as did philosophy, the arts, language and architecture. Famous artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci worked here, and a new era of learning blossomed.

Today, Florence is considered a global treasure and a world heritage site. The heart of the city is a landscape of lovely buildings, with the city’s trademark orange tiled roofs. Millions of tourists come to Florence every year to soak up the city’s beauty and culture, not to mention the wonderful food and wine of the entire region of Tuscany.

When touring the history, art and architecture of this breathtaking city, one name keeps repeating itself again and again; the Medici family.

The Medici – The most powerful family in Florence

The House of Medici was one of the most important families in all of Italian history.  Over generations, they shaped the city of Florence, the country of Italy, and even Western civilization. Some scholars argue they were the most important family in the world. Today, you can see the legacy of this powerful family all around Florence.

Towards Pitti Palace while walking through the main axis of Boboli Gardens

Towards Pitti Palace while walking through the main axis of Boboli Gardens

The Medici family came to have great influence over banking in Florence in the late 1300s. Founding the Medici Bank, the family helped redefine banking practices, reinvent the use of currency, revitalize industry and strengthen the economies of all of Europe. The family bank grew to become the largest bank in Europe by the 15th century, making the family the wealthiest on the continent and putting an enormous amount of power into the Medici hands. Four popes were from the Medici family.

Renaissance Art and The Medici family

The statue of Neptune in Piazza Signoria

The statue of Neptune in Piazza Signoria

With the wealth and power of the House of Medici, the family was able to sponsor the arts and education in Florence. Today, the evidence of their influence and patronage can be seen all around Florence, and at some of the city’s most important sites.

Start off with a visit to the imposing Medici Palace, built in 1444 in the heart of the city. The Medici coat of arms can still be seen in its beautiful Renaissance courtyard.

Opposite the palace, the tombs of the Medicis can be found in the Church of San Lorenzo. The family died out in the early 1700s, and they are entombed here. Their books and manuscripts can also be found here in the Laurentian Library.

The Medici family commissioned hundreds of works of art which can be seen in a number of convents around Florence. In the middle of the city, Medici Street runs through the Old Market, where the family first settled in the early days of Florence.

Sculptures in the Piazza Signoria, under the Loggia, and in the Palazzo Vecchio pay tribute to the power of the Medici dukes. At the height of their influence, the Medici family shaped several iconic Florentine buildings, including the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Pitti Palace. The Pitti Palace was where the Medicis ruled, in their grand building surrounded by the ornate Boboli Gardens.

Outside the city

The Tuscan countryside

The Tuscan countryside

Don’t forget to travel outside the city into the beautiful Tuscan countryside to visit one or more of the country Medici villas at Careggi, Poggio Imperiale or Cafaggiolo.

The House of Medici was one of the greatest families in the world, influencing the course of human history from their home in Florence. When you visit this world treasure and walk its picturesque cobblestone streets, or sit sipping a glass of chianti in one of its charming restaurants, take a moment to think about the family that ruled the world, and left an incredible legacy behind.

 

A view of Firenze roofs in Florence, Italy

Filed Under: Florence Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

When Is The Best Time to Go to Florence, Italy?

Mon, Jun 21, 2010 By 10 Comments
If you’re planning a trip to Florence, you’re probably wondering when is be the best time to go. After all, you don’t want to arrive there when it’s cold and raining, if you were hoping to spend your time lingering outside at the sidewalk cafes. So here’s a guide to when it’s the best time to visit Florence!

Summer

A lot of tourists choose summer (June-August) for their vacation trip to Florence, and if you have to plan around school vacation schedules, you might not have much leeway in this choice. If your time is more flexible, though, there are some downsides to summer that you’ll want to consider. Weather-wise this time of year can be hot (up in the 90s Fahrenheit), and it often gets quite humid in Florence, too. Florence is also the most crowded with tourists in the summer. So if you love hot weather, and don’t mind crowds, going to Florence in the summer may be right for you.

Summer crowd outside the duomo in Florence

Summer crowd outside the duomo in Florence

Autumn

Autumn (September-October) is a very pleasant time to visit Florence. There are less crowds than in the summer, and the weather isn’t too cold (think 68F in mid-October). Autumn is a great time to see the deciduous trees turning color, so if you love nature’s different seasons and fall color, then autumn may be one of the best times for you to visit Florence. If you’re interested in wine and plan to tour the Chianti wine area around Florence, you might be able to see some harvesting in the fall, too.

