|
|
You are here: Home > Towns & Cities Info > Florence
Florence30/01/2008 20:36
 |
|
No visit to Tuscany would be complete without a trip to Florence. It is impossible in a short introduction to go into Florentine history. Suffice to say that its museums, galleries, palaces and churches contain so much good art and history you would really need to spend at least three weeks here. Few people have this luxury though so it’s important to decide what you want out of your visit, but as Florence can be enjoyed on so many levels you should not be disappointed. |
 |
|
The city is beautiful just to walk around and admire – marvel at the Duomo and Baptistry, and Giotto’s Bell-tower, which loom in the city centre, sit in the Piazza Signoria watching the world go by, either drinking a coffee in the square or simply sitting under the cool arches with the statues. Wander over the Ponte Vecchio and up to the Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic view of the city. |
 |
|
You could visit the famous Uffizzi Gallery (probably Italy’s finest art gallery), the Accademia (to see Michelangelo’s David), the Bargello (housing Italy’s finest sculpture collection), the church of Santa Croce (Tuscany’s ‘Westminster Abbey’), the Boboli Gardens (Florence’s only public garden and queen of all formal Tuscan gardens), the Medici Chapel (where many of the powerful and influential Medici family are buried) – the list is almost endless. It’s worth pre-booking the most popular sights to save on queuing time. |
 |
|
If you have the time and inclination, Florence is a shopper’s paradise – from Gucci and Prada to the lively street market at San Lorenzo (great for leather goods). The Ponte Vecchio and Santa Croce areas are famous for their gold jewellery, and you can also find beautiful paper goods (Florence is one of the few places in the world that makes marbled paper, a 12th century art from the Orient). |
 |
|
Concerts and events are in abundance. Look in Florence’s daily paper ‘La Nazione’ or in the tourist office’s ‘Florence Today’ for the latest information. The opera and ballet season runs from September to Christmas, and concerts from January to April at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and in the Maggio Musicale festival which runs from mid-April until the end of June. Classical concerts are held in the Teatro Verdi from late November to May. There are lots of outdoor live music events in the summer months around the city. |
Other annual events include: Lo Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart) every Easter Sunday outside the Duomo - commemorates Florentine participation in the First Crusade – a firework filled wooden float, pulled by white oxen, is ignited by an iron ‘dove’ that descents from the high altar. Flower and Plant Show – late April International Iris Festival – Piazzale Michelangelo, late May Festa del Grillo (cricket festival) – Ascension Day, May, at le Cascine
|
|
Calcio Storico in Costume – Piazza Santa Croce, June 24 and other dates– four matches of historical football are played in 16th century costume by 27-man teams from each of Florence’s four quarters. Festa di San Giovanni – June 24th – Piazzale Michelangelo, fireworks at 10pm Festa della Rificolana – Sept 7th, childrens festival – Piazza SS Annunziata, paper lantern and song parade |
Getting to Florence from Villa Pallero is easy, reaching the outskirts of the city by car takes about 45 minutes, but many guests choose to go by train from either Certaldo or Poggibonsi (train journey time 45 min-1 hour) For more information on events see www.firenzeturismo.it |
All Towns & Cities Info
|
Loading Content
|
Terms of Business |
Sitemap |
Contact Us
© 2008 Villa Pallero. All rights reserved. | Website by:
Chapter Zero Limited
|