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Florence is the capital of the Italian region of Tuscany in Northern Italy. Florence is a beautiful city and is drenched in history and crammed full of beautiful architecture and in 1982, the city was declared a World Heritage Site. Florence is known as the “cradle of Renaissance” (la culla del
Rinascimento) due to the amount of monuments, churches and buildings that can be found there. The main tourist attraction of Florence is the domed cathedral of the city, Santa Maria del Fiore, known as The Duomo.
The city attracts millions of tourists every year. There are many other interesting buildings to visit such as the Campanile (Bell Tower) which is located close to the Duomo. From both buildings you can experience a breath-taking view over the city and the surrounding area.
The Uffizi Gallery contains a wonderful array of paintings including masterpieces by Giotto, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio among many others and is definitely worth a visit. It is perhaps best to buy a ticket beforehand to avoid the long queues.
If you are looking for somewhere to relax ,the Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli) are the ideal place to go rich in flora and fauna with large expanses of gardens to explore, as well as fantastic views over Florence.
The Ponte Vecchio - 'Old Bridge' - is one of the most famous landmarks of Florence and is one of the city's few sights that is free to visit. The bridge has survived many fires and floods and spans over the River Arno.
Another place to visit is The Piazza del Signoria which is a truly unique outdoor sculpture gallery and a cultural centre of Florence, and is surrounded by some of the city's most celebrated buildings. The Piazza Degli Strozzi, this striking Renaissance palace is one of the most magnificent palaces in the city.
Santa Croce, in Piazza Santa Croce, is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and holds the tombs of several important Florentines including Michelangelo and Dante. The vast interior contains some exceptional stained glass windows and frescoes.
Florence has some of the finest shopping in Europe. In Florence you'll find leather goods around the Piazza San Lorenzo. Florence has a number of open air markets selling food, clothing, and antiques. Another good place is Mercato Nuovo (Porcellino) on Via Porta Rossa. Mercato Centrale is a great place for food shopping.
Florence offers something for everyone coupled with romance, good food and if you travel there during the summer months, you will also be able to enjoy good weather!
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