Winter

Winter (November-February) can be chilly. It’s often rainy, and there is an occasional chance of snow (unlikely but possible). Winter temperatures average about 50F in January. If you’re mostly interested in indoor pursuits, however, you’ll find the museums nicely uncrowded this time of year – a world of difference from the summertime! Because there are so few tourists, you’ll also get to feel a bit more of the real local scene, rather than finding all the streets and restaurants crowded with international vacationers.

Spring

Spring (March-May) is a lovely season to visit. The weather is nice, but not too hot – averaging around 70F in April. Quite a few other people are catching on to the spring option, so the tourists are starting to arrive, though it won’t be quite as crowded as it is in summer. It’s a good time if you want to see flowers blooming, perhaps taking a stroll in the Boboli Garden.

Flowers in the Boboli Gardens, Florence

Flowers in the Boboli Gardens, Florence

Attractions

One of the most important tips for any tourist is to do your research in advance, and decide what attractions are on your must see list. Then you can check the website for those attractions. Find out the schedule for your “must see sights”, and make sure whether they are closed at some times of year. It’s possible for museums or restaurants to close down in January, or over Christmas, Easter, or other major holidays. By identifying the places most important to you, you can make sure you don’t run into this disappointment. Spending Christmas in Italy could be a memorable and wonderful vacation, indeed! Just make sure you know what will or won’t be open for you before you book the tickets.

Festivals

If you’re interested in seeing something special, beyond the typical attractions that are there all year, you might want to consider visiting Florence during one of the festivals. A few of the main festivals are:

- Festival of St. John – June 24
- Explosion of the Cart festival – Easter Sunday
- Florence music festival – Spread over 2 months in the summer
- Paper lantern festival – First week in September
- Florence antique festival – Sept-Oct, every other year

If you want to venture out of town a bit, there are also some very cool festivals in smaller towns near Florence, like the Infiorata (Flower Festival) in Pienza.

Planning your trip to Florence

Here’s our recommended plan of attack for figuring out when is the best time to go to Florence:

- Is a particular festival very important to you? If so, plan around that.
- Are you tied to a particular season for school or work schedule reasons? If not, use the season overviews above to narrow down to an approximate window.
- Fine tune your trip dates based on knowing any closure dates for attractions you really care about, and any less important festivals that would be fun to see.

Of course, if you’re visiting other cities on the same Italian vacation, then you’ll want to do the same kind of process for them, so you can optimize all the locations you’ll visit.

And now, you’re ready to start planning your trip to Florence, Italy!

Filed Under: Florence Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Florence, Italy: Favorite things about Florence

Tue, Dec 2, 2008 By 7 Comments
On my honeymoon, my new husband and I stayed in a tiny mountain town about 40 minutes north of Florence by train. We were enchanted with the town-we would have liked to stay permanently! However, one of the wonderful people we met there was a native of Florence, and to her, the little mountain town could never compare to the city she was born in. She told us she cried when she had to move away, even though she didn’t move very far.

As much as we loved the mountain scenery, I can definitely see why she felt that way. Florence is magical — a jewel of a city. Even when it’s is crowded with tourists, the blend of Italian Renaissance beauty, modern conveniences, excellent food and friendly people is something you have to experience to understand. There is so much to see and do in the city that it can be hard to pin down a doable itinerary. With that in mind, here are 10 places you absolutely must visit while you are there!

  • Galleria dell’Accademia- Although you will find replicas of Michelangelo’s David in other places around town, this is the home of the one and only original sculpture. The statue depicts David holding the stone, contemplating his move against the giant Goliath. Every muscle is carved with such fluid grace that you almost expect the statue to start moving. His calm, thoughtful expression and Olympian physique embodies the Renaissance belief in human potential. The Galleria dell’Accademia always has a line to get inside. Although it generally moves much faster than the line for the Uffizi, it’s still best to get tickets in advance if possible.  Find museum tickets here…
  • Duomo- The Duomo is on every Florentine visitor’s itinerary for several reasons. The building itself is simply beautiful-the facade is embellished with alternating colors of local limestone. The baptistery outside features the “Gates of Paradise” by Ghiberti-a fabulous example of bronze relief sculpture. Then, of course, there is the dome-a feat of engineering that helped put Florence on the map during the Renaissance. Brave the long lines and the steep steps to climb the stairs to the top-you’ll be glad you did! The views of the city are breathtaking. While you climb, make sure to check out the fresco of the last judgment-the demons of hell have some very interesting punishments for sinners that involve flaming sticks…I won’t go into anymore detail than that in order to keep this post rated PG!
Ponte Vecchio, with shops hanging off the side

