After leaving the wonderful museum, I went for a walk around Florence.
The weather was not very good, there were clouds and sometimes it started to rain. But this could not stop me at all, because Florence is beautiful in any weather!
First I decided to go have a snack, for this I chose Central Market.
This is the oldest market in the city; the whole city comes here for fresh and delicious food! here you can find both the cheapest and most expensive food in the city.
At first, Nastya and I simply walked through the rows:
Then we stopped at one shop. Everything looked incredibly delicious. Bought to try Ciabatta with ham and mozzarella And Ciabatta with pesto sauce.
Then we went up to the second floor and got coffee from a coffee shop. It was divinely delicious!
After having a little snack, we went for a walk. Walking along the streets we came to the oldest bridge in the city, - Ponte Vecchio.
A distinctive feature of the bridge are the protruding houses set up on it.
There are jewelry stores on the bridge. Here you can buy high-quality gold jewelry.
Arches can be seen everywhere in the architecture of the city.
Cozy cafes on the streets of Florence.
Pitti Palace and its sloping square with many pigeons. The building served as the residence of the great Medici dukes.
Lived in the house opposite Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky.
Click on the link below to see the panorama of the Pitti Palace in a higher resolution of 2500px:
Pitti Palace
Insanely delicious ice cream with pieces of fruit! How do they make him like this?
Using the link below you can look at the panorama of the Ponte Vecchio bridge and the Arno River in a higher resolution of 2500px:
Ponte Vecchio
One of the most famous buildings in Florence, - Palazzo Vecchio! This is its symbol and one of the symbols of Italy. A tower rises above the palace Arnolfo, 94 meters high.
To the left of the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio there is a copy "Statues of David", Michelangelo.
To the right of the entrance is "Hercules and Cacus", sculptor Baccio Bandinelli.
Piazza della Signoria And Loggia Lanzi, under the Gothic arches of which there are ancient sculptures.
Patio inside Palazzo Vecchio.
From the Palazzo Vecchio, from the top floor, there is a secret Vasari Corridor, which allowed the Duke to secretly pass from the Vecchio Palace to the Pitti Palace across the Arno River without going outside. It was created for security purposes; in the old days there were often attempts on the lives of the rulers of Tuscany.
The diagram below shows its length:
On the Square near the palace stands Neptune Fountain.
And behind him Gucci Museum. It is located here because it was in Florence that the founder of the Gucci brand, the famous designer, was born - Guccio Gucci.
You can take a carriage ride.
After a couple of minutes I reached a small square Mercato Nuovo.
She's famous bronze Boar. Folk tradition says that a boar will bring good luck if you first rub its nose and then place a coin in its mouth from where the fountain flows. But the wish will come true only if the coin falls through the grate from where the water flows.
Behind the bronze boar is the leather market.
Giovanni Villani, - famous Florentine historian and statesman. It caught my attention; the monument is embedded in the corner of the wall of the house.
Narrow streets of Florence, shop on the right Roberto Cavalli. This world-famous designer, by the way, was also born in Florence.
Old photo shop sign Kodak, Fujifilm and Sony.
Small electric cars are very popular in Florence:
People paint road signs creatively:
Nastya near a huge flower bed.
Church of San Gaetano. It is the only one representing the dynamic and elaborate Baroque style. All buildings in Florence are made in the geometric consistency of the Florentine Renaissance.
Using the link below you can look at the panorama of the Church of San Gaetano in a higher resolution of 2500px:
Church of San Gaetano
Soon the sun came out, and I finally reached the main cathedral in the city! This cathedral is simply unreal in size! He is very beautiful! It can be seen from all corners of the city!
Construction of the cathedral took place from 1296 to 1436. He is incredibly beautiful up close! The exterior of the basilica consists of marble panels in various shades of green and pink and also borders on white and has a very complex and at the same time beautiful façade for the time.
There is a bell tower nearby Giotto's Campanile.
The height of the bell tower is 85 meters.
The cathedral can accommodate 30,000 people.
A lot of people come here to pray.
Below you can see the panorama inside Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in higher resolution 2500px:
Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The red dome of the cathedral is very interesting and unique! The dome has one of the largest frescoes in the world (3600 m²)!
It was built using a technology unique at that time, without the construction of scaffolding and without a single ceiling, given the weight of the structure and the fact that the internal span was about 42 meters wide, it is not clear how he was able to do this. Scientists are still trying to figure out how the outstanding Italian architect Filippo Brunelleschi was able to design and build this dome. Unfortunately, not a single drawing has survived.
Today it is the largest masonry dome ever built.
Subsequently becoming a symbol of Florence, it seems to float above the entire city.
Dimensions of the cathedral:
Length - 153 meters.
Width - 90 meters.
Height - 114 meters.
Below you can see the panorama Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore And Bell tower of Giotto's Campanile in higher resolution 2500px:
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Campanile Campanile by Giotto
Electric bicycles are popular in the city. Rental hour - 7 euros, day - 25 euros.
We got hungry while we walked around to work up an appetite! Let's go look for a delicious restaurant!
Along the way we admired the wonderful architecture! Everywhere you turn it’s very beautiful!
Finally we reached the restaurant Trattoria Zaza. Oh, how delicious the food is here! I recommend this restaurant to everyone!
We took Ravioli with truffle sauce and Caprese with pesto sauce.
And of course a bottle of delicious dry white Tuscan wine!
In general, having seen enough, eaten and drunk, we walked happily towards the station.
Church of Santa Maria Novella.
Florence St. Mary's Station.
The station became the final destination of my walk in Florence. To understand the entire route, I lay out the route at the end of my walks. It can be viewed at the link below:
It was about half an hour before departure to the next city of Bologna. I decided to take some photographs of Italian trains on the platform.
There's a train in front of me Trenitalia.
We traveled by train Italo, standing on the far platform. They were much cheaper than trains Trenitalia and we didn’t feel any discomfort at all.
There are also such double-decker trains from Trenitalia.
Well, we got on the train and went to the next city, - Bologna. Along the way, we remembered Florence, which managed to charm us with its beauty and very tasty food! And looking out the window, we realized how beautiful Italy is and enjoyed the evening Tuscan landscape!
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Hello, dear travelers! Those who go to Russia experience certain inconveniences in the sense that the number of places to visit is overwhelming, and vacation time is limited. Especially if you need to have time to get acquainted with the city in just one day. Of course, it’s not worth mentioning that one day is too little for any Italian city, because every corner of this beautiful country will find something to surprise you with. But today I want to dwell on Florence. In this article I will try to answer the question of what sights of Florence you can see in one day, and I will share my experience.
How to get there?
Florence is the center of Italian Renaissance culture. Everything here is imbued with the spirit of this era, so it seems that Leonardo da Vinci or Dante Alighieri is about to turn right at you from around the corner. Of course, it will be better if you fly here purposefully for a few days, during which you can feel the spirit of the city.
You can come here for a short period of time (one or two days) from all the main transport hubs located in the north of the Apennine Peninsula, even from. It is convenient to get here by train. For example, you can get from Florence by train via Bologna.
Another option is to take a bus group or individual excursion. We decided to go with just this option.
From Rimini it takes about 3.5 hours to get to Florence by bus. Next, we were given a short excursion for an hour and a half, and after that we were given three hours of free time.
Observation deck
You can see the entire city at a glance, admire the banks of the Arno River, the red tiled roofs and the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore from the Square or Piazzale (as the Italians say) Michelangelo. The square is located on a hill, thanks to which you can see the entire city.
They say that during the peak tourist season it is very crowded. However, we were lucky; we arrived here in the morning and did not find a large crowd of people.
But if you are staying in Florence for a couple of days, I recommend going up here to watch the sunset. The setting rays of the sun paint the waters of the Arno River with golden hues, and the city itself looks indescribably beautiful in sunset colors.
Church of Santa Croce
We began our acquaintance with the city from Santa Croce Square and the church of the same name.
"Santa Croce" translates to "Holy Cross". This basilica is notable for the fact that the ashes of many prominent Italians are buried here - Galileo Galilei, Machiavelli, Rossini, Michelangelo. In addition, this basilica is considered the largest Franciscan church.
The church is interesting for its architecture, frescoes and stained glass windows. Currently operates as a museum complex. Entrance costs 6 euros for adults and 3 euros for children.
In Piazza Santa Croce you can also admire the sculpture of the gloomy Dante Alighieri.
House-Museum of Dante Alighieri
Since I mentioned Dante, it’s worth saying that in Florence there is not only a monument to him, but also the entire Dante House Museum.
