Florence is the official capital of Tuscany, which is one of the regions in Italy. Home to the most respected artists and scholars of all time, Florence has been said to be the Renaissance center of Italy. Visiting Florence may be intimidating at first, with its dark and narrow alleys, but the scenic and artistic beauties are all sights to behold and a must see for any traveler passing along Florence. Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and offers a variety of top tourist attractions. It truly is a treasure chest of many architectural, cultural and artistic wonders.
The Galleria degli Uffizi is one of the most famous art museums in the world. It was built in 1581 and offers many of the wonderful paintings of Boticelli, Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Other Renaissance paintings and sculptures are also showcased in the Galleria degli Uffizi. For those tourists that feel tired and hungry a visit at the restaurant in the Galleria degli Uffizi is just the thing for you. The restaurant or Caffe offers a great view of the Palazzo Vecchio from the balcony which overlooks the main piazza. This museum is open from Tuesdays to Sundays 8:15 am to 6:35 pm. Because of the popularity of the Galleria degli Uffizi, visitors are advised to call 055 2654321 to make ticket reservations in advance or buy reserved tickets as it is not uncommon for tourist to spend long lines in buying for the tickets. Tickets are priced at €10.00 and €4 for advance booking.
Since you are already in the Galleria degli Uffizi, why not also visit the Ponte Vecchio. It literally means the ‘old bridge’ the Ponte Vecchio is one of the most famous and ancient bridges in Arno. It has the honor of being the only bridge in Florence to have survived the devastating effect of World War II. Aside from its history, the Ponte Vecchio is lined with many shops which mostly sell jewelry. The Ponte Vecchio connects the Medici palace and the Galleria degli Uffizi.
Another must see place to be in Florence is the Bargello or more formally The National Museum of the Bargello. This museum boasts of a magnificent collection of Mannerist and Renaissance sculpture with the works of Donatello, Michelangelo, Ammannati, Sansovino, Bandinelli, Giambologna, Desiderio da Settignano and Antonio Rossellino, among others. Admission in the Bargello is only €4.
The Pitti Palace, which stands in one of the banks of the Arno River, is home to arts and treasures of its former inhabitants: the Medici family. Once in the Pitti Palace you can’t help but wonder what its walls have seen and heard during the reign of one of Italy’s most feared rulers. Behind this historic palace is the Boboli Gardens. The Boboli Gardens is a great place for a quiet picnic while enjoying the beautiful landscaping and sculptures. It also offers a great view of the city. It has been rumored that the Medici’s Boboli Gardens have been the inspiration in building other timeless gardens around Europe.