Ponte Vecchio, with shops along the sides

  • Ponte Vecchio- This charming bridge across the Arno dates to 1345. The shops along the bridge have housed goldsmiths and jewelers ever since 1593, when Ferdinand di Medici threw out the more “common” vendors. As you would expect from such a long tradition, these shops are home to some incredible artisans who produce some amazing jewelry. Even if you can’t afford to buy, window shopping is definitely worth it! Cost: Free
  • Uffizi- The Palazzo degli Uffizi houses a superb collection of paintings, featuring work by artists such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, della Francesca, and many others. Also, unless you really, really like the idea of spending half of a vacation day in line, buy tickets ahead of time! What appears to be a relatively short line from outside can and will end up taking hours to go through. It costs a few Euro more to book in advance, but it’s well worth it! Find museum tickets here…
  • Piazza della Republica- This piazza marks the site of an old Roman forum, but the current neoclassical construction dates back to 1865. Studded with caffes, it’s a great place to grab a bite to eat. Also, it borders the Mercato Nuovo, home of the “Porcellino.” Put in a coin in this statue’s mouth, and if it falls through the grate below, the legend says you will have good luck.
  • Bargello- The David may be the most famous Renaissance sculpture in Florence, but it’s certainly not the only one. The Bargello has work by Donatello, Michelangelo and Cellini, among others.
  • Brancacci Chapel- Located in the cathedral of Santa Maria del Carmine, this chapel features frescoes by Giotto and Masaccio that demonstrate the new techniques of the Italian Renaissance: perspective and chiaroscuro, or shading. To see the difference, compare the work by Giotto and Masaccio to older work by Cimabue.
  • Vivoli- You’ve never truly experienced ice cream until you’ve had gelato! Gelato is richer, thicker, and simply better than its American counterpart. If you’ve climbed to the top of the Duomo, you can even indulge guilt-free! Address: Via Isole delle Stinche 7r.  This shop is considered by many to have the best gelato in Florence. Why not go and judge for yourself?

There’s a lot more in Florence, too.  So much that you’ll never have time to see it all!  Even so, you might want to take a break from the city and visit the nearby hill town of Fiesole.  It makes a nice variation from the city hustle and bustle.

You can also visit Florence as part of a larger trip through Tuscany. One advantage is that a tour can get you out to see the countryside and small towns in addition to Florence itself, like this women’s trip to Tuscany. You’ll find plenty of options for visiting this scenic area – it’s beautiful!

Above all, whatever else you do…  Make sure to leave yourself some time for just strolling along the banks of the Arno, and relaxing at sidewalk caffes. Those leisurely relaxing moments can be the most enjoyable of all! :-)

Filed Under: Florence Tagged With: , , , , ,

Florence, beyond the Duomo – escape to Fiesole

Sun, May 25, 2008 By 3 Comments
Like many travelers to Italy, a visit to Florence was on my must-do list from the beginning. There is much to see in this incredible city. Who can resist the lure of Michelangelo’s David, or the intrigue of the Duomo. For a unique shopping experience, spend a weekend afternoon on the Ponte Vecchio. The words “Ponte Vecchio” mean “old bridge.” This is no exaggeration – the Ponte Vecchio was built in the 14th Century! The crafts vendors who line the bridge sell some magnificent items. In some cases, the prices are even reasonable!

Fiesole hillsideWhen I think of Florence, I think of Fiesole. When you’ve had your fill of churches, museums and street vendors, Fiesole allows you to escape to higher ground. It stands majestically on a hill north of Florence. From a distance, it almost appears to be magical. You can reach Fiesole by the Number 7 bus. Historians believe that this was an Etruscan city founded in the 9th Century BC. It was known as a training center for the Augurs, who were priests trained in the art of divination. They foretold the future by interpreting the movements of birds.

While there is much to see in Fiesole, my most vivid memories are of the Villa Medici, which dates back to the Renaissance. It’s interesting to note that while most villas of that period were built for agricultural purposes, the Villa Medici was the exception to the rule. In contrast, as an intellectual center, it was involved in the farming of ideas, not crops. Villa Medici also has one of the best-kept gardens in Italy. Gardens, cathedrals and villas aside – like Montmartre in Paris, there is something intrinsically intriguing about standing at the top of one city and looking down at another. It invites a distinct sense of perspective.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are lucky enough to be visiting between May 15, 2008 and December 31, 2008, you can take advantage a new program called the Fiorino Effect, designed to ease the expense for US visitors. Download the voucher from Firenze.net, and you can get ten percent off on participating hotels and restaurants, and 20 percent off on participating museums.

Filed Under: Florence Tagged With: , ,