You shouldn’t think that it was in this house that Dante lived - no. The modern house-museum was built only in 1910, presumably on the foundations of the house where Alighieri himself once lived.
Today, the museum's exposition is located on three floors, where exhibits from the life and work of the writer himself are collected. Entrance costs 4 euros.
Another unusual thing about this place is the profile of the writer himself engraved on the paving stones.
Usually guides pour water on it to make it more visible.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotte's Bell Tower
If you come to Florence by train, you can easily find the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Leaving the doors of the station, in less than ten minutes a traveler can walk to the Duomo (as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is called for brevity), because the dome of the building is visible at every step. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore can be called the hallmark of Florence; you can immediately recognize the city by its dome.
You can look at the marble facades of the cathedral for hours: stucco moldings, figurines, sculptures, frescoes - it’s very beautiful!
They love to add Bruneleschi's dome (the one that is visible from afar) to postcards dedicated to Florence. The structure, just over 40 meters high, was built from the 13th to the 19th centuries, so the appearance is truly unique - there are few places where you can find such a mixture of medieval and Renaissance motifs.
The main red dome of the cathedral has different sides: all its sides are different in length. Maybe for this reason, or maybe for another, but the construction of the main cathedral itself was delayed for several centuries. I think that such a long construction period is justified by the resulting beauty of the temple.
Next to the cathedral is the Giotte Bell Tower, which deserves no less attention than the cathedral itself.
Mosaics, sculptures, biblical scenes right on the walls of the bell tower - all this will not allow you to quickly take your eyes off it.
The Basisterium of San Giovani is located nearby, the main “highlight” of which is considered to be its gates, decorated with gilded bas-reliefs.
The temple offers various tours on its website. For example, you can visit the observation deck on the dome of the cathedral, the Bell Tower of Giotte, as well as the Basistery of San Giovani for 30 euros per person.
Piazza della Signoria
A short street leads tourists to Piazza della Signoria, the architectural dominant of which is the Palazzo Vecchio.
Not surprising, since this building was originally built to house the government of Florence. In addition to the palace, the square contains many sculptures designed to inspire the government of Florence. The Loggia Lanzi concentrated the heroes of antiquity.
Almost all of the sculptures presented on the square today are copies. There is also the Neptune Fountain, which also deserves attention.
You can visit Palazzo Vecchia and enjoy the interior of the palace for 6.5 euros. The square also features a figure of Duke Cosimo of the Medici family on horseback.
By the way, the world famous Uffizi Gallery is adjacent to the square, and after passing it, you will find yourself on the embankment.
In the Uffizi Gallery you can look at the works of not only Michelangelo, but also Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and many others.
Foreigners can only buy a ticket here online, because the number of visitors is very large. It makes no sense to go to the Uffizi Gallery for less than 2 hours, because otherwise it will not be an introduction, but a quick jog. Please note that the premises are closed on Monday.
Ponte Vecchiu Bridge
Another must-see is the Ponte Vecchiu bridge.
This bridge was once considered the stinkiest in the Middle Ages, since butchers' shops were located here, and all waste was poured directly into the Arno River. Afterwards, history turned things around in such a way that expensive jewelry shops began to be located here, which to this day are located on the bridge.
At the moment, although the Arno River cannot be called impeccably clean, there is no longer an unpleasant smell here.
So, you can just walk along the river embankment or cross to the other bank.
On the other side of the Arno River lies the southern part of the city, which is ideal for a quiet, romantic evening. Crossing the bridge you can see the lovely Boboli Gardens, where you can not only walk, but also view the city from the top of the hill.
What else to see?
As a rule, people enter Florence by train - and immediately at the exit from the city station, tourists are greeted by the ancient city church of Santa Maria Novella, which embodies the spirit of architecture of the 14th and 15th centuries.
The contrast between the ultra-modern railways and the medieval atmosphere is immediately striking, especially since the interior contains many cultural treasures, including frescoes.
Not too far from the entrance to the basilica is the Accademia Gallery, the crown jewel of whose collection is Michelangelo's David.
The path there is written in any guidebook, and at the end of the route the crowd of visitors will be a sure guide. You don’t have to join in and don’t waste a minute if you pay for your ticket in advance.
Next to the Academy Gallery there is an equally interesting point - the Medici Palace (known for their patronage of the arts in the Middle Ages); Now the palaces contain a powerful selection of paintings, and not just paintings, but also frescoes.
Those who are interested in the Middle Ages will not pass by the Chapel of San Lorenzo, where there is a library containing rare copies of ancient literature.
The orphanage is the oldest architectural monument of the Renaissance period in the world, and therefore it was even included in all textbooks for architects. Tourists will be interested in seeing the wall paintings.
The Bargello Palace houses examples of Italian sculpture from the 14th to 16th centuries; The museum's collection includes works by outstanding painters, and its atmosphere is unique - just look at the design of the building's façade as an old fortress.
In addition to the above, you can visit both the Pitti Palazzo and the Basilica of the Holy Spirit.
Behind the not very interesting Church del Carmine lies the Brancacci Chapel, completely covered with fourteenth-century frescoes based on the life of the Apostle Peter.
Florence can offer its visitors, by the way, not only something old and respectable. After all, this is where The Mall is located, which is one of the most developed outlets even by European standards.
Walk
Even if you don’t want to oversaturate yourself with a cultural program “at once,” then choose a simple walk through the streets of Florence.
She will give you no less positive emotions. For example, this is exactly what we decided to do on our trip.
Because the architecture of the streets themselves seems to take you back to medieval times.
The houses themselves, the bends of the streets, the architecture of the buildings, the towers are interesting - you can look at them and admire them while just walking.
Walking you can reach the New Market, where the statue of a wild boar is located.
Here you can perform a small ritual: namely, rub the pig’s snout, and then put a small coin on his tongue. If a coin, falling from your tongue, falls through the bars into the fountain, then your wish will come true.
It is hardly possible to tell about all the sights and interesting places in Florence. But, nevertheless, even within one day, a tourist will be able to get acquainted with the most important of them - and on his next short visit to the Italian city, look at it with different eyes. In any case, the impressions will last for a long time!
See you soon! With wishes for bright discoveries, Yulia.
If you are going to Florence for the first time, we strongly recommend that you spend at least three days here. During this time, you will be able not only to explore the main attractions, but, importantly, begin to feel the pulse of this city, and, perhaps, fall in love with Dante’s homeland, because the Italian poet considered his homeland not Italy, but rather beautiful Florence.
Our plan for visiting Florence is designed in such a way that, on the one hand, you do not miss anything important, but at the same time, you are able to feel the unique atmosphere of the city where Donatello, Michelangelo and, of course, the great Leonardo worked. And historical inserts into the text will allow you to learn a little more about the morals and customs that reigned in Florence during its heyday.
Every significant city in Italy is awarded a stable epithet - a definition. For example, if Rome is the Eternal City, if Venice is the Most Serene Republic, if Florence is the Cradle of the Italian Renaissance. Surprisingly, but true, many guests of Florence who arrive here for the first time, for example, from Rome, experience slight disappointment. In fact, the city turns out to be small, although by Italian standards this is not the case, the streets are crowded with crowds of tourists, and in general the scale is not comparable to Rome or Venice.
In order to avoid such perception, I advise everyone to watch the BBC multi-part documentary before their first trip to Florence "Medici - godfathers of the Renaissance" (it is publicly available on the Internet), and also re-read the novel Dan Brown "Inferno" - despite all the disputes regarding the artistic merits of the book, Florence is described there very vividly, which puts you in the right mood.
If we talk about where to stay in Florence, I recommend the Santa Maria Novella area, which is near the station. Surprisingly, the station area in Florence is very clean and safe, plus there are charming restaurants where locals go to dine.
DAY ONE: EXPLORING THE OLD TOWN
The morning of the first day in Florence should definitely start with coffee and cantucci - Florentine biscuits with almonds or chocolate. Even if your hotel has breakfast, still indulge in the pleasure of starting your acquaintance with the city by tasting local pastries. If you are staying in the Santa Maria Novella area, I recommend checking out the pasticceria Il Cantuccio di San Lorenzo(address: Via Sant’Antonio 23/r, website: ), where exceptionally delicious cantucci are baked.
In the photo: coffee with cantucci - a popular Florentine breakfast
You can refresh yourself with them in the pasticheria itself, or take biscuits to go and, cheerfully snacking on them on the go, head along the streets to the Old Town, to Piazza del Duomo, from where we will begin our acquaintance with Florence.
