Top Tourist Sites in Florence
Visit This Charming City That Epitomises the European Renaissance
Aug 3, 2008
The Piazza della Signoria - a grand open air museum of monumental marble statues and one of the most elegant collections of sculptures in the world - has been the heart of Florence since the 15th century, from which period this has been one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
At the time Europe emerged from the dark Ages, this was the city which witnessed the birth of the Renaissance. It was in this very city that cheques were written for the first time, letters of credit first began to be utilised – and banking as we know it came into being.
Exquisite Sculptures
It was here that European artists rediscovered the beauty of the human body and exhibited to the public the first naked statues since Roman times – and it is here that some of the greatest works of human art, from Michaelangelo’s David (a copy of which dominates the Piazza, on the actual site chosen by the artist) to Boticelli’s Venus (which has a place of honour in the Uffizi Gallery still evoke gasps of admiration from visitors.
Many of the world’s most famous monuments and paintings are found in Florence – all within walking distance of each other - so visitors can spend their time seeing the fabulous works of art in the Uffizi, marvelling at the intricately carved 700-year old churches or strolling along the narrow flag-stoned streets and car-free piazzas holding a cornetto of gelato in their hands and just imbibing the unique atmosphere of this amazing place.
Essential Viewing
Among the places a visitor must not miss are
- the house of Dante Allegheri, the writer who produced such amazing works of literature
- the Medici family church of San Lorenzo with its beautifully designed family tombs
- the Piazza del Duomo complex with its striking cathedral, bell tower and baptistery constructed of green, white and pink marble.
- the fascinating Boboli Gardens, from where one has a beautiful view of Florence
All visitors to Florence should join the thousands of tourists who go to the Galleria dell’Academia to pay their respects to Michaelangelo’s original exquisite statue of David – and then walk to the Piazza della Signoria to join the hordes of late summer sightseers.
Charming Little Churches
But they should not fail to get off the hackneyed tourist trail. There are delightful musical recitals that take place here of an evening – in charming old churches like the Chiesa Santa Maria de Ricci in Via del Corso or in more modern venues like the Teatro Verdi in Via Ghibellina. The No: 13 bus takes those who are interested in such things to the Piazza Michelangiolo where at the Church of San Miniato del Monte they can experience an evening church service with melodious Gregorian chants by the monks in a candlelit 11th century chapel.
Florence has an atmosphere that must be imbibed slowly, an ambience which must be sipped to be savoured. Sit at one of the numerous roadside trattoria of a morning with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and watch the well-dressed world go by. In the evening, have dinner at a ristorante in one of the numerous piazzas and listen – or even dance to – the live music provided by the singer and pianist. The pealing of the campanile bells, the narrow flagstoned streets and medieval buildings, the intricate architecture of the churches - all these make for the amazing attraction of this amazing city of culture.
The only problem that visitors will have is that they almost always end up wishing they could stay longer.
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