City, adm. c. region Tuscany, Italy. Mentioned in 200 BC. e. like Etruscan. Faesuiae village. At the turn of the century e. Rome. colony of Florentina from Latin. florens blooming, prosperous, happy or Florence Tuscorum Florence Tuscorum, i.e. ... ... Geographical encyclopedia
Florence- Florence. Panorama of the city. FLORENCE, city in Italy. 408 thousand inhabitants. Metallurgy, various mechanical engineering; chemical, oil refining, textile, shoe leather, woodworking, glass, printing, food... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
Florence- >.). /> Florence. Palazzo della Signoria (.). Florence. Palazzo della Signoria (.). Florence is a city in Central Italy, in the region of Tuscany. Founded in the 1st century. BC. by the Romans at the site of the Ligurian settlement. In the Middle Ages, an important craft trade... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary "World History"
FLORENCE, city in Italy. 408 thousand inhabitants. Metallurgy, various mechanical engineering; chemical, oil refining, textile, shoe leather, woodworking, glass, printing, food industries. Production… … Modern encyclopedia
A city in Central Italy, in the region of Tuscany. Founded in the 1st century. BC. by the Romans at the site of the Ligurian settlement. In the Middle Ages, an important craft trade center, which, having subjugated significant lands around the city, became a city state... ... Historical Dictionary
Firenze, a city in Central Italy, the center of the historical region of Tuscany. Picturesquely located in a spacious intermountain basin on the Arno River. One of the largest and most beautiful cities of museums in the world, which has preserved its historical appearance.... ... Art encyclopedia
Noun, number of synonyms: 2 city (2765) name (1104) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary
Florence- (Florence), originally a city state in the North. Italy. Founded by the Romans in the 1st century. BC. as a colony for veterans, it survived barbarian raids in the 5th and 6th centuries. AD and came into the possession of the Carolingians in the 8th century. Becoming the center of the diocese, and by the 11th century. commune, F... The World History
- (Firenze) a city in Central Italy, one of the most important economic and cultural centers of the country. Administrative center of the province of Florence and the region of Tuscany. Located on the river. Arno, in the center of the intermountain basin. 464.9 thousand inhabitants... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- (Firenze), a city in Central Italy, the administrative center of the province of Florence and the region of Tuscany. 393 thousand inhabitants (1994). One of the main economic and cultural centers of the country. Mechanical engineering (heavy, electrical, radio-electronic... encyclopedic Dictionary
Books
- Florence, Usoltseva O. (ed.). Florence + map. History, sights, walking routes...
- Florence, Levi P.. The small guidebooks published by Thomas Cook have everything you need to get to know any corner of the world in a minimum amount of time: visit attractions, shops, restaurants, learn about...
Florence is a picturesque Italian city located in Tuscany, on the banks of the Arno River. This city has long received the status of a museum city, one of the most famous, beautiful and ancient European cultural centers. Florence is also known by nicknames such as “the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance” and “the Athens of Italy.” John the Baptist has long been the patron saint of Florence. The city celebrates its holiday on the twenty-fourth of June.
The city was founded by ancient Roman veterans in the middle of the first millennium BC. Initially, the settlement was called “Florentia”, which means “blooming”. The settlement quickly grew into a real city and already in the fourth century it became the residence of a bishop. At different times the city was under the rule of the Byzantines, Lombards, Ostrogoths and Franks. During those difficult times for Florence, the city's population decreased noticeably.
The city begins to revive in the tenth century and already in the fifteenth year of the eleventh century receives the status of an independent commune. At this time, the construction of the Church of San Miniato and the Baptistery was underway in Florence. In the thirteenth century, Santa Maria del Fiore and. In the same century, the commune became involved in the struggle between the Ghibellines and the Guelphs, but this conflict had virtually no effect on the prosperity of the city. In the mid-thirteenth century, city authorities began issuing their own gold coin, the florin. It becomes one of the most stable European coins of the time. The basis of the city's economy at that time was wool production. In the forties of the fourteenth century, the population of Florence exceeded eighty thousand people, but the plague epidemic that swept across Europe sharply reduced the number of inhabitants.
Florence is rightfully considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. It was in these lands in the fourteenth century that this period in the development of not only European, but also world art was finally formed.