MORNING – PIAZZA DEL DUOMO
Most often, guests of Florence, finding themselves at Piazza del Duomo for the first time, first freeze with their eyes spontaneously widening with delight (and sometimes their mouths open), and then, without paying attention to anything else, they rush as fast as they can to photograph the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del -Fiori, trying to distort himself in such a way that the fifth largest cathedral in the world fits into the frame as much as possible.
It is not difficult to understand the delight of tourists; lined with white, green and pink marble, Santa Maria Del Fiori with its famous brick dome, erected by Filippo Brunelleschi, has not just become a symbol and living demonstration of the power of Florence. But let’s not rush to the foot of one of the most famous cathedrals in Italy, but first let’s pay attention to the Florentine Baptistery, which looks very modest against the backdrop of the beautiful Santa Maria Del Fiori.
FLORENTINE BAPTISTERY
Florence Baptistery or Baptistery of San Giovanni (San Giovanni - John the Baptist in Italian.) is one of the most ancient and mystical buildings in Florence, and many art historians, not without reason, rank it among the most mysterious monuments of world art. The fact is that the current baptistery building was erected in the period from 1059 to 1129, but before that there was a baptistery built here in the fifth century AD.
The Baptistery is the place where baptism is received, and it was in the Baptistery of San Giovanni that all the famous residents of Florence were baptized: from Dante, who, after his exile, was given the condition that in order to return to his hometown he must publicly repent in the same place where he was baptized, to all representatives of the Medici dynasty without exception. Like many Christian sanctuaries, the Baptistery of San Giovanni was erected on the site of a pagan temple; historians suggest that in this case it was the temple of the god of war Mars, however, during the first excavations carried out near the baptistery back in the twelfth century, workers discovered mosaic floors , which can often be seen on the ruins of villas and private houses of wealthy Romans.
Modern knowledge of the baptistery is a regular octagon, faced with white and green stone and decorated with striped pilasters, the same as can be seen on the façade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiori. At the same time, the building is divided into three tiers, and is crowned with a gently sloping light roof. By the way, the shape of the octahedron in this case is an illustration of symbolism in Christian art, for it symbolizes the six days of the creation of the world, the seventh - the day of God's rest and the eighth day - the rebirth that occurs during the sacrament of baptism. Unfortunately, in 2015, the baptistery began to be restored, so at the time of writing this article, the building is closed with scaffolding, but everyone can donate money for the restoration of the oldest landmark of Florence, they promise that then your name will be inscribed on the inside of the stones with which clad the building.
Another attraction of the Florentine Baptistery is the five-meter "Heaven's Gate"- the eastern gate made of gilded bronze, created by Lorenzo Ghiberti and decorated with bas-reliefs of biblical scenes. Ghiberti worked on them for more than 20 years, and as a result, his work was praised by Michelangelo himself, who said that the bronze gates were so beautiful that they could serve as the gates to Paradise.
In the photo: “The Gates of Heaven” by Lorenzo Ghiberti
Buanarroti’s statement went down among the people, and since then the eastern gate of the baptistery has been called nothing more than “The Gates of Heaven.” Unfortunately, the original Ghiberti gate is today in the Duomo Museum, and what we see is just a good copy of the original. The southern gate of the baptistery by Andrea Pisano does not look as impressive, but it is more ancient, and its bas-reliefs depict scenes from the life of John the Baptist and the main Christian Virtues.
When you find yourself in the Baptistery of San Giovanni, it is impossible not to raise your eyes to the dome, decorated with mosaic panels depicting biblical scenes; the effect of the radiance of the smalt mosaic is enhanced by the fact that in the center of the dome there is a window through which daylight penetrates. By the way, the frightening scenes of Hell that can be observed in the Baptistery of Florence are very close to the description of Hell in Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, well, we all come from childhood.
In the photo: mosaic on the dome of the Baptistery in Florence
Meanwhile, the Baptistery of San Giovanni is the burial place of one extremely odious, but very important character for understanding the history of Florence - Anti-Pope John XXIII. The fact is that in 1378, after the death of Pope Gregory XI, a great schism occurred in the Catholic Church, which lasted until 1417. During this period, first two Popes claimed the right to be called the head of the Catholic Church (one sat in Rome, and the second in Avignon), and since 1409, another, third Pope began to be elected by the College of Cardinals in Pisa. Anti-Pope John XXIII (the prefix “anti” appeared after the modern church decided that only Roman pontiffs had the right to bear the title of Pope) was elected as the third Pope from Pisa. Occurred in 1410, after the death of the first Pope of Pisa, Alexander V.
In the photo: the tomb of Anti-Pope John XXIII in the Baptistery of Florence
The biography of anti-Pope John XXIII is full of “wonderful details,” however, it is now practically impossible to figure out where the truth is and where the slander of enemies is. The anti-pope was accused of poisoning his predecessor Alexander V, and of raping nuns, and of torturing innocent residents of Rome and Bologna, and, of course, of trading in episcopal sees. It’s amazing how a person had time for all these atrocities! One way or another, but when the Ecumenical Council of Constance decided to restore the unity of the Catholic Church and demanded voluntary abdication from all the numerous Popes, John XXIII first fled from Italy to Freiburg, and then demanded for himself, in exchange for his abdication, a pension of thirty thousand gold florins, transfer to him the use of Avignon and Bologna, as well as the retention of the title of permanent legate in Italy.
Such insolent behavior of the pontiff becomes understandable if you know his biography - John XXIII in the world bore the name Balthasar Cossus and before the start of his religious career was a very successful pirate. This story ended predictably: anti-Pope John XXIII was arrested in Freiburg, after which he abdicated his rank, and, having been freed, confessed to the new Pope Martin V, who appointed the former pirate Bishop of Tusculan. Balthasar Cossa died on December 22, 1419. The question arises: why was such an odious personality buried in the holiest place in Florence, and Donatello and Michelozzo worked on his tomb, decorated with statues of the three Christian virtues of Faith, Hope and Love?
In the photo: statues of Faith, Hope and Love at the tomb of Anti-Pope Joan XXII
It's quite simple. The fact is that the career of Balthasar Cossa in the Vatican was sponsored not by anyone, but by Giovanni Medici, the founder of the famous Florentine dynasty. Two factors coincided here: Giovanni Medici was the first representative of the family who, thanks to his ability to conduct trade well and prudence in financial matters, managed to accumulate impressive capital, but to enter the ranks of the powerful families of the Florentine Republic, the Medici family lacked a serious patron. Giovanni calculated everything accurately; he knew that the papal throne was being shaken by unrest, which means that with the proper financial support, even a former pirate had a chance of success. The Medici not only gave Balthasar Cossa a large sum of money at the initial stage of his career, but also financially supported their protégé throughout his career: from priest to cardinal. When in 1410 Balthasar Cossa was elected the third Pope of Rome in Pisa, he transferred the management of all papal accounts to the Medici family, thus the Medici began to control the accounts of the Roman Catholic Church and nothing could prevent them from becoming one of the chosen families of Florence.
GIOTTO'S BELL TOWER (GIOTTO'S CAMPANIA)
We leave the baptistery and admire the cathedral complex, because it is a hundred meters high, lined with white and colored marble Giotto's bell tower(or Campanile Giotto) seems to be another component of Santa Maria Del Fiore, although it was built separately from the cathedral. According to Giotto's idea, the bell tower should have seemed to passers-by painted against the sky, and the illusion of the lightness of the structure actually arises; you even wonder how it has stood here since the fourteenth century, having survived numerous earthquakes.
Today, Giotto's Campanile is often called one of the most striking architectural examples of the "trecento" - a transitional movement in Italian art from Gothic and Renaissance. The bell tower was built from 1298 to 1359, the foundation was laid under the patronage of the architect Arnolfo di Cambio, Giotto created the bell tower project, but during the life of Giotto di Bondone, only the lower tier of the campanile was erected. The bell tower was completed by Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti; the latter, by the way, lined it with three types of marble: white from Carrara, red from Monsummano Terme and Siena, and green from Prato.
In the photo: the bell tower (campanile) of Giotto
As in the case of the baptistery, the external appearance of the campanile contains Christian symbolism - the bas-reliefs by Giotto, decorating the lower level of the bell tower, seven on each side, symbolize the human ability for self-improvement. Many of the statues that decorated the campanile were made by Donatello himself; unfortunately, the originals are now kept in the Duomo Museum, and only copies are exhibited to the public.
CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE
But on the façade of Santa Maria Del Fiore, not all of the original statues have yet been replaced with copies. For example, if you look carefully at the figures of Adam and Eve located on the facade at the gate of the temple, you may notice that the figure of Adam is lighter, but Eve has darkened a little over time. This is due to the fact that the sculpture of Adam is a copy, but the sculptors of the cathedral workshop are still working on the copy of Eve.
In the photo: facade of Santa Maria Del Fiore
By the way, you can watch the work of Donatello and Michelangelo’s successors in “live time” mode; the workshop where copies of the statues are made is located in the alley to the left of the cathedral (if you stand with your back to it). Watching the work of the sculptor Giuseppe is very entertaining, because he makes copies using the same technologies that were used in the fifteenth century. In general, if the Baptistery of Florence has always been the main sacred place of the city, then Santa Maria Del Fiori is not only a cathedral, but also the scene of political intrigues of the Florentine Republic. And here we again have to return to Giovanni Medici, who so successfully lent money to Balthasar Cossa. The fact is that today's pride of Florence, the beautiful Santa Maria del Fiori, has been the shame of the city for more than a century. The initial design of the cathedral turned out to be too bold; as a result, the temple was erected, but crowning it with a dome turned out to be technically impossible, and the duomo stood without a roof.
In the photo: the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore - a symbol of Florence
Then Cosimo Medici, the son of Giovanni Medici, together with his father, for the sake of the future glory of the family, decided on the unprecedented: he entrusted the construction of the dome to Filippo Brunelleschi, an architect and engineer of a new formation, whom many considered almost a city madman for his violent character and unexpected ideas. The Medici sponsored Brunelleschi's trip to Rome, where he studied the structure of the dome of the Pantheon. It was the study of the structure of the dome of the Roman Temple of All Gods that suggested to Brunelleschi the idea of a double frame, that is, that the dome of the cathedral should be erected inside an octagonal drum. Also, using mathematical calculations, the architect deduced what degree of inclination the walls of the dome should have to prevent collapse, and calculated that the brickwork of the dome should be made with an inward slope.
The construction of the dome was completed only in 1436, when Giovanni Medici was no longer alive. But his son Cosimo won a complete political victory over his opponents, and now the Medici family could gain the glory of the most powerful dynasty in Florence. By the way, Cosimo’s path to the top of the Florentine political Olympus was not at all easy and was by no means safe. Thus, in 1433, due to the intrigues of the influential Albizzi family, Cosimo was first imprisoned and then expelled from Florence. True, already in 1434 the Albizzi party was put on trial, and Cosimo returned to the city, where he was greeted as the father of the fatherland. Cosimo de' Medici invited Pope Eugene IV himself to illuminate the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiori, and although the final construction of the cathedral was completed only in 1887, Brunelleschi's gigantic dome has remained the main symbol of Florence since the fifteenth century to this day.
Immediately after the construction of the dome of Santa Maria Del Fiore, Cosimo de' Medici implemented another ambitious project: he decided to propose moving the ecumenical council of the Catholic Church - the main meeting of the clergy - from Ferrara to Florence. Especially for this occasion, thinkers and representatives of the church arrived in Florence not only from all over enlightened Europe, but even from India and Ethiopia (Cosimo, by the way, paid for the travel for foreigners entirely out of his own pocket). Under the shadow of Santa Maria Del Fiore, Platonic readings were held, the streets of the city were filled with foreigners, and Cosimo’s contemporaries began to call Florence the new Rome on the banks of the Arno River.
However, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore became not only a symbol of the triumph of the Medici, but also the place where tragic events took place: on April 26, 1478, during a mass in the cathedral, Florentine patricians tried to stab representatives of the Medici dynasty with daggers. Lorenzo Medici managed to hide behind the heavy doors of the sacristy, but his younger brother Giuliano Medici died.
In the photo: inside Santa Maria Del Fiore looks quite modest
Entrance to the cathedral is paid, it’s worth warning right away; the inside of Santa Maria Del Fiore is not at all as luxurious as the outside. However, it’s still worth going inside if only to feel the strange atmosphere of this place, because it was here, for example, that Girolamo Sovanarola preached, calling on everyone to quickly repent and renounce earthly joys, and in addition, Giotto di Bondone is buried in the cathedral - architect of the bell tower Giotto. Those who are physically strong can climb to the dome of the cathedral or to the top of Giotto's Campanile to admire the bird's eye view of Florence, but for others we suggest going to the very heart of the city - to Piazza della Signoria.
SIGNORIA SQUARE
Piazza della Signoria with the famous Palazzo Vecchio is the place where the heart of Florence beat in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. It must be said that at that time this Italian city, or rather the republic, was, without exaggeration, the center of European life. All ambitious people endowed with a wide variety of talents flocked here, not only artists and poets, but also politicians, businessmen and clergy.
In general, Florence in the fifteenth century can be compared with New York in the twentieth century, the same rhythm of life, the same passion for discovering new things. The Palazzo Vecchio, the main government building of the Florentine Republic, has been compared to a rook chess piece, which is not far from the truth. By the way, an exact copy of the palazzo was erected in the town of Montepulciano, where the second part of “Twilight” was filmed, so the style of Florentine architecture was not only admired, it was copied.
At the entrance there is a copy of Michelangelo’s “David” in company with Ammanati’s “Neptune”, “Hercules and Cacus”. The abundance of naked male bodies confuses some tourists, while others, on the contrary, inspire, one way or another, but even Dan Brown in his “Inferno” talked about the fact that the number of stone penises in Piazza della Signoria is somewhat excessive for the eyes. By the way, in the square near the naked sculptures they burned the preacher Girolamo Sovanarola, who fiercely opposed the depraved Pope Borgia, depraved sodomites, depraved ladies and, by the way, depraved sculptures. Now the place of his execution is marked with a metal medallion, which is typical because it is located in close proximity to the sculptural riot of male nudity.
In the neighboring palazzos of Piazza della Signoria there are boutiques of the best brands: the flagship Chanel boutique looks at the Palazzo Vecchio, and on the right on the square there is a Gucci boutique with a museum of the Florentine fashion house. If you are partial to fashion, then you can look into the Gucci Museum - the visit will take a maximum of half an hour, and the most interesting thing in the exhibition is the exclusive dresses that the fashion house sewed for actresses for a spectacular appearance at the Oscars or at the Cannes Film Festival. We and those who prefer history to fashion are going to Palazzo Vecchio.
PALAZZO VECCHIO
Palazzo Vecchio is not only a museum, but also a government building, however, its most interesting part is open to tourists. Don't skimp and buy a full ticket to see not only the halls where the ruling families of Florence met, but also the catacombs, and also climb the tower to see the entire historical center of the city from its top.
It is best to start your visit to Palazzo Vecchio from below, going underground. Then it suddenly turns out that the history of Florence begins not with the Middle Ages, and certainly not with the Renaissance, but with the times of the ancient Romans, and the current center of the city at that time was the outskirts. The Romans often built theaters on the outskirts of cities, and Florence was no exception to the rule. Yes, hidden under the floors of the Palazzo Vecchio are the ruins of a huge ancient Roman theater. To enhance the effect of immersion into the depths of centuries in the truest sense of the word, projections using shadow theater technology are shown on the stone ruins: the shadows of actors playing flutes or dancing among age-old stones turn a walk through the ruins into an almost mystical act.
In the photo: a shadow theater on the ruins of an ancient Roman theater in the Palazzo Vecchio
We continue our walk through Palazzo Vecchio, going up to Hall of the Five Hundred(Salone dei Cinquecento) and immediately move from ancient times to the end of the fifteenth century. The Five Hundred Hall was once the largest hall of the government council, consisting of 500 people (hence the name), but now chamber concerts are often held here. The Hall of the Five Hundred acquired its current appearance thanks to the engineer Giorgio Vasari, who managed to raise the roof of the room - as a result, daylight began to penetrate into the hall through the windows, and at the same time decorated the walls of the hall with large-scale frescoes.
In the photo: Hall of the Five Hundred in Palazzo Vecchio
It is Vasari’s giant frescoes that immediately attract the attention of guests of the Palazzo Vecchio, and tourists who have read the novel “Inferno” immediately begin to look at the giant canvas “The Battle of Marciano”, on which there is a mysterious inscription "Cerca Trova" ("Seek and you will find"). But we are sadly forced to admit, no matter how beautiful Vasari’s frescoes are, previously in their place there was “The Battle of Anghiari” by Leonardo da Vinci and “The Battle of Cascina” by Michelangelo, neither from one nor from the second canvas after the reconstruction of the Vasari hall - Lorenzo’s favorite architect There was no trace left of the Medici.
