Just 90 minutes away from Rome by train, the city of Florence is like an open air museum, and this is the next stop on my journey to explore the exquisite beauty of Italy.
Florence has grown more and more appealing to cultural explorers over the centuries and is enclosed by ancient walls that preserve grandiose works of art and architecture.
My short stay only allows me to visit just a handful of attractions, and the Santa Maria del Fiore – a huge cathedral complex, also known as Duomo – is at the top of my must-see list. Its outer facade and bronze dome are simply breathtaking for me and anyone else seeing it for the first time.
One of Italy’s largest churches, the complex stands tall over the city with its magnificent Renaissance dome. This vast structure was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style based on the designs of Arnolfo di Cambio. The dome, which dominates the exterior, was added in 1436 engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. Can you imagine it took almost a century and a half for the construction?
The exterior is covered in a decorative blend of pink, white and green marble. In contrast, the interior is quite austere and plain, but provides a welcome respite on warm summer days with its cooler temperature. The mosaic pavements are certainly the main attraction within.
The raising of dome, the largest in the world at its time, was definitely an architectural miracle – it was made without any scaffolding and exactly how it was actually built still remains a fascinating mystery.
The only way to have a closer look at the inside of the dome and enjoy the stunning view of Florence is to climb its 463 steps, an exhausting journey but well worth it. The route takes you to the interior of the dome where you can admire Giorgio Vasari’s frescoes of the Last Judgment (1572-79) up close. Continuing upwards through the two shells of the cupola, presents a 360 degree vista right beneath your feet.
Another not-to-miss attraction in Florence is the Piazza della Signoria – the most important square there due its proximity to the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Palace. It is a daily meeting place for Florentines as well as the many tourists to the city.
The square itself is an open air sculptural museum with plenty of statues that remind visitors of Florence’s glorious past.
The origin of the square goes back to the 13th century, when the area was owned by the Uberti Family, at the time the most powerful family in Florence. In 1266 however, the Uberti family was expelled and all their properties were razed. As a symbol of victory, the rubble was not cleared for more than a decade, after which it became an open square. The Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) and adjoining Uffizi were also built on the former property of the Uberti Family.
The presence of the palazzo gave the square a key role in the political history of Florence. From the 14th century on, Florentines have gathered at the square for important political occasions and rulers have often addressed the citizens here.
Today the most prominent feature of the piazza is Florence’s town hall. It is a busy working area, housing many offices that residents use on a daily basis, as well as the mayor’s office.
The square itself is an open air sculptural museum with plenty of statues that remind visitors of Florence’s glorious past. The most famous statue in the square is Michelangelo’s David, arguably the most famous masterpieces of Renaissance sculpture. The original statue was unveiled in 1504, and remained in the square until 1873 when it was moved to the Academy Gallery, into a specially designed room where it can still be seen today. In 1910 a copy was placed on its original site in the square.
Another noteworthy statue is the Neptune Fountain, built between 1563 and 1575 and symbolising Florence as a naval power. The design of Bartolomeo Ammannati shows the Roman god of the sea surrounded by sea nymphs.
If you are a big fan of fashion, then you can’t afford to miss a visit to the Gucci Museum in Florence! Located just a few steps from the square, the museum offers a fun and interesting look into the famous international luxury fashion house created in Florence by Guccio Gucci in 1921.
The last attraction I choose is the Mercato Nuovo (new market), a covered market located in the historic center of Florence. In the 16th century, most of the vendors specialised in trading precious fabrics such as silks, brocades and wool, but in 2013 they sell tourist souvenirs, leather goods and t-shirts.
Florentines have also nicknamed this market “Mercato del Porcellino”, or piglet market, after the wild boar statue that is located here.
Popular tradition has it that touching the snout of the boar will bring good fortune. It has become shiny due to continued daily polishing by thousands of hands. Legend also has it that good luck will accompany those who place a coin on the muzzle of the wild-boar and let it fall into the underlying grate. So rub it for your return to Florence and good luck!
