Many tours to Italy include a visit to Florence, the city that played the main violin in the Old World during the Early Renaissance. The cultural and financial capital of Europe in that past life, Florence is still capable of captivating anyone who steps on its streets and squares. A huge number of attractions are concentrated in this city, each of which is worthy of a separate story, and therefore Florence in 1 day is able to show only a small fraction of its wonders.
Heart of Florence
The main place where the best architectural monuments are concentrated is the Cathedral Square. The majestic temple of Santa Maria del Fiore began to be erected in the XIV century on the ruins of an ancient Roman building. The main feature of the cathedral is the octahedral dome hovering above the walls and built using unique engineering technologies. The façade of the Duomo is made of multi-colored marble brought from Maremma and Carrara, and the sculptures in its niches present various biblical stories to the audience.
Florence Cathedral takes its rightful place in the top five most majestic on the planet. It can be visited simultaneously by 30 thousand people, and the length of the structure is more than one hundred and fifty meters. Campanilla is one of the most important parts of Santa Maria del Fiore. This graceful bell tower was designed by the famous Italian architect and painter Giotto, whose work inspired Raphael, Leonardo and Michelangelo.
Finding Botticelli
One of the palaces in Florence, built in the 16th century, is called the Uffizi Gallery. Today it houses the most visited art museum in the country. The gallery's exhibits include the most valuable paintings by Botticelli, Titian and Leonardo da Vinci. The core of the exhibition is made up of works from the Medici collection, which for many centuries has been collected by members of the famous oligarchic dynasty.
City walks
Seeing Florence in 1 day means walking along its famous bridges. The most famous of these is the Ponte Vecchio, a footbridge built in the middle of the 14th century. It girdles the Arno River a few steps from the Uffizi Gallery. Once home to numerous butcher shops, today's Ponte Vecchio is the home of the finest Florentine jewelers. Shops with gorgeous decorations attract tourists, and photography fans take the best panoramic photos of the magnificent Florence here.
