BEST OF FLORENCE

Florence's art and architecture rivals Rome. During the Renaissance, Florence was the art center of western civilization. A list of past residents of the city represents the "Who's Who" of the Masters, including: Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, among others.

The Piazza San Giovanni and the adjacent Piazza del Duomo provide famous sights, including the Baptistery, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, the campanile known as Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Duomo

The Duomo is considered an architectural masterpiece and is a sight to behold. The cathedral is impressive due to its size and the incredible dimensions of its amazing dome. If you want to see the original art from the Duomo, it is on display at the Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo

The Museo
The Duomo Museum is a knockout and includes an unfinished pieta by Michelangelo (the Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is acknowledged to be Michelanglo’s finest). Ghiberti’s original bronze panels for the Baptistery Doors and works by Donatello, including several magnificent statues, are on display in the Museo

The Baptistery
The Baptistery, one of the oldest buildings in Florence, is at the front of the Duomo. It is known for Ghiberti's bronze door panels (see the originals in the Museo). In addition, the interior of this octagonal building is decorated with impressive mosaics and an extraordinary inlaid marble floor.


Giotto’s Bell Tower
The Bell Tower, an 87-meter high campanile, is a building of architectural renown. The Bell Tower provides outstanding, aerial views of the Duomo. Construction started in the fourteenth century, outlasted Giotto and was completed by Talenti who followed Giotto’s design.


Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the world’s great art museums. You will find works by Botticelli, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, as well as works by German, Dutch and French masters.

Galleria Dell'Accademia
This small museum is one of the most crowded in Florence due to the world’s fascination with Michelangelo’s sculpture of David. The remainder of the Galleria is focused on Florentine arts and artists.

Palazzo Pitti
Formerly the residence of the grand dukes of Tuscany, the King of Italy and home of the Medici's, the Palazzo is furnished with treasures from the ages and features several museums/galleries, including:
Gallery of Modern Art
Costume Gallery
Museo degle Argenti (the Medici Treasury)
Porcelain Museum
The Palatine Gallery, which includes works by Raphael, Reubens Titian and sculptures by Canova.
The Boboli Gardens, originally designed by the Medici's, are one of the earliest examples of formal Italian Gardens.


Museum of San Marco
The former Dominican convent of San Marco contains many of the artistic works by Fra Angelico, a famous Renaissance artist known for his incredible frescoes, many of which decorate this building. Other of Fra Angelico’s works have been added to the collection more recently.

Bargello National Museum
This museum includes masterpieces by Donatello and Michelangelo and others presented in the former Council of Justice, a building dating from the fourteenth century. The collection features statues, including Bacchus by Michelangelo and Donatello’s David. The collection includes tapestries, furniture and other unique works of art.

Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio is the best known of Florence’s many bridges across the River Arno. The bridge was built in the fourteenth century has been filled with the shops of goldsmiths and jewelers since the early sixteenth century. Some of Italy’s finest jewelry can be found here

Piazza della Signoria
This Piazza has been the center of politics in Florence for centuries. Fronted by the famous Palazzo Vecchio and its tower, the Square (perhaps the "L" would be a more appropriate description) is graced with many beautiful works of art including the well known Fountain of Neptune and the equestrian statue of Cosimo. Several of the statues (David, the Lion and Judith and Holofernes) are recreations, although the originals are in nearby museums