FLORENCE
Florence, the prestigious City of Art, the birthplace of the Italian language and the cradle of human civilisation. A city which has nurtured men of genius and arouses feelings of awe when visiting.
The colony of Florence ‘Florentia’, the city of flowers, was founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar but it wasn’t till the 11th Century that Florence started to grow with the slow revival of the Mediterranean trade and the demand for cloth.
The River Arno proved to be perfect for washing cloth and fulling wool and the countryside had a surplus of labour. A banking network was devised to allow credit as the raw materials came from Flanders and England and the Florin, the city’s gold currency, became the most widespread and stable currency in Europe giving birth to some of the richest families on the continent.
The greatest movement in Florentine Culture, the Renaissance, was home for most of the important historical figures of those times, Botticelli, Machiavelli, Leonoardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael, all made their debut in Florence
TRAVELLERS TIPS
Florence is best seen on foot and most of the principal sights are clustered in a small area around the Duomo. Buses run frequently and efficiently and are inexpensive. Tickets must be bought before boarding and time stamped on board. Tickets can be bought from newsstands and tobacconists. Buses are an ideal way to reach the Colli district.
Taxis are difficult to hail but can be found plentiful in the taxi ranks located in the main piazzas
Binoculars will prove to be very valuable for looking at the ceilings. A flashlight, as many works of art are hidden in the dark and coins for the chapel light boxes and for the audioguides.
We strongly recommend that you book tickets for the Uffizi, Accademia and Pitti Palaces’s Galleria Palatina in advance. (To reserve, call 294883 Mon to Fri 8.30 – 6.30 and Sat 8.30 – 12.30)
HOW TO GET THERE
Vespucci Airport is three miles west of Florence. There is a bus connection to the centre or a 20 – 30 minute taxi drive.
Because the airport is small, many visitors arrive in Pisa (50 miles west of Florence) a one hour train journey; or fly into Rome or Milan and continue from there.
FLORENCE TOURIST BOARD
Via Manzoni 16, 50121 Firenze. Tel. 055 23320 www. firenzeturismo.it
An excellent site offering lots of information including visits to the city, gastronomy, art and history and events. You can access the newsletter where information on the upcoming months can be found.
NOT TO BE MISSED
Piazza del Duomo
Galleria degli Uffizi – book tickets in advance
Palazzo Vecchio
Masterpieces by Michelangelo in the Galleria dell’Accademia
Museo del Bargello
San Lorenzo and Tombe Medicee
Galleria Palatina in Palazzo Pitti
Masterpieces by Beato Angelico in the Museo di San Marco
Frescoes by Ghirlandio in Santa Maria Novella
Frescoes by Masolino, Masaccio and Filippino Lippi in the Capella Brancacci in San Spirito
Frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli in Palazzo Medici-Riccardi
SPECIAL SUGGESTIONS
• The following special suggestions will make your stay in Florence even more memorable:
• Inspect not one, but two Davids, courtesy of Donatello and Michelangelo
• Praise the work of the great Renaissance sculptors at Orsanmichele
• Stroll and shop along Via Calimala and Via Maggio
• Check out the massive antique globes in the Museo di Storia e Scienza
• Sip a cappuccino in the Kaffeehaus at the Boboli Gardens
• See the amazing Last Suppers at Ognissanti and Sant’Apollonia
• Admire the work of Gozzoli in the Cappella dei Magi at Palazzo Medici-Riccardi
• Pay homage to Fra Angelico at Museo di San Marco
• Take in the view from the terrace of San Miniato al Monte
• Enjoy a picnic at Forte di Belvedere
WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK
The excellent Fiorentine Cuisine is renowned for it’s great simplicity using local genuine products often considered as poor man’s food
Antipasti – Salame and cold meats, cheese, fettunta and ‘crostini di fegatini’
Primi piatti – Pappardelle sulla lepre – Ribbons of pasta with wild hare ragu sauce, Minestra di pane e ribollita – vegetable soup served with bread, pappa al pomodoro – a thick tomato and bread soup, one of Florences more traditional first courses.
Secondi piatti – Bistecca alla Fiorentina – T bone steak grilled till it’s well done on the outside but rare in the centre. Trippa alla Fiorentina – Fiorentine Tripe, so traditional that in the markets the vendors of cooked tripe can still be found.
Side orders – Fagioli all’uccelletto – fresh cannellini beans cooked with tomato and garlic.
Desserts – Castagnaccio, cenci, frittelle, schiacciata con l’uva
Wines:
White – Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Bianco dell’Empolese
Red - Chianti classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Colli dell’Etruria Centrale, Pomino,
Dessert wines – Vin Santo del chianti
SHOPPING
Stores are generally open Monday to Saturday, 9.30-1.00 and 3.30 -7.30 (some stay open all day) Monday morning they usually close from October to May, and Saturday afternoons from June to September.
If you are looking for gold or silver jewellery, the small shops on Ponte Vecchio have much to offer.
Via Maggio is the home to antique shops, Via Tornabuoni is where you will find the best quality goods and the designer shops such as Gucci, Armani, Versace, Cavalli, Ferragamo and Tod’s.
Florence also has many open air markets; Mercato di San Lorenzo, Mercato Nuovo, Mercato delle Pulci
FOLKLORE IN FLORENCE
• Historical game “Calcio in Costume” Piazza Santa Croce 16th, 24th and 30th June in honour of the patron saint.
• “Scoppio del Carro” held every year on Easter Saturday in Piazza Duomo
• “Rificolonna” An enormous fair held in Piazza Santissima Annunziata on 6/7 September.
• Festa di San Giovanni – the Patron Saint of Florence 24th June