The Mecca of Renaissance Art in Florence
Florence is one of those places that everyone in the western world will inevitably learn about, since the city produced some of the most brilliant minds of the renaissance period and as such, has left an indelible mark in the history of our species. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Botticelli, Caravaggio and Dante Alighieri are a few of the names that we still talk about and study to this day. Given its legacy as a center of art, it’s impossible to turn a corner, look at a building or walk the streets without seeing local artists, shoe makers, couture shops or works of Renaissance art. The entire city is one big, living, breathing organism of expression.
Places You Must See
Florence Cathedral
This is one of the most beautiful buildings in the entire city, characterized by its iconic dome and intricate color patterns on the exterior. Several prodigious figures from the renaissance also contributed to the design and aesthetics of the cathedral such as Filippo Brunelleschi, Bernardo Rossellino, Arnolfo di Cambio, Donatello and Michelangelo. Tickets are not required in order to enter the cathedral, unless you wish to climb to the very top of the dome (in which case, you’ll have to purchase a ticket).
Uffizi gallery
The Uffizi gallery is arguably the most important building in Florence, housing well known masterpieces by the genius minds of the renaissance and medieval periods of art. Much like the Louvre in Paris, you should plan a full 2 or 3 days in order to visit the Uffizi gallery. This will give you time to observe and truly appreciate the collections. Even for the tourist who is not artistically inclined (Julian), the museum is so big, the details in every piece of art are so meticulous and perfect that you will not grow bored with multiple visits. Rather, you will continue to find things to appreciate every time. And for those of you that are artists or connoisseurs, you should set aside even more time if possible. Tickets are only 12 Euros ($ 15 USD) and you can find more information at: https://www.uffizi.it/biglietti
Basilica of Santa Croce
Apart from being a beautiful building decorated by renaissance art, this cathedral is also the final resting place of the great minds Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Visiting the tombs of these great minds really forces perspective and humility and this is a must see on anyone’s itinerary. Tickets are only 8 Euro ($ 10 USD) and you can find more information at: http://www.santacroceopera.it/en/Default.aspx
Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio is the oldest and most famous bridge in Florence. It’s also quite beautiful from the outside as it is adorned with multicolor buildings set over a tranquil river that almost appear as if the buildings are hanging off the sides of the bridge. Strolling along the bridge is a unique experience as well since it is filled with merchants selling selling jewelry, art and souvenirs just as they did centuries ago.
Piazza della Signoria
This plaza is beautifully decorated with an open air sculpture gallery that contains several pieces from not just the renaissance period but also from antiquity as well as an impressive fountain of Neptune. This plaza is also gathering place for many tourists as it is literally steps away from the main sites of the Uffizi Gallery, Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence Cathedral, Galleria dell’Accademia, Palazzo Vecchio and Ponte Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio
Built atop the remains of the ancient Roman theater, this building has been Florence’s town hall for over 7 centuries and today it is also a museum open to the public. Walking through its halls you will appreciate absolutely stunning ceiling frescos, gold stucco and various works of art by renaissance artists Donatello, Michelangelo and Bronzino
Galleria dell’Accademia
This is an art museum that contains the famous statue of David, as well as Florentine paintings from the 13th and 16th centuries. Due to its popularity, you are encouraged to book tickets in advance. Otherwise, lines can get quite long. Tickets are only 12 Euro ($15 USD) and you can book in advance at: https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.beniculturali.it/galleria/1/visita/
Things to do
Walking Tours - This is a great way to get acquainted with all of the city’s main sites and learn some history about each place before exploring on your own. There are daily walking tours offered throughout Florence and many of them will be free of charge (guides work for tips). In fact, there are so many walking tours happening at the same time that often you will see each guide act as a flag bearer as he/she leads leads a walking tour group throughout the city.
Florentine Steak - If you have a chance, we encourage you to eat a Florentine steak, which is specially prepared according to traditional Tuscan cuisine and is so big that it can only be ordered by the kilogram. We had the pleasure of indulging in this dish at a restaurant called Za Za and we highly recommend them.
Enoteca - Enotecas are very similar to the concept of tapas bars in Madrid. You can sample wines while eating some appetizers and in some cases we even witnessed people in the city holding cups of wine while strolling about. These enotecas are ubiquitous throughout the city so be sure to partake.
Wine Tasting - The Tuscany region of Italy is renowned for its tradition of wine making such as Chianti and Grappa, so we would encourage travelers to attend a wine tasting in Florence or go on a tour of the Tuscan wine region and sample wines directly from the vineyards.
Cooking Class - Learning the skill of cooking a dish from Italy’s Tuscan region is something that you can bring back with you that will last a lifetime.
Shopping - For anyone with a shopping budget, you are highly encouraged to explore the streets and shop at the many couturiers, shoemakers, bag designers and artisan jewelry shops that are scattered throughout the city. These custom, hand made items will be one of the best souvenirs you ever purchased.
Have a coffee at Piazza del Duomo - Piazza del Duomo is the plaza that contains the great Florence Cathedral and one of the best experiences that you can have is to sit down at any restaurant, grab a coffee and appreciate all of the little details of the cathedral. This is one of those experiences where you can easily spend half a day immersing yourself in the city’s renaissance vibe, unwinding from the day’s itinerary and having conversation with friends/travel companions. Such simple pleasures will often be the ones that you remember fondly.
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