Florence (Con't.)
As you wander through the city, you’ll marvel at how beautiful the architecture is. Dawn and dusk show off the colors of Florence’s architecture the best. Many of the buildings are Gothic in design and feature stunning, long stained glass windows. These buildings were built of native stone and often took hundreds of years to be built; until the towers and spires were added to a structure, it was not considered finished. The Duomo, officially known as the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, is the focal point of many of the pictures you see of Florence. If you choose to climb the 463 steps up to the cathedral dome, you will enjoy spectacular 360 degree views of this magnificent city. The cathedral’s Giotto’s Bell Tower is a showpiece of Florentine Gothic style. You can also climb 400 plus steps up to the top of this campanile. Impressive photos of Florence can be taken from the top of both buildings. Depending on the season, there may be long lines to climb to the top of either building.
No trip to Florence is complete without a visit to see Michelangelo’s David. Not even 30 years old, it took Michelangelo about three years to finish the statue and he continued to put finishing touches on it even after it was put on exhibit. After completing David, Michelangelo was summoned to Rome by the then current Pope, Giulio II, where he painted the Sistine Chapel. Today, David can be seen at the Galleria dell’Accademia (Academy Gallery). To avoid a long wait in line, you will need to reserve a ticket in advance. (NOTE: You will not be allowed to take pictures of David.)
In addition to the above mentioned attractions, you will want to see a few of the scores of museums in Florence. The Uffizi Gallery is considered one of the two main museums in the city (Academy Gallery is the other). The two museums are less than a mile apart so you may want to reserve tickets to do them together, or plan lunch or a snack between visiting each one. Starting at the Accademia allows for a downhill walk to the Uffizi Gallery. Once you reserve your tickets, refunds are usually not allowed. The Bargello Museum, another popular museum, is known for its excellent sculpture gallery of Renaissance art. The building dates back to 1255 and was designed as a turreted fortress. After being used as a prison, mayor’s office and courtroom, it became a museum in the mid 1800’s. Works by Cellini, Donatello, Michelangelo and Verocchio are housed here.
No trip to Florence is complete without a visit to see Michelangelo’s David. Not even 30 years old, it took Michelangelo about three years to finish the statue and he continued to put finishing touches on it even after it was put on exhibit. After completing David, Michelangelo was summoned to Rome by the then current Pope, Giulio II, where he painted the Sistine Chapel. Today, David can be seen at the Galleria dell’Accademia (Academy Gallery). To avoid a long wait in line, you will need to reserve a ticket in advance. (NOTE: You will not be allowed to take pictures of David.)
In addition to the above mentioned attractions, you will want to see a few of the scores of museums in Florence. The Uffizi Gallery is considered one of the two main museums in the city (Academy Gallery is the other). The two museums are less than a mile apart so you may want to reserve tickets to do them together, or plan lunch or a snack between visiting each one. Starting at the Accademia allows for a downhill walk to the Uffizi Gallery. Once you reserve your tickets, refunds are usually not allowed. The Bargello Museum, another popular museum, is known for its excellent sculpture gallery of Renaissance art. The building dates back to 1255 and was designed as a turreted fortress. After being used as a prison, mayor’s office and courtroom, it became a museum in the mid 1800’s. Works by Cellini, Donatello, Michelangelo and Verocchio are housed here.
When you tire of visiting museums and churches it’s time to go shopping along the Ponte Vecchio which is known for its many jewelry stores. You will find unique high quality gold jewelry among these shops. Designer boutiques such as Gucci and Ferragamo are located in the Santa Maria Novella neighborhood. Leather items are available all over the city, but the Santa Croce Leather Works is well known for its quality work. This shop is located in the cloister of the church of Santa Croce and the items for sale are made by the students of the Scuola di Cuoio. Their prices are excellent for high quality leather goods and a bit less than in many of the Florentine boutiques. You can also arrange to take a tour of the school and watch the artisans at work. Street markets in Florence have leather goods – the Mercato de San Lorenzo has lower quality items and Mercato Nuova has mid-priced merchandise. Plan on bargaining at these street markets. Don’t buy fake designer bags – the fine for doing that can go up to ten thousand Euros. Look for the "made in Italy" tag so be sure you are buying products made in Italy.
Please call us at 559-324-8150 or email us at info@perfectvacationtravel.com to set up an appointment to start planning your extraordinary travel to Italy.
Italian Ventures travel agency at 1122 E. Champlain Dr., Ste 102 in beautiful Piazza del Fiore shopping center in Fresno, CA.
Please call us at 559-324-8150 or email us at info@perfectvacationtravel.com to set up an appointment to start planning your extraordinary travel to Italy.
Italian Ventures travel agency at 1122 E. Champlain Dr., Ste 102 in beautiful Piazza del Fiore shopping center in Fresno, CA.