In the photo: Vasari's fresco "Battle of Marciano" with the inscription "Cerca Trova"
(“Seek and ye shall find”) from the book “Inferno” by Dan Brown.
But among the statues of the Hall of Five Hundred you can see Michelangelo’s sculpture “The Spirit of Victory” (Italian: Genio della Vittoria). By the way, this statue is one of the most mysterious works of Buanarroti; for example, art historians still cannot clearly decide whether Michelangelo did not have time to complete the statue, or whether it was deliberately made using the “non finito” technique. The most curious thing is that initially the sculpture of an elegant young man (Michelangelo sculpted the statue from his lover Tommaso Cavalieri) was planned to be installed as a tombstone on the grave of the conservative Pope Julius II, an ardent opponent of homosexuality. One way or another, the statue was in Michelangelo’s Florentine workshop until his death, and now it can be seen in the Hall of the Five Hundred. By the way, as at the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio, in the Hall of Five Hundred there is no shortage of male nudity, as are the statues demonstrating the exploits of Hercules, which, according to Renaissance sculptors, the ancient hero performed exclusively naked.
In the photo: Michelangelo’s sculpture “The Spirit of Victory” (Italian: Genio della Vittoria)
After admiring the frescoes and statues, take a look at Lo Studiolo- small office of Francesco I. All the walls of the office are decorated with an incredible number of paintings; more than three dozen masterpieces of fine art, one might say, crowd into a small space. Overall, Lo Studiolo is a great place to practice focusing on one object among many others, otherwise you will inevitably feel like you are inside a colorful kaleidoscope.
In the photo: Lo Studiolo in Palazzo Vecchio
Then stroll through the halls of the palazzo, many of them are dedicated to representatives of the Medici family, which is reflected both in the names of the rooms and in the decor - frescoes illustrate all the significant milestones in the history of the city's ruling dynasty.
In the photo: frescoes in the hall named after Cosimo de' Medici, on the frescoes
depictedconstruction of the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
In one of the halls on the second floor you will see Dante's death mask. The author of the Divine Comedy was expelled from Florence; his tomb is located in Ravenna, but a mask-cast from the face of the deceased was brought to Florence. In “Inferno,” Dan Brown writes that Dante’s death mask makes a frightening impression on the viewer, but I don’t agree with this; rather, there is a feeling of aching sadness.
In the photo: Dante Alighieri's death mask in the Palazzo Vecchio
The visit to the Palazzo Vecchio ends in the Cartography Hall, the same one in the center of which there is a globe, and where Robert Landon, together with his assistant Siena, discovered a secret passage to the palace's bins under the map of Armenia. Of course, you won’t be allowed into any secret passage, but studying ancient maps on which, for example, Russia is called Tartary is a very entertaining activity.
In the photo: the Cartography Room in Palazzo Vecchio
Finally, climb the tower of Palazzo Vecchio for a bird's-eye view of the old town. The only thing is, be prepared to stand in line for some time; tourists are allowed to the top of the tower in small groups.
LOGGIA LANTZI
Leaving the Palazzo Vecchiu, we set off to wander around the statues. Here, under the arches erected between 1376 and 1382, there are sculptures that are the property of the Uffizi Gallery (by the way, it is located here, you just need to go through the arch).
In the photo: stone lion in the Loggia Lanzi
During the time of the Florentine Republic, receptions for the nobility were held in the loggia, but now young people smoke on its steps, and tourists shamelessly climb onto statues of stone lions and selflessly photograph “Perseus with the Head of Medusa” by Benvenuto Cellini or a copy of “The Rape of the Sabine Women” by Giambologna. By the way, some of the female statues exhibited in the galleries are ancient originals.
In the photo: “Perseus with the Head of Medusa” by Benvenuto Cellini in the Loggia Lanzi
SECOND HALF OF THE DAY: THROUGH DANTE AND PONTE VECCHIO
In the afternoon we suggest you take a walk through the places of Dante Alighieri, but first we will have a snack. However, in this case, we have the opportunity to combine a tasting of one Florentine gastronomic specialty with a walk through the places of Dante - a good eatery where they cook real lampredotto- a Florentine tripe sandwich - is located in the building next door to the Church of Santa Margherita dei Cerchi, the same one that is also called Dante's Church.
In the photo: a snack bar next to the Church of St. Margaret dei Cerchi
We take lampredotto from the window - a bun stuffed with boiled rennet - a cow's stomach, and, like true Florentines, we eat it right on the street. By the way, this sandwich has been eaten in Florence since the fifteenth century, and it got its name because of its external similarity with lampreys, which used to be found in large numbers in the Arno River, lamprey in Italian - “lampreda”.
CHURCH OF SAINT MARGARETA DEI CERCHI AND HOUSE OF DANTE
Having refreshed ourselves, we head to the outwardly unassuming Church of St. Margaret dei Cerchi (Chiesa di Santa Margherita dei Cerchi). Its ascetic appearance is explained by its age, because the church was built in 1032, that is, during the dark Middle Ages. It is believed that it was here that Dante met the love of his life, Beatrice Portinari, which, by the way, is not true; the poet met his muse at the age of nine at a party in her father’s house.
In the photo: Church of St. Margaret dei Cerchi
But in this church, Dante married his unloved wife Gemma Donati, and here is the tomb of Beatrice - Dante’s beloved died at the age of 24, that is, very young even by the standards of the Renaissance. Notes are often left at Beatrice's grave asking for help in love affairs, and her modest tombstone is invariably decorated with fresh flowers.
In the photo: Beatrice Portinari's tombstone
By the way, the small church of Santa Margherita dei Cerchi inside also looks more than simple: no frescoes, no paintings, the atmosphere is enlivened only by children's drawings depicting the life of Dante - this is the work of Italian schoolchildren. Literally a stone's throw from the church (just follow the signs Casa di Dante) there is also a house-museum of the poet. The building is not original, it was built only in the first decade of the twentieth century, however, on the site where the house that belonged to the Alighieri family actually used to be located.
In the photo: Dante's house-museum in Florence
There is a museum in the house, a visit to which will take you a maximum of half an hour, but you will be able to see not only clothes from Dante’s era and reconstructed furnishings, but also, for example, a home chemical laboratory - the best minds of the Renaissance conducted experiments in similar ones, by the way, Dante himself did alchemy I didn’t shy away from it at all.
PONTE VECCHIO - THE GOLDEN BRIDGE OF FLORENCE
We go from Dante's house to Ponte Vecchio - the old bridge of Florence, which is now often called the bridge from the film "Perfume". It's all about the external similarity of the structures - on the Ponte Vecchio, as on the Money Changer Bridge, there is an incredible number of shops, however, they sell not perfumes, but gold jewelry, hence the second name of the bridge - Golden.
However, this was not always the case; initially there were butchers’ shops on the Ponte Vecchio, but they emitted such a terrible smell that in 1593 the butchers were expelled from the bridge, and jewelers took their place. By the way, the name Vecchio, that is, “old”, is also not without reason; the current bridge was built back in 1345 to the design of the architect Neri di Fioravanti. Until this time, the two banks of the Arno River were first connected by a bridge built by the Romans, but it collapsed in 1117, then by a bridge of an unknown architect, which stood until 1333 and collapsed during a flood.
But the current design of the bridge is unique not only because it is surprisingly strong, but also because Giordo Vasari (author of the Hall of the Five Hundred) built a secret corridor above the bridge that connects Palazzo Vecchio with Palazzo Pitti, located on the other side of the river, the palace where they lived Medici. By the way, according to some reports, the butchers were driven away from the bridge precisely on the initiative of Lorenzo Medici, because the stench from their shops penetrated into the secret corridor. When you walk along the Ponte Vecchio, not only admire the panorama of the Arno River from the observation deck in the center of the bridge and look into the jewelers' shops, but also try to find plaques on the bridge with quotes from Dante's Paradise - the first one is located right at the entrance. These tablets are a reminder of the murder of the Florentine Buondelmonte, which occurred in 1216, but had centuries-old consequences.
