Florence Italy As The Cultural Centre Of Italy

[Gayathri]

Florence Italy is the cultural centre of Italy, and perhaps of the Western world. Crammed with galleries, wonderful buildings and world-class art treasures, this unspoilt late-medieval city clearly demonstrates its importance in the cultural and political development of Europe.

Florence Italy

The architectural jewel of Florence Italy has to be the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, known as the Duomo, a Gothic masterpiece. Its magnificent dome was built by Filippo Brunelleschi, and inside there are beautiful frescoes by some of Italy‘s greatest artists.

The Campanile tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery buildings are also well worth a visit. The Baptistery started out as a Roman temple; its bronze doors were among the earliest large bronze castings in the Renaissance period. Both the dome and the tower are open to tourists and provide excellent views over the city rooftops.

At the heart of the city in Piazza della Signoria is the awe-inspiring Fountain of Neptune created by Bartolomeo Ammanati. This famous marble sculpture lies at the end of a Roman aqueduct, still in working order. A stroll around the city streets will reveal many Renaissance architectural masterpieces, including Brunelleschi’s Ospedale degli Innocenti (foundling hospice), the Pazzi chapel in the Church of Santa Croce, Michelangelo’s work at San Lorenzo, and the Laurentian Library.

Renaissance Florence Italy was dominated by the Medici, the most powerful family in the city from the 15th to the 18th century. They patronized many artists, and the city’s two major art galleries, the Uffizi and the Pitti Palace, were created for their art collections. The Uffizi was first opened to visitors in 1591, which makes it one of Europe’s first museums. Today it houses the greateat collection of Italian and Florentine art in the world. On the other side of the river is the Pitti Palace, which contains some of the Medici family’s private works, as well as a large number of Renaissance masterpieces, including several by Raphael and Titian, and a large collection of modern art. Next to the Palace are the lovely Boboli Gardens, displaying a whole host of interesting sculptures.

The Arno river passes through the centre of Florence Italy, and by wandering along its banks, you can enjoy the unspoiled skyline of domes and towers. Be sure to see the Ponte Vecchio, with its built-in houses and shops. Built in 1345, this is the only bridge in the city to survive World War II.

Population Of Florence Italy

370,000 (2005)

When To Go To Florence Italy

Spring or autumn

Don’t Miss To Visit This Place In Florence Italy

*The Duomo – this cathedral plays a large part in making Florence’s skyline one of the most picturesque in the world. Completed in 1466 after 170 years of work, it holds up to 30,000 people. Its domed roof is symbolic of the meeting of Renaissance craft and culture and stands at a height of 114.5m (375 ft).
*The Uffizi – one of the most famous galleries in the world, the collection of universally acclaimed masterpieces on display here, including works by da Vinci, Michelangelo and Rembrandt, is simply overwhelming.
*The Palazzo Pitti.
*The loggia dei Lanzi’s open-air sculptures.
*A picnic in the Boboli Gardens – from here enjoy the expansive city views as well as the distinguished collection of sculptures on display.
*The churches of San Miniato al Monte, Santa Maria Novella, Santo Spirito and Orsanmichele.

You Should Know About Florence Italy

You can book ahead for the Uffizi to avoid long queues.