Florence: what to see in the Tuscan capital, in our last post dedicated to travel
Eternal and enchanting, a city that envelops and involves you, one of those with inestimable charm and which always finds the right way to make your heart beat faster. Unmissable squares, bridges, loggias, palaces and museums, historical corners and suggestive views.
From Dante to Brunelleschi, passing through Giotto, Donatello and Botticelli, up to Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. This is the Tuscan capital, a perfect combination of art and poetry, beauty and fantasy.
Florence: places of interest in the Florentine city
Florence is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating Italian cities in the world . More than a city of art, we could say that Florence is a real work of art. The historic center of Florence is in fact the guardian of an immeasurable artistic heritage, rich in masterpieces that today are difficult to compare with other European cities.
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the historic center of Florence is a real open-air museum.
Let’s see together the places of interest in Florence:
- Piazza del Duomo , the beating heart of the historic center of Florence , dotted with monuments of high artistic-cultural caliber;
- Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, or simply the cathedral of Florence , a true masterpiece of Italian Gothic, covered with enchanting colored marbles, and known above all for the imposing and extraordinary dome built by Brunelleschi;
- Brunelleschi’s Dome, a must-see on the list of things to see in Florence , a real art show that is the envy of the whole world. The dome, a masterpiece by Filippo Brunelleschi, is one of the most impressive and sublime constructions of Italian art and from which you can enjoy a panoramic view over the whole city of Florence;
- Church of Santa Croce, famous for the frescoes by Giotto, Donatello and Brunelleschi, this is today the largest Franciscan church in the world;
- Piazza della Signoria, the civil and nerve center of the city, is the most important square in Florence . Always full of people and street artists, Piazza della Signoria is today the most beautiful and liveliest square in the Florentine capital;
- Ponte Vecchio, like the Colosseum in Rome, Ponte Vecchio in Florence is an emblematic place of the city, as well as a symbol of the romanticism that surrounds the city of Florence. Built in 1345, it is the oldest stone bridge in Europe;
- Piazzale Michelangelo, a historic, sumptuous and fascinating square, a must for those visiting Florence, but also for the Florentines themselves. Built on the hill south of the historic center of the Florentine capital, from Piazzale Michelangelo you can contemplate all the beauty and charm of Florence from above.
What to visit in Florence: museums and art galleries
Visiting Florence means retracing the steps of Dante Alighieri, touching historical masterpieces and reliving together with the Fathers of the Italian Renaissance (Brunelleschi, Donatello and Masaccio) an era of great rebirth of classical art and culture. Visiting Florence means loving art in all its facets. The loggias, squares, palaces, and even the streets of the city, are dotted with their works of art. Because in every corner there is a piece of history, in every place you can breathe art. Of course, the best way to discover the greatest masterpieces of Italian art in Florence is to visit the most famous museums and incredible galleries, guardians of a rich and priceless heritage.
Let’s see together which are the most famous museums to see in Florence:
- Uffizi Gallery in Florence , a must-see on the list of things to see in Florence . Custodian of one of the most important and most famous collections of paintings in the world, the Uffizi gallery in Florence is, in large part, dedicated to the Renaissance with masterpieces by masters of high artistic caliber such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian and Donatello;
- Museo dell’Opera del Duomo , one of the most interesting visits especially for the three masterpieces of art kept inside such as “La Pieta” by Michelangelo Buonarroti, “Maria Maddalena” by Donatello and “La Porta del Paradiso” by Lorenzo Ghiberti;
- Galleria dell’Accademia, the second most visited museum in Florence immediately after the Uffizi Gallery. Famous above all for Michelangelo’s “David” , this museum houses a large collection of sculptural masterpieces and a vast collection of religious-themed paintings;
- Galileo Museum , one of the most famous museums par excellence in the history of science in the world. Inside it preserves countless mathematical, optical and astronomical instruments, pocket watches, very ancient objects that date back to the era of the Medici family. Among the most important objects we have the telescope with which in 1609 Galileo Galilei discovered the lunar mountains and the satellites of Jupiter.
Florentine cuisine: what to eat in Florence
In addition to being an extremely fascinating city from an artistic and cultural point of view, Florence also boasts a rich culinary tradition. In Florence, the cradle of art and the Italian Renaissance, even food becomes culture and the Florentine steak is a prime example of this.
Tuscan cuisine (and especially Florentine cuisine) is one of the most popular in Italy and in the rest of the world for its simplicity and genuineness in the choice of ingredients.
Let’s see together the typical dishes of Florentine cuisine:
- Florentine steak, a must for meat lovers, always accompanied with a good glass of Chianti red wine;
- Fagioli all’uccelletto, a simple first course, generally prepared in earthenware pans, with an intense and delicate flavor;
- Florentine tripe, a second hot dish, ideal especially during the winter season, cooked with tomato, onion, carrot and celery, and seasoned with a sprinkling of cheese;
- Cacciucco, a legendary fish-based dish, rich in history and with an unmistakable flavor, one of the most popular and popular recipes in the Tuscan and Florentine territory.