In the photo: panorama of the Arno River from the center of the bridge
The fact is that the Florentine Buondelmonte, for the sake of his beloved, refused to marry the bride whom his family had chosen for him. The family of the rejected bride was not going to forgive this and brutally killed the young man right on the bridge, just like Frey killed Robb in “Games of Thrones.” Because of the murder, a split occurred between the two Florentine parties, then they were at odds with each other for centuries, and the number of victims of the conflict was no longer even in the dozens. By the way, it was this political strife that caused Dante’s expulsion from Florence.
In the photo: jewelers' shops on Ponte Vecchio
After walking along the bridge, return to the old city; on the way back, take a look at New Florentine Market(Loggia del Mercato Nuovo). In terms of shopping, there is absolutely nothing to do here, because the market has long been firmly occupied by suppliers of cheap consumer goods from the People's Republic of China, but this is where another symbol of the city is located - boar statue.
It is believed that if you rub the heels of a boar, you will definitely return to Florence. We give three animals a nose and go to dinner.
DAY TWO: VISITING MUSEUMS AND THE TEMPLE OF SANTA CROCE
MORNING AND AFTERNOON: UFFIZI GALLERY
To visit the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most famous and oldest museums in Italy, you need to budget at least half a day. The second mandatory point is to purchase tickets in advance on the website, otherwise you will spend a good half of the day in line to enter, and if you come to Florence at the height of the tourist season, you may not get into the gallery at all: there is a crowd of people who want to see “Spring” and “ The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli, "The Adoration of the Magi" and "The Annunciation" by Leonardo da Vinci or "Venus of Urbino" by Titian does not dry out from year to year. The second important point is that on Mondays, like all Italian museums, the Uffizi is closed; take this into account when planning your trip.
However, even if you buy a ticket in advance, you will still have to spend some time in line to enter the Uffizi. Don't waste it while you stand under the arches of the museum and study the statues of the great citizens of Florence, who silently look down on the city's visitors from their stone pedestals. Leonardo, Machiavelli, Donatello, Michelangelo, Giotto, Lorenzo Medici, Alberti - here they are, all over the place, the great men of the Florentine Republic, those who managed to turn the tide of history, speed up the passage of time and create the miracle of the Italian Renaissance.
One can talk endlessly about the Uffizi Gallery itself. Let's limit ourselves to just a few facts: it was originally conceived by Cosimo I de' Medici as a palace under the arch of which all the administrative services of the city would be united, but since 1575 the gallery has worked as a museum. The basis of the exhibition was the personal collection of the Medici, and here it is necessary to stipulate one important point: in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the art market in the modern sense did not exist in Europe, and all artists and sculptors worked only if they received a good order. The main customer was always either the Catholic Church or representatives of wealthy European families.
In Florence, as is understandable, such a family were the Medici. So, "Birth of Venus"- the most famous exhibit of the Uffizi today - Sandro Botticelli painted at the request of Lorenzo de' Medici the Magnificent, a representative of the ruling dynasty of Florence wanted to give his cousin an erotic painting for his wedding that would decorate the newlyweds' bedroom.
"Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli
By the way, all the men of the Medici family went crazy over the beautiful Simonetta Vespucci, with whom Botticelli painted his Venus: both Lorenzo the Magnificent and his younger brother Giuliano. According to rumors, the beauty chose the younger of the two brothers, because Giuliano had more free time to fully care for the most beautiful woman in Florence.
After visiting the Uffizi, be sure to have a snack; fortunately, a good place for lunch is located nearby, a stone’s throw from Piazza San Martino. Look for a three-table eatery Sogni e Sapori(address - Via dei Cimatori, 22r, 50122), they serve delicious soups and the famous ribollita - boiled vegetables with pieces of bread, a traditional Tuscan dish.
SECOND HALF OF THE DAY: TEMPLES OF FLORENCE
BASILICA OF SANTA CROCE
It must be said that several monastic orders operated in Florence at once and each of them erected its own basilica. In the south of the city, representatives of the Carmelite Order built Santa Maria del Carmine, in the north-west of the city the Dominicans built Santa Maria Novella, and in the south of Florence the Franciscans built a magnificent Santa Croce According to legend, the famous temple was founded not by anyone, but by Francis of Assisi himself.
In the photo: Basilica of Santa Croce with a statue of Dante at the entrance
Today, city guests go to the largest Franciscan church in Italy mainly to admire the frescoes and sculptures of Giotto, but in addition, Galileo Galilei, Niccolò Machiavelli, Michelangelo and other great men of Florence are buried here.
In the photo: Michelangelo's tomb in Santa Croce
SANTA MARIA NOVELLA: TEMPLE AND FAMOUS PHARMACY
We head to the north-west of Florence, more precisely to the area of the railway station, where the Dominican Basilica is located Santa Maria Novella. Like Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella houses many works of art from the 14th to 16th centuries, but we would like to mention not the frescoes of Domenico Ghirlandaio and Sebastiano Mainardi that decorate the church, but the fact that this particular basilica is mentioned in “ Decameron" by Boccaccio, here a meeting of young people takes place, who together decide to flee from plague-ridden Florence.
In the photo: Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Not far from the church there is a famous one (address: Via della Scala, 16, 501123, Firenze, Tel +39 055 216276), founded by Dominican monks.
Since 1612, it has been selling elixirs, all kinds of rubs, soaps, herbs, and the main hit of the pharmacy is perfumes "Acqua della Regina", which Catherine de Medici herself used.
EVENING: FLORENCE CENTRAL MARKET AND PAZA MICHELANGELLO
After a rich cultural program, take a look at the Lower Rows located in the same area, which are open only in the morning, but the second floor, where it is open until late. Here you can try all the Florentine gastronomic specialties at once; if you like it and want to expand your acquaintance with Tuscan cuisine, visit the market again the next morning, then you can take a walk along the lower rows of the mercato, where the Florentines themselves buy food.
In the photo: second floor of Mercato Centrale
If after dinner you have an irresistible desire to admire the sunset, then right next to the market, take one of the municipal buses heading towards Piazza Michelangelo. During the trip, you will definitely see the ancient Roman gate to the city, where bride fairs were held in ancient times, and Piazzale Michelangelo itself is very easy to identify - in its center stands another copy of “David”.
In the photo: panorama of Florence from the top of Piazza Michelangelo
But, most importantly, it offers an exceptional view of the old town of Florence and the dome of Santa Maria Del Fiore, and you can watch the rays of the setting sun caress its red roof until the velvet Tuscan night finally falls on the city .
THIRD DAY: MEET “DAVID” AND GO TO THE BOBOLI GARDENS
MORNING: BARGELLO NATIONAL MUSEUM
OR ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
This is the story with the “Davids” in Florence. There are two famous sculptures: one is the well-known work of Michelangelo, the other is a statue by Donatello, by the way, his “David” is the first sculptural image of a naked male figure since antiquity.
In the photo: “David” by Donatello at an exhibition in Milan
Both sculptures were born thanks to the fact that the Medici actively patronized artists: Donatello received an order from Cosimo Medici, and the second famous representative of the dynasty - Lorenzo Medici the Magnificent - was the first to pay attention to the promising young sculptor Michelangelo, after which he invited the talented young man to live in Palazzo Pitti, where Buanarroti was able to develop his talent and cultivate high artistic taste.
The problem is that the statues are displayed in different places: Michelangelo's David is in the Academy of Fine Arts, and Donatello's David is in the National Bargello Museum (Museo Nazionale del Bargello). To decide which museum you want to visit, below is a brief information about both places.
Museo Nazionale del Bargello- the oldest public building in the city, looks very similar to the famous Palazzo Vecchio, which is not surprising, because it was the Bargello that was taken as a model during the construction of the palace where the government of the Florentine Republic met.
In the photo: the building of the Museo Nazionale del Bargello
Over the course of its history, the building has served as the residence of the podesta (city governor), the city council, a prison, and even a barracks. The sculpture museum was opened here in the 19th century. In addition to Donatello’s David, the Bargello exhibition includes four works by Michelangelo: the sculpture “Bacchus”, the bust “Brutus”, “Tondo Pitti” and “David-Apollo”. There is no need to buy tickets in advance to visit the museum; there is usually a short queue at the entrance.
In the photo: the original “David” by Michelangelo in the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts
But the original sculpture by Michelangelo is exhibited in Florence Galleries of the Academy of Fine Arts. The gallery was founded by the Archduke of Tuscan Pietro Leopoldo I di Lorena in 1784, the collection of sculptures and paintings by masters of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance is huge, but remember, the Academy is not only a museum, but also an educational institution, so if you want to see “ David" and "Prisoners" by Michelangelo, as well as the original "The Rape of the Sabine Women" by Giambologna, buy tickets in advance and check the time of your visit on the website.
