Florence

Florence’s history is dominated by the remarkable Medici dynasty. Their rise from amongst the many great banking families of medieval Italy to total power is without precedent.

Set in Tuscany, on the banks of the River Arno, Florence, historic centre is small and compact enough to visit on foot, enabling the visitor to marvel at the wonders of the city, its art, architecture, palaces, and elegant shops .

Cathedral  or ( Duomo ) & Giotto’s Tower :- Europe’s fourth largest church, dominated by the great orange - tiled dome of Brunelleschi. Nearby is the Cathedral’s Baptistry, famed for its three sets of great bronze doors, two of which are by Ghiberti.  Next to the cathedral stand the imposing  Giotto’s tower, traces its origins to the 4thcentury.

Uffizi Gallery:- This is Italy’s most famous art gallery and it houses the greatest collection of renaissance paintings, its magnificent interiors exhibiting priceless works including Michelangelo, Titian, Rubens, Giotto Cimabue,and many other famous names.

Accademia Gallery:- The oldest art school in the world, it houses some major sculptures by Michelangelo, his monumental statue of David completed in 1504 when he was only 29.

Palazzo Vecchio ( Town Hall ):- The seat of Florence’s government since medieval times. The Medici Grand Dukes transformed the medieval and early renaissance interiors into a series of lavishly frescos,as the setting for the more ceremonial aspects of their rule.

Piazza della Signoria:- (Central Square)  The statues dominating the Piazza della Signoria commemorate major historical events of the city's life ,under the nearby Loggia dei Lanzi are a group of sculptures by all the leading names of Florentine sculpture school across two centuries: Donatello, Cellini, Giambologna and Ammannati.

Pitti Palace:-This has a superb range of fine frescoed interiors,the Pitti’s collections reflect the power and wealth of the Medici dynasty in the 16th&17thcenturies.Do not forget also to visit the Boboli Gardens

Ponte Vecchio:- (Old Bridge) The bridge was built in 1345,an ancient bridge crammed with little workshops that used to belong to butchers,tanners and blacksmiths are now host to an array of expensive jewellery and goldsmith’s shops.

Santa Croce:- The great Franciscan church, is the most densely packed church in the city as it contains not only many chapels, but it also acts as a mausoleum for the city’s most famous citizens.  Part of the sacristy is used  as a school of leather where you can buy genuine leather goods .

San Lorenzo:-The parish church of the Medici family.The church is a masterpiece by Brunelleschi to which Michelangelo added the New Sacristy as a Medici funerary chapel together with his Vestibule  to the monastery's library with an amazing staircase.

S. Maria Novella:- Home of the Dominican Order in Florence,with its superb chapels including  Ghirlandaio’s famous Cappella Tornabuoni.