Monuments
Piazza del Duomo | The Campanile di Giotto | Piazza della Signoria | La Galleria degli Uffizi | Galleria dell'Accademia | Ponte Vecchio
Piazza del Duomo
- Florentines love saying they were born "in the shadow of the Duomo". Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, covered in polychromatic marble and life-sized statues, has been the spiritual centre of the City for centuries. .The "Campanile di Giotto"
(Giotto's Bell Tower) rewards those who brave the long 414 steps climb to its top with a breath taking views of the City, and a close-up look at the "Cupola di Brunelleschi" (Brunelleschi's Dome) that crowns the Duomo and lends a distinctive element to Florence's skyline.Not to be missed are the bronze doors of the Battistero. Those sculpted by Lorenzo Ghilberti are so enchanting that Michelangelo referred to them as being the "Gates to Paradise".
Piazza della Signoria
- has always served as the political centre of the town and is dominated by Palazzo Vecchio, a stately gothic fortress that currently houses the Florence County offices.A copy of Michelangelo's David, the majestic Neptune sculpted by Ammannati, and the 13 statues in the Loggia dei Lanzi complete the scene of this suggestive outdoor museum.
La Galleria degli Uffizi
– Imagine spending a day in the Galleria degli Uffizi: in front of the entrance there's a long line of tourists from around the world. Cutting to the front of the line*, you then spend the next few hours immersed in Renaissance masterpieces, such as "La Primavera" (The Spring") and the "Nascita di Venere" (Birth of Venus) by Botticelli, "L' Annunciazione" (the Annunciation) by Leonardo...* To insure you can avoid the line, ask hotel Montebello to reserve your tickets in advance!
Galleria degli Uffizi hours of operation:
From Tuesday to Sunday: 8.15am - 6.50pm;
Closed on Mondays, January 1st, December 25th and May 1st....
Galleria dell'Accademia
– Florence is smitten by its David. Copies of the statue can be admired throughout the City, but the original is at the Galleria dell' Accademia. Besides the David, the Galleria also houses the "Prigioni" a series of unfinished sculptures by Michelangelo.Galleria dell'Accademia hours of operation:
From Tuesday to Sunday: 8.15am - 6.50pm;
Closed on Mondays, January 1st, December 25th and May 1st.
Ponte Vecchio
- In 1593, Ferdinando de' Medici decided he could no longer stand the "less noble" butcher and fruit shops found on both sides of Ponte Vecchio and ordered they be replaced by goldsmith shops, which grace it to this day. Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in Florence to survive the WWII bombings.According to an old legend, if you chain a padlock to Ponte Vecchio and then throw the key in the Arno river, your love will last forever. Don't miss taking a stroll in one of Florence's most romantic places!
Guide to Florence:
The heart of Florence, rich in artistic and architectural masterpieces, churches, museums and monuments from Read more...
What can you eat in Florence? Genuine food: the "real deal" authentic dishes rich in ingredients grown in the Tuscan countryside. Read more...
The roads within the oldest part of Florence's historical centre, where the prestigious boutiques can be found Read more...
The Montebello Splendid hotel organizes special tours that allow you to fully discover Tuscany's fascinating countryside Read more...
