Florence

Florence (Firenze in modern Italian and Florentia in ancient Italian) is considered to be one of the most fascinating cities all over the world. It is located in Central-Northern Italy and Arno River laps its banks. It was the hometown of painters and sculptors (for instance Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raffaello), writers and poets (Alfieri, Dante Alighieri, Petrarca, Boccaccio). Whoever loves art loves Florence. It is also called "Jewel of the Renaissance" since its cultural and artistic development dates back to the 16th century.

The climate in Florence is typically Mediterranean, summers are warm and winters are rainy.

The lily was chosen as the symbol of Florence in the second half of the twelfth century. Lilies and roses are the most common flowers present in heraldry. Originally, the Florentine lily was white on a red background, but it was changed to red on a white background from Guelph in 1266, as a sign of victory over the Ghibellines.

In the renowned streets of the city, like via dei Calzolai, visitors can admire the shop windows of the most famous Italian designers and at the same time see the historical buildings which have remained intact over the centuries. Visitors can be enchanted by the Duomo, Santa Novella Church, Orsanmichele, Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) with its evocative, antique jeweller's shops. The Duomo known as Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the most popular attractions for visitors. Its construction began in 1300 thanks to the architect Arnolfo di Cambio. It includes numerous masterpieces but visitors are always interested in the dome which was designed by one of the most important Italian architects ever, Filippo Brunelleschi. Among the other buildings situated in the same square, one can see the Campanile by Giotto and the Baptistery, the main feature of which is the four bronze doors which represent scenes from the Bible. Because of a flood occurred in '60, one of the doors was severely damaged and the authorities replaced the doors with copies in order to protect the original ones.

One of the most important museums not only in Florence and all over the world is the Uffizi Gallery where visitors can admire art pieces more than four centuries old, each one created by the most talented masters. There visitors can see masterpieces by Leonardo (The adoration of the Magi), Paolo Uccello (The Battle of San Romano), Giorgione (The Judgement of Salamon), Michelangelo (The Tondo Doni), the two main paintings by Botticelli - Primavera and the Birth of Venus- , numerous manuscripts, some Maestàs by Giotto and Cimabue, the popular Medusa by Caravaggio, many Fleming masterpieces and so on.

It is important to mention also that there are many places for accommodation in Florence. Most hotels are situated close to the major attractions (Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, Piazza della Signoria). Some of them are luxurious four or five star hotels. What makes them special, is their Renaissance styled decoration and furnishing which reminds visitors of the romantic era during which great artists lived in Florence.