Florence is one of the dream places to go and meet regardless of the amount of time the visit lasts. It really doesn’t matter if you are visiting for a day, 48 or 72 hours or a couple of weeks. As I see it, the important thing and the key is to go.
Florence
We are literally talking about dream landscapes. Wherever you look, there are green and blue skies that cover the earth.
Regardless of the weather, there are always hundreds of tourists. But there are some differences. If you want a warm and pleasant temperature at the same time the best month is the beginning of April.
If the plan is not to run into so many tourists, January and February are the best option. For an exorbitant heat, visits are made in August.
If you are visiting for the first time, there are certain requirements, such as seeing some of the “symbols” of the city: the Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo’s David (the original is the Accademia Gallery), the Duomo and the Dome from Brunelleschi, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria.
Another obligatory activity is to try the local cuisine: the delicious Florentine steak, ribollita or pappa al pomodoro.
We don’t pretend to be experts, so all we can do is write about what we liked, it captivated our mind, it made our heart skip a beat and left us wanting more.
Yes, we know that it is almost impossible to condense things to do in Florence on a list, but we are willing to try. To do this, we have created a list of important data and places to visit.
Interesting facts
Let’s start by indicating some interesting facts:
* Florence is the capital of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is the most populous city in Tuscany. His dialect forms the basis of standard Italian. It is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called “the Athens of the Middle Ages.”
* A long time ago, it was a center of European medieval commerce and finance and one of the richest cities of the era. But it has a turbulent political history. This turbulent past includes periods of government of the powerful Medici family and numerous religious and republican revolutions.
* Tradition states that the history of Florence began in 59 a. C., when the legions of Giulio Ceasar founded the town, which they called Florentia.
* In 1339, Florence became the first city in Europe with paved streets.
* On April 15, 1452, the great Leonardo Da Vinci was born in the lower valley of the Arno River in the territory of Florence.
* Pinocchio came from Florence. Le Avventure di Pinocchio was published between 1881 and 1883 by Carlo Lorenzini, a Florentine by birth.
We believe that knowing these curiosities is great. We think it is a way to have a more solid, clear and deep knowledge of the city: of its past, present and future. In some ways, it helps one to form a clearer idea about all the “bagage” he has.
That being said, we must say that Florence is one of the most charming cities in Italy. Obviously, it is full of history, art and beautiful architecture, all with a small city atmosphere. On the subject of a small city environment we will talk later. And, although it may not be the first city that comes to mind when thinking about Italy, we believe it will be one of the favorites after going there. If you are lucky, maybe you will experience its beauty, mystery and relaxed lifestyle again.
The capital of the Tuscan region
Florence is the capital of the Tuscan region. Being in Florence gives people the perfect starting point for day trips or short trips in the region.
It is possible to go to the countryside where you can taste wines, explore the ancient medieval cities of the hills, rent a scooter or bicycle and enjoy the green landscape or even help harvest grapes or olives for the season. Then, Florence is the perfect place to stay while exploring Tuscany.
It originated as a Roman city, and later, after a long period of flourishing trade, it became known as the cradle of the Italian Renaissance.
In fact, almost all writers and poets in Italian literature of the golden age are somehow related to Florence. As a consequence, the Florentine dialect was used more than others.
For us, an interesting fact was the participation of the Medici family, or we should say “the great MEDICI family”. It was one of the most important noble families in European history. There are many reasons for this. Let’s name some of its members.
Lorenzo de’Medici (Lorenzo the Magnificent) was considered a political and cultural brain of Italy in the late fifteenth century. He was a statesman and politician. Leo X and Clement VII, two family members were potatoes in the early 16th century.
Leo X was the second son of Lorenzo the Magnificent and became a cardinal in 1489. When Catherine de Medici was fourteen he married King Henry II of France. After her death she was queen of France since
Although they had a lot of power, the Medici family disappeared and with them their dynasty. Piero II, son of Lorenzo Medici was exiled in 1494 and in this way the first period of power of the family ended. Some time later, the Meidici family commissioned Niccolò Machiavelli to write the Florentine stories, the history of the city. As a consequence the Florentines removed the Medici from the city and the second period of power concluded.
After having established the members and importance of this noble family we must continue with the great history that surrounds this city.
Creative energy
We must say that Florence has always been full of artists, scientists, specialists and eternal students (they are people who study for many years) thanks to the Renaissance. Throughout the generations, artistic people have come to Florence from all over the world due to the city’s creative energy.
When entering details about some of the places of visit, we should talk about the cathedral. The cathedral of Florence is perched on the city with its magnificent Renaissance dome. The baptistery is right on the other side.
The cathedral was named in honor of Santa Maria del Fiore and is a vast Gothic structure built on the site of the church of Santa Reparata of the seventh century, whose remains can be seen in the crypt.
After two centuries they decided it was finally over. The cathedral was started at the end of the 13th century by Arnolfo di Cambio, and the dome, which dominates the exterior, was added in the 15th century.
The entrance to the cathedral is still free and sometimes the line to enter is huge. Another way to visit the Duomo is to do it with a tour guide, since with a guide it is possible to go to special areas and explain all the details, legends and curiosities.
Then, returning to the feeling of a small city … compared to the chaos of metropolitan Rome, we can say that Florence feels much slower. Although it is a city, it feels quieter than other famous tourist cities in Italy.
There are a lot of secrets and hidden scandals in the city. Discovering how Michelangelo was discovered, or the reason why Hitler decided not to destroy the Ponte Vecchio in World War II are great pieces of information to have.
After many trips we have realized that an essential part of traveling abroad is buying local products. Which means that the locally produced items and gifts we buy on our trips help us expand the experience.
Artisans tradition and good food
Tuscany has a long tradition of skilled artisans in many areas who create items that are now considered “typical products” of Tuscany. These include the fine craftsmanship required to make exquisite gold jewels found in the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, as well as the red clay tiles of Impruneta that we find throughout the region both on the ceilings and inside the floors.
Fine blacksmiths continue to create iron creations, such as wrought iron beds and tables that we find inside our hotel rooms, rental apartments or gardens.
Even today, carpenters continue to hand carve the rustic wooden tables and other furniture found within farms throughout the region. Then there are the fine Italian leather jackets and leather bags that are located in the center of Florence and around the Arno Valley. Admire the translucent creations carved in alabaster stone in Volterra or the colorful painted ceramic plates of Montelupo. Scarperia artisans in the Mugello Valley are well known for their ability to make knives and other cutting tools.
So, let’s not forget the gastronomic delights that make Tuscany famous throughout the world. Its red wines such as Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are as popular as their tasty extra virgin olive oil. Then there are the numerous pecorino cheeses, as well as cured meats such as Cinta Senese, Tuscan salami or those made with local cinghiale (wild boar) that make Tuscan cuisine simple but tasty.
Taking part of the region with you
On your next trip to Tuscany, do not forget to take a small part of the region with you in the form of a special gift or a bottle of wine or olive oil.
What else could we say: everything really, too much! But in a nutshell Florence offers several attractions and activities. Most people remain in the north of the city but on the other side of the river you feel a more local, more home-like environment. Streets with flowers, traditional cafes and people in the piazzas. Florence will fall in love with every blink.
