Florence. This city has about 400,000 residents and for many people it is a symbol of Italy, it’s elegance, remarkable monuments and typically Italian atmosphere.

It is also considered a birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Out of the 1,000 most important European artists of the second millennium, up to 350 lived or worked in this city…

Sunset over Florence by Steve

Florence is the capital of Tuscany. It was founded in 59 BC by Roman soldiers at the behest of Julius Caesar on the right bank of the Arno River and named it to Colonia Florentia.

Originally a military camp really blossomed in the beautiful city which history is very rich and colorful. Thanks to that, we can now admire many monuments, visited every year by thousands of visitors from around the world.

Duomo of Florence by Olatz eta Leire

Probably the most famous landmark of the city is Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, simply called the Duomo. The massive, 106 meter high building is truly unmissable.

And not only due to its size but also thanks to its design. Construction of the cathedral began in 1296, over the centuries it underwent a series of retrofitting, renovations and alterations.

View of Florence from Cathedral by Stuart Caie

The last of them, neo-Gothic front facade was completed in 1887. But in principle it is a Gothic building with a Renaissance dome. The cathedral stands on the Piazza del Duomo and you can even climb up from where you can enjoy an excellent view over the city.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Tuscany, Italy by Michela Simoncini

Another architectural gem is the bell tower Campanile di Giotto, built between 1334 and 1359 standing next to the cathedral and being a part of it.

Campanile di Giotto by Olatz eta Leire

In Florence, of course, you can find many other churches, very nice is also Santa Maria Novella, dating back to the years 1246 to 1369.

Or the church of San Lorenzo, Santa Trinita, Santi Apostoli, San Lorenzo, d’Ognissanti or Franciscan Basilica of Santa Croce, where are buried many prominent citizens of the city. Here you can see tombs of Galileo Galileo, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Machiavelli and others.

Basilica of Santa Croce by David McSpadden

Another very famous and photogenic building is the Ponte Vecchio, the Old Bridge. It is different from any other bridges on the planet as it is not just a bridge but also a place of several houses, now shops and boutiques, especially jewelry.

At the same time it is the oldest bridge in Florence, built in 1345, and also the oldest European stone arched bridge. And it is also the only bridge in Florence which survived World War II.

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Tuscany, Italy by Valeriano Della Longa

Near the bridge you can visit the Gallery degli Uffizi, collecting huge amounts of precious art treasures, including paintings by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Dürer, Raphael, Titian and many other international artists. It is the largest gallery in Italy.

Gallery degli Uffizi by Samuli Lintula

Art lovers can continue further to Loggia della Signoria Palace (or Loggia dei Lanzi) with an exhibition of sculptures and works of art. The palace stands on the Piazza della Signoria, as well as the neighboring Palace Vecchio.

Piazza della Signoria with Palazzo Vecchio in the middle and Loggia della Signoria Palace on the right / Photo by Zolli

Even this building often appears in photos and postcards. It is built in Tuscan Gothic style and has 94 meters high tower. It’s actually the original City Hall.

Do not forget to take a look at the Neptune fountain and a copy of the statue of David, Hercules, and more. Florence has also a number of other galleries and museums on various topics.

Neptune fountain by Andy Hay

And finally one more place where you can have a good view of the city is the Piazzale Michelangelo, somewhat unconventionally located on the hill. From here you will have most of Florentine monuments at your fingertips.

Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo by Chhorn Gonzales Lim

When talking about Florence, we can not forget the fact that its historic center is on a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. And if you will have some more time, you can visit amazing gardens of Florence as well!

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