In the thirties of the fifteenth century, the Medici dynasty seized power over the region, but they ruled Florence only until the end of the century. They are replaced by the Florentine Republic. It was at this time that great celebrities such as Michelangelo, Savonarola, Machiavelli and, of course, Leonardo lived and worked in the city and its surroundings. In the sixteenth century, Cosimo I de' Medici returned power over Florence to his dynasty, once again reviving the once great duchy called Tuscany.
During the national liberation struggle in the second half of the nineteenth century, Florence became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy for six years, until the Papal States along with Rome were annexed to a unified Italy. During these years, the appearance of the city changed significantly - a huge part of the old city, in which there was a market, high residential towers and a Jewish ghetto, was destroyed. At this site, the then authorities planned to build an entire block in the Piedmontese-Turin style, but local residents did not support this idea. This project will be partially implemented after the capital of the Italian state moves from Florence to Rome. In the modern square, only a few Jewish names remind of its sad past. Currently, next to the former royal residence, Palazzo Pitti, there are several institutes and museums, as well as the Boboli Gardens, famous throughout the country.
On the territory of Florence, many unique monuments from different eras have been preserved. Among them are a number of beautiful churches and cathedrals, for example, Santa Maria delle Vine, erected on the site of the Dominican chapel, and the largest church in Florence. The city is also known for a number of majestic palaces, including some that have become the home of the royal family.
The most famous palace in Florence is considered to be built in the mid-fifteenth century by the famous Florentine architect Brunelleschi. In the sixteenth century, by order of the Medici, this luxurious palace was significantly expanded by the famous architect Bartolomeo Ammannati.
Another famous palace has long been the Bargello Palace, which was erected in the thirteenth century. For a very long time it was the seat of the court and military authorities of Florence. In appearance, this majestic palace looks more like a huge, well-fortified fortress, with a high tower and a large number of loopholes. Initially, the palace housed the executive branch, later the judicial branch, and after some time the Council of Justice. From the mid-sixteenth century, the palace came into the possession of Captain Bargello, an officer of the Florentine police guard. Since then, this majestic building bears his name.
In Florence, everyone will find something to their liking, because it has one of the largest concentrations of attractions in Europe. And if you are not interested in historical artifacts, you can simply walk for hours along the crowded and hospitable streets of the city and relax in the numerous hotels.
We advise you to watch a short colorful video with the main beauties and attractions of Florence.
Florence is the capital of Tuscany, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a city-museum. Michelangelo, Boccaccio, Botticelli, Machiavelli, Dante, Da Vinci, Brunelleschi lived and worked here. Masterpieces of architecture, painting and sculpture of the Renaissance form entire ensembles.
Florence (Firenze) is a city in Central Italy, the capital of Tuscany. It is rightfully recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and proudly bears the epithet “beautiful”, “Firenze la Bella”. This is where the Renaissance began. Florence is a true concentration of architectural splendor and a special atmosphere, permeated with the spirit of the works of Michelangelo and Botticelli.
The city is located at the foot of the northern part of the Apennine Mountains and covers an area of 102 square meters. km. Its population is 377,207 according to the 2013 census. The distance from Rome to Florence is 274 kilometers.
Florence is comfortably located in the southeast of the Florence-Prato Pistoia plain, protected on three sides by low picturesque hills. Residential neighborhoods stretch along the banks of the Arno River, which lazily carries its waters from east to west across the whole of Florence.
“Italian Athens”, this is also the name of Florence. The city is a museum that gave the world artists and sculptors, whose names have become icons in art. Modernity and antiquity in Florence come into such harmonious contact with each other that you inevitably feel like a time traveler when you see the grandeur of palaces, the solemnity of basilicas, the spirituality of churches, cross graceful bridges or relax in the shade on an ancient square.
Florence sightseeing map
Duomo Square
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Museo Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore
Giotto's Bell Tower
Baptistery of St. John the Baptist
Church of Santa Maria del Carmine
Basilica of Santa Croce
Church of Orsanmichele
Basilica of San Lorenzo
Piazza della Signoria
Palace Vecchio
Palazzo Pitti
Boboli Gardens
Bargello
Uffizi Gallery
Ponte Vecchio Bridge
Sights of Florence
Duomo Square
The sights of Florence amaze with their diversity. One of the favorite places on tourist routes is Piazza del Duomo or Cathedral Square. The most ancient and significant architectural monuments are located here. The religious, artistic, and cultural life of Florence is concentrated in its elegant and refined appearance. It was here that the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore was built - one of