Admission fees and opening hours of the Academy of Fine Arts:
BOBOLI GARDENS AND PALAZZO PITTI
Since in our story about Florence the Medici surname appeared in every third sentence, it’s time to see where the representatives of the noble family lived and go along the Ponte Vecchio to the other side of the Arno River - to Palazzo Pitti And Boboli Gardens.
Palazzo Pitti(Palazzo Pitti) by the standards of the Renaissance was considered an impregnable citadel; here the Medici could hide from their enemies, and they arrived at the Palazzo Vecchio along Vasari’s secret corridor, built above the bridge. In the halls of the palazzo itself, an extremely diverse range of artistic paintings are now displayed: from family portraits of representatives of the Florentine aristocracy to examples of modern art. Whether it’s good or bad, now social receptions are often held in Palazzo Pitti: buffet tables are set in the halls of the palace, crystal chandeliers light up with bright light, and here, just like in ancient times, music sounds, women’s laughter and the clink of glasses are heard.
In the photo: reception at Palazzo Pitti on the occasion of the gastronomic exhibition
And here Boboli Gardens- a classic Italian park with the obligatory sculptures, grottoes, rose gardens, pavilions, fountains and alleys. They began to be laid out during the life of Cosimo Medici; the detailed plan of the park was developed by the architect Nicolo Tribolo, and some of the buildings were designed by Giorgio Vasari, one of the favorite architects of Lorenzo Medici the Magnificent. The Boboli Gardens are not as luxurious as the same Villa d’Este, located in the city of Tivoli near Rome, but even here you can find a lot of interesting things. For example, the Cerchiata Tunnel, which looks like endless green arches, or the “Fountain of Little Ugly Faces”, which in the times of Lorenzo Medici was used for hunting birds - water dripped from the stone masks of the fountain, and when the birds flew to drink, nets were thrown over them .
Pictured: "Fountain of Little Ugly Faces" in Boboli Gardens
Another interesting exhibit of the Boboli Gardens is the “Bronze Neptune” - a fountain by Stoldo Lorenzi. The artistic merits of this sculpture raise many questions among modern Italians, and Lorenzi’s creation is often mockingly called “Neptune with a fork.” However, the Italians are not too fond of the statue depicting a naked fat dwarf sitting astride a turtle; by the way, this is a court jester, a favorite of the Medici family.
But, of course, the most interesting place in the gardens is Grotto Buontalenti- a suite of three caves named after their creator. The walls of the caves are decorated with sculptures and bas-reliefs, and the statues are inscribed in the structure of the sandstone so organically that it seems as if they are frozen spirits of the cave, eager to break free from stone captivity. According to the idea of the Medici, the grotto was to be used for the entertainment of young people; by the way, during the reign of the dynasty, water flowed along the walls of the caves, which, on the one hand, enhanced the mystical atmosphere that still reigns in the Buontalenti Grotto, and on the other, served as an analogue modern air conditioner, because it perfectly cooled the air of the cave even on a hot Tuscan afternoon.
In the photo: Buontalenti Grotto in the Boboli Gardens
After walking around the Boboli Gardens, sit down in the summer cafe, open at the highest point of the park, because the gardens are located on a hill overlooking Florence. Order yourself a glass of chianti reserve and, while sipping wine, enjoy the panorama of the evening city opening from the top of the hill.
It is impossible to find a better place to say goodbye to Florence than the Boboli Gardens, however, it is impossible to say to Florence: “Goodbye” and in no case should you, instead tell her: “Goodbye”, or even better: “See you soon” .
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Yulia Malkova- Yulia Malkova - founder of the website project. In the past, he was the editor-in-chief of the elle.ru Internet project and the editor-in-chief of the cosmo.ru website. I talk about travel for my own pleasure and the pleasure of my readers. If you are a representative of hotels or a tourism office, but we do not know each other, you can contact me by email: [email protected]
If you don't have much time to explore the city, dedicate at least a day to Florence. Don't go to museums, just walk the streets - you will find many genuine masterpieces here. I offer you a walking route through the most vibrant and interesting places.
For some reason, Florence is often viewed as a secondary city, unworthy of close attention. Many consider it an intermediate travel point that can be visited while passing through. But this is a great city - a treasury of architecture, the cradle of the Renaissance.
If you don't have much time to explore the city, dedicate at least a day to Florence. Don't go to museums, just walk the streets - you will find many genuine masterpieces here.
I offer you a walking route through the most vibrant and interesting places of the ancient Tuscan “flower city”.
Piazza della Signoria
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Baptistery of St. John the Baptist
Shelter of the Innocents
San Marco. Square and monastery
Basilica of San Lorenzo
Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Strozzi Palace
Church of Santo Spirito
Palazzo Pitti
Ponte Vecchio Bridge
1. Piazza della Signoria
Piazza della Signoria (photo: Been Around)
All tourists strive for the magnificent Piazza Signoria. This is an iconic place for Florence - a square with a rich history. Even in ancient Roman times, there was a theater here; on its ruins, the Ghibellines of Uberti built their residential towers. Years passed, all the towers were destroyed, and the majestic Palazzo Vecchio was erected on the square.
Address: Piazza della Signoria.
2. Palazzo Vecchio
The architecture of this palace makes it stand out from the surrounding buildings. Palazzo Vecchio looks more like a fortress than a government palace. In 1299 it was erected for the priors of Florence, and today it houses the town hall. In addition to the administrative role, the building also performs a tourist function - it works as an art museum.
Address: Piazza della Signoria
3. Pavilion Loggia dei Lanzi
Pavilion Loggia Lanzi, photo Urim Gacaferi
An open gallery hall with a colonnade, called Loggia Lanzi (originally Loggia dei Priori), was built in the 14th century. for the Florentine authorities. The government hosted official events and ceremonies in the Loggia. At one time, the guards of Duke Cosimo I de' Medici were stationed here, and later the pavilion was turned into a sculpture museum. This is how it is now used.
Address: Piazza della Signoria
From Piazza della Signoria, take Via de Gondi. Turn left at the first intersection and after a block you will see the oldest secular building in the city - Palazzo Bargello.
4. Bargello Palace
Bargello, photo HEN-Magonza
This palazzo, which has existed since 1255, now houses a museum. Here are collected statues of the Renaissance - the work of the great Michelangelo, Giambologna and Ammanati, the brilliant Cellini and Donatello. Within the walls of the Nazionale del Bargello museum you can see collections of jewelry, majolica, and tapestries.
Address: Via del Proconsolo, 4.
See opening hours and prices for entrance tickets.
Walk past Palazzo Bargello along Via del Proconsolo. Soon you will approach the altar of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, which means “flower of St. Mary”.
5. Duomo of Florence (La Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore)
The huge cathedral was built over six centuries. Six architects from different times contributed to the construction. The building was built to be spacious - the entire population of Florence in the 13th century could enter it at once. The temple's dome (now Brunelleschi's dome) was an outstanding engineering achievement of its time. The architect Brunelleschi managed to install it without scaffolding. He used unprecedented technologies to install the dome, using technical devices of his own invention. Today, the dome of the cathedral, its lacy façade and elegant campanile amaze observers with their grandeur and delight with their beauty.
6. Giotto's Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto)
The Campanile of the Florentine Duomo was built by the great Giotto. The bell tower is part of the Cathedral, but it stands separately, to the right of it, on the square. To cover the façade of the tower, marble was brought from three regions - the building turned out to be elegant, three-colored. According to Cambio's original plan, the bell tower was supposed to be built in a Gothic style - elongated, pointed. Giotto revised the project of his predecessor. The effect of the tower reaching towards the sky according to Giotto’s plan is achieved through harmonious proportions and different window heights, increasing from floor to floor.
7. Baptistery of John the Baptist (Battistero di San Giovanni)
The squat, octagonal building of the Baptistery of San Giovanni is considered the oldest in the Duomo complex. It stood on the square long before the construction of the cathedral. Already in the 5th century there was the first baptismal church here. The modern version of the baptistery has existed since the 10th century.
The main decoration of the building is its gates, decorated with bas-reliefs on biblical themes. The sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti dedicated more than half a century to the creation of the eastern and northern doors of the Baptistery of San Giovanni.
From the Duomo, walk along the narrow street Via dei Servi. You will arrive at Piazza Santissima Annunziata. There is an orphanage there.
8. Shelter of the Innocents (Ospedale degli Innocenti)
The Renaissance building of the Orphanage with a unique facade stands on the Square of the Holy Annunciation. The Ospedale degli Innocenti complex was built in the 15th century. This is another creation of the famous Brunelleschi - the first architectural example of the Renaissance in Florence. Orphans and street children were kept here. On the territory of the Orphanage there were workshops, a nursery for children and a school. It was the first comprehensive orphanage in Europe.
Address: Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, 12.
Official website: istitutodeglinnocenti.it.
From Piazza Santissima Annunziata you can walk along Via Cesare Battisti to Piazza San Marco.
9. San Marco. Square and monastery (Convento di San Marco)
San Marco complex, photo Julien
The monastery of St. Mark was founded in the 13th century by Sylvestrine monks. In the 15th century, the monastery complex was transferred to the Dominicans, after which its Renaissance reconstruction began. The patron of the works was the elder Cosimo de' Medici; The performer was Michelozzo di Bartolomeo. For the period 1437–42. the refectory and the Chapter Hall were redesigned, new cells were equipped, a library was created, and a beautiful garden was laid out.
Address: Piazza di San Marco
See opening hours and prices for entrance tickets to the San Marco Museum (Museo di San Marco).
From Piazza San Marco leads via Camillo Cavour. At the intersection of this street with Via de Gori (Gori) stands the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi
10. Palazzo Medici Riccardi
The elegant palazzo is located a hundred meters from the Duomo. The façade of the palace is faced with rusticated masonry made of unpolished rough stone, so the building resembles a fortress. Under the Medici, the first floor was occupied by servants, and gentlemen lived on the second. There was also a bank in the family palace that belonged to Cosimo the elder.
Address: Via Camillo Cavour, 3
See opening hours and prices for entrance tickets.
If you walk forward along Via de Gori and then, at the second intersection, turn right, you will see one of the oldest Christian churches in Italy - San Lorenzo.
11. Basilica of San Lorenzo
This temple contains many works of art, but most tourists visit the Basilica of San Lorenzo to look at the Medici family chapel. The sacristy for a noble family was built and decorated by Michelangelo Buonarotti in 1520–34. In the chapel you can see an allegorical sculptural group created by the greatest genius of the Renaissance. The compositions “Day”, “Night”, “Evening” and “Morning” impress with their elegiac mood and amazing harmony.
Address: Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9
Official website: operamedicealaurenziana.org
See opening hours and prices for entrance tickets.
From the basilica, walk along Via del Giglio. At the intersection with Via dei Banchi there is a crossing, cross the square. On the left side there is a beautiful temple, the facade of which is decorated with marble patterns. This is Santa Maria Novella.
12. Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
The beautiful basilica attracts tourists not only with its bright early Renaissance façade, but also with the wonderful Byzantine frescoes preserved in the interior. The events of Boccaccio's Decameron unfolded in this church.
After viewing the temple, the beautiful courtyard adjacent to it and the 14th-century Spanish Chapel, turn your back to Piazza Santa Maria Novella. Continue along Via del Sole until the junction with Via Tornabuoni. You will see one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in Florence - Palazzo Strozzi.
13. Strozzi Palace
The three-story palace was built for the noble Strozzi family, but the work was completed only in 1507, after the death of the customer. The main architect of the project was Benedetto da Maiano. The building has a flat façade, it is lined with rusticated stone blocks and looks very harmonious. Now the Palazzo Strozzi is used for exhibitions and social cultural events.
Address: Piazza degli Strozzi.
See opening hours.
See prices for entrance tickets.
Continue along Via Tornabuoni. In the small square of Santa Trinita you will see a tall monument - a pillar "Column of Justice". This column is a gift from Pope Pius IV to Duke Cosimo I. Before its installation in the square, the colossus was located in the Baths of Caracalla.
In Piazza Santa Trinita there is a Gothic temple - the medieval one of the same name Church of Santa Trinita. The appearance of the building’s façade dates back to the 16th century – that’s when the last reconstruction took place. The church is famous for the Sassetti Chapel, painted by Domenico Ghirlandaio himself. After leaving the square, you will come to the Holy Trinity Bridge.
14. Ponte Santa Trinità
Florence's Holy Trinity Bridge, connecting the banks of the Arno, looks airy and weightless. Bartolomeo Ammanati, who carried out this project, sought to create both a reliable and beautiful structure.
Cross the Santa Trinita Bridge to the opposite bank, and then move right along Via Santo Spirito to Piazza del Carmine. There you will see the temple of Santa Maria del Carmine. Hidden in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine is a true gem - the Brancacci Chapel.
15. Brancacci Chapel (Cappella Brancacci)
Brancacci Chapel, photo Luke Canvin
The chapel was built by order of the Brancacci family in the 14th century. It became the brightest monument of the early Renaissance period. The frescoes decorating the walls, lunettes and vaults were painted by the artists Masaccio and Masolino in the 15th century. The main motifs of the frescoes were scenes from the life of St. Peter and the theme of original sin. This pictorial cycle is considered the most significant work of Masaccio - at the time of work in the chapel the artist was a little over twenty years old. The chapel experienced two major restorations: in the 18th and 20th centuries. Since 1990 it has been opened to the general public.
Address: Piazza del Carmine.
Official website: museicivicifiorentini.comune.fi.it
After leaving the basilica, go right. If you follow Via Santa Monaca, which turns into Via Sant Agostino, you will reach Piazza di Santo Spirito, where there is an elegant basilica.
16. Church of Santo Spirito (Basilica di Santo Spirito)
Basilica of Santo Spirito, photo by Scott MacLeod Liddle
The architect Brunelleschi wanted to build the Basilica of the Holy Spirit so that its main façade would face the banks of the Arno. For such construction it was necessary to demolish several city buildings, so it was not possible to fully implement the original project. The temple building turned out to be strict, elegant in its simplicity.
Pitti Palace
The three-story Renaissance Palazzo Pitti in the Oltrarno district was built for the family of the Florentine aristocrat Luca Pitti. In the middle of the 16th century, the unfinished building came into the possession of the Medici, and was reconstructed and expanded to the taste of the new owners. The construction of the Pitti Palace was completed in 1560.
Now the palace houses one of the largest museum complexes. There are several diverse museums of art and history open here.
Address: Piazza de Pitti, 1.
See opening hours and prices for entrance tickets.
Not far from Palazzo Pitti there is the bank of the Arno and the famous Ponte Vecchio - the Old Bridge of Florence.
18. Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio)
This bridge has existed since the times of the ancient Romans. He survived various events in the life of the city and was the only one to survive the Second World War.
Its current appearance dates back to the 14th century. In 1333, the Old Bridge was washed away by a flood. It was restored by Taddeo Gaddi. Since 1442, Ponte Vecchio has become a trade bridge, a status it retains today. It is difficult to cross here during the daytime - the bridge is besieged by tourists. However, you can appreciate the unique architecture of the Ponte Vecchio.
Cross the bridge, turn right. The Arno embankment will lead to the Uffizi Gallery.
19. Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi)
The Uffizi Palace was originally intended for state magistrates. Construction was initiated by Cosimo I de' Medici. The building was built by 1581, but in the 17th century the decoration of its interiors was still ongoing.
Several generations of Medici collected works of art, and the palace was eventually turned into a museum. It received its first visitors back in the 16th century, and finally became a public gallery in 1765. Now the Uffizi Gallery houses the largest collection of Renaissance art. Tickets for this museum must be booked in advance.
Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6.
Official website: uffizi.firenze.it
See opening hours and prices for entrance tickets.
The circular route around beautiful Florence will end at the Uffizi Palace.
The article uses materials from the site: redigo.ru
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if you have 2 days in Florence, then the first day can be devoted to the most famous ones, such as the Ponte Vecchio bridge, and the second day can be used to examine church masterpieces and works of art in Palazzo Pitti.
In two days in Florence you can see most of the city's treasures, devoting the third day to trips to the surrounding towns.
Florence sightseeing program for day 2:
Florence route on day 2:
2. Giardino di Boboli
3. Vasari Corridor (Corridoio vasariano)
7. - located on . This majestic 14th-century building is now the City Hall of Florence and one of the most important public buildings in Italy. The original palace was called Palazzo della Signoria, in honor of the government body of the Florentine Republic - the Signoria. Here you can visit the Palazzo Vecchio museum, archaeological excavations, climb the tower to admire the panorama of Florence, and walk along the fortifications. Ticket 10.00 - 18.00 €, depending on what is included.
