Florence
What: Tour with private local guide
When: Wednesday, July 16 (all day)
Travel distance: Less than two hours by Frecciarossa (top-of-the-line express train)
Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is widely considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. The city is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture, including Michelangelo’s “David,” Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus,” Leonardo da Vinci’s “Annunciation,” and the landmark Duomo — a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto.
For more information on Florence visit www.comune.fi.it
Florence
What: Tour with private local guide
When: Wednesday, July 16 (all day)
Travel distance: Less than two hours by Frecciarossa (top-of-the-line express train)
Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is widely considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. The city is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture, including Michelangelo’s “David,” Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus,” Leonardo da Vinci’s “Annunciation,” and the landmark Duomo — a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto.
For more information on Florence visit www.comune.fi.it
Tour
1. Arrival at Santa Maria Novella railway station
Florence’s main railway station was designed by a group of young architects — the so-called Gruppo Toscano (Tuscan Group) — and erected from 1932 to 1935. The architects, led by Giovanni Michelucci, took inspiration from the rationalist style, an artistic movement that developed after World War I.
2. Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Not only is this one of the most beautiful churches in Florence, but it is also one of the most outstanding examples of Gothic architecture in Tuscany. Founded by a group of Dominican friars in the late 1200s, it displays a facade that was originally begun in Gothic style but completed in Renaissance style. The church includes a painted crucifix by Giotto, a wooden crucifix by Brunelleschi, the “Holy Trinity” by Masaccio, and stunning frescoes by Florentine artists Ghirlandaio and Filippino Lippi.
3. Outdoor walking tour: Piazza Santa Maria Novella to Piazza Duomo to Piazza Signoria
We will walk to Piazza Duomo, the religious center of Florence. The cathedral complex includes the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore — otherwise known as Duomo di Firenze (the Florence Cathedral) — as well as Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery, and the cathedral museum. Originally designed in Gothic style in 1296 by Arnolfo di Cambio, the cathedral was completed 140 years later. It was finished structurally in 1436, when Filippo Brunelleschi completed the red-tiled dome — still the largest brick dome ever built and one of the most famous symbols of Florence.
Next, we will walk to Piazza Signoria, the political center of Florence since the 1300s. It was the seat of power at the time of the government of the Priors, whose headquarters were in the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), and later of the Medici grand dukes, who moved there in 1540. This beautiful building, built between the 13th and 14th centuries and later enlarged in the 1400s and 1500s, still hosts the city hall, mayor’s office, and municipal offices.
4. Lunch near Piazza della Signoria
Outside the Palazzo Vecchio, we can admire a copy of Michelangelo’s “David” and many original sculptures, such as “Perseus with the Head of Medusa” by Benvenuto Cellini, the “Fountain of Neptune” by Bartolomeo Ammannati, and the equestrian statue representing Cosimo I by Giambologna.
5. Uffizi Gallery
One of the oldest and most prominent museums in the world, the Uffizi Gallery houses some of the finest paintings in Italy. “Uffizi” is the ancient spelling of “uffici,” which means “offices” in Italian. The building was erected by Cosimo I, who brought together the administrative and judiciary offices of the grand duchy. His son, Grand Duke Francesco, placed several ancient statues from his collection in the Uffizi and added the famous Tribune and a theater to the building, both designed by Buontalenti.
Over the years, many paintings and sculptures belonging to the Medici family were placed in the Uffizi, which was opened to guests of the grand duke in 1590. The gallery now hosts a superb collection of art, including “The Birth of Venus” by Botticelli, the “Holy Family” (known as the “Tondo Doni”) by Michelangelo, and works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, and Caravaggio.
From the top floor of the gallery, we will enjoy a beautiful view of the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) — an iconic landmark of the Florentine cityscape.