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Province of Florence
Attractions in the province of Florence
Highlights
Wer an das Stadtbild von Florenz denkt, der sieht sie sofort vor sich: die gewaltige Kuppel der ...
Der »alte Palast« war der Sitz des Stadtparlaments und stellte den Mittelpunkt der weltlichen Macht ...
Located in the historical centre of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery houses works by Botticelli, ...
The Accademia Gallery in Florence is one of the most important museums in Florence and one of the ...
Die »alte Brücke« über den Fluss Arno in Florenz gilt als älteste Segmentbrücke der Welt. Sie wurde ...
One of the largest and most beautiful historical parks in the province of Florence and the whole of ...
If you climb the hill behind the Pitti Palace and continue towards Porta Romana, the "Giardino di ...
Florence: an open-air museum
The cradle of the Renaissance, the Athens of Italy, the city of the Medici: these are just some of the nicknames of Florence, one of Italy's most popular destinations. Thanks to its rich artistic, historical and cultural heritage, the city attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.
A visit to the historic centre, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, can be done entirely on foot or by bicycle. There are many points of interest, but they are all quite close together. Walking from one stop to the next, perhaps while enjoying a good ice cream, you can admire ancient palaces, beautiful churches and squares full of life.
The first stop for all visitors is certainly the Piazza del Duomo in Florence, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with its gigantic dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. It is possible to climb the dome (by reservation only and by climbing 463 steps) to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city. However, Florence has more than 100 churches of great beauty and value, including the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, with its marble façade by Leon Battista Alberti, and the Basilica of Santa Croce, the Franciscan church where illustrious figures such as Foscolo, Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli are buried.
Another symbol of Florence is Piazza della Signoria, with the Palazzo Vecchio, the Neptune Fountain and the Loggia dei Lanzi, under whose arches are a large number of Renaissance sculptures.
Want to immerse yourself 100% in art? Then you only need to walk a few steps from here to reach the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most famous museums in the world, which houses works by Botticelli, Raphael, Titian and many others. In case this is still not enough, the Accademia Gallery, which boasts the largest collection of works by Michelangelo, primarily his famous David, and a large number of paintings, sculptures and musical instruments. Has your thirst for culture not yet been completely quenched? Then you can find other important art collections in the Bargello National Museum, dedicated entirely to sculpture, and the imposing Pitti Palace, located on the other side of the Arno River. It was the residence of the Medici, Habsburg-Lorraine and Savoy families and today houses several museums, including the Palatine Gallery, where masterpieces by Raphael and Titian are on display, and the Monumental Apartments. Contemporary art enthusiasts can instead visit Palazzo Strozzi or the whimsical Salvatore Ferragamo Museum.
Another important place in Florence is certainly the colourful Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in the city, overlooked by numerous goldsmiths' and jewellers' shops. As you cross it, you could never imagine that there is a museum above your head. This is the Vasari Corridor, an elevated pathway built by architect Giorgio Vasari at the behest of Cosimo de' Medici in 1565. It connects the Uffizi Gallery to Palazzo Pitti and houses ancient sculptures, 16th-century frescoes and evidence of the city's more recent history.
There are four villas in the city of Florence that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany', each with unique features and beautiful gardens:the Medici Villa of Careggi (currently under restoration), the Medici Villa of Castello (home of the Accademia della Crusca), the Medici Villa of Petraia and the Medici Villa of Poggio Imperiale (which now houses a school). The site also includes the Boboli Gardens, the spectacular park of Palazzo Pitti, a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, with fountains, statues, grottoes and tree-lined avenues.
Immerse yourself in the green without leaving the city
In addition to the Boboli Gardens, Florence has a large number of green spaces where one can enjoy nature, do sports and relax. The nearby Bardini Garden, located on a hill, offering a unique panorama of Florence and a splendid wisteria bloom, the Cascine Park, Florence's 'green lung' along the banks of the Arno, and the Anconella Park are just some of them.
Smaller but just as worthy are the Giardino dell'Orticoltura, with a splendid Art Nouveau greenhouse, the Giardino dei Semplici, an ancient botanical garden, and the fragrant Giardino delle Rose and Giardino dell'Iris, both located near Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence's most beautiful vantage point, which can be reached via Viale dei Colli.
Culture and Nature in the Province of Florence
The points of tourist and cultural interest do not end in the city of Florence, but also extend into the province, where one can visit castles, villas, churches and monasteries that bear witness to the history and art of the area. Examples are the Castello dell'Acciaiolo in Scandicci, the Castello di Vincigliata, the Abbey of Vallombrosa and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell'Impruneta.
Among the villages not to be missed are:
- Fiesole, with its archaeological sites and breathtaking view of Florence;
- Certaldo, Boccaccio's birthplace and place of death, with its narrow streets and picturesque squares;
- Vinci, where you can retrace the life and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci;
- Bagno a Ripoli, where there are ancient Roman remains, medieval religious buildings and the Quarate Castle, of Longobard origin;
- the charming villages of Florentine Chianti, such as Barberino Val d'Elsa, Greve in Chianti, Montefioralle, Montespertoli and San Donato in Poggio;
- the peaceful villages of Mugello, such as Borgo San Lorenzo and Scarperia.
Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
A perfect combination of nature and culture is the Medici Garden at Pratolino, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany'. It is a splendid park with a grotto, fountains, buildings such as the stables and the Demidoff villa and several sculptures, in particular the spectacular 14-metre-high Colossus of the Apennines, created in the 16th century by the Flemish artist Giambologna. In the forest, you can go for walks or Nordic walking surrounded by greenery and discover monumental trees and as many as 99 different animal species.
One of the largest and most beautiful historical parks in the province of Florence and the whole of ...
In the name of taste
Photo: McPig, CC BY, Flickr
After the exertion of a visit to the city, a tour of the most beautiful gardens or a bike ride through the varied territory of the province of Florence, one must reward oneself well. And what better way than enjoying the typical dishes of Florentine and Tuscan cuisine, accompanied by a good glass of Chianti wine, in a trattoria or restaurant?
Florence and its surroundings are famous above all for meat: Florentine tripe, finocchiona and sbriciolona (two cured meats), Tuscan crostini with livers, boiled steak with onions and, of course, Florentine steak (also known only as 'fiorentina'), which must have very specific characteristics: it must weigh more than 1.3 kg, be 3-4 fingers high, have the bone and be eaten rare. Impossible to ask for a longer cooking time! Other dishes you absolutely must try include ribollita, a soup made with vegetables and stale bread, and pappa al pomodoro, made only with tomato, stale bread, oil, garlic and basil. For a quick snack between museums, there is the Florentines' favourite street food: the lampredotto sandwich. End on a high note with zuccotto, schiacciata dolce alla fiorentina, cantucci to dip in vin santo or a good ice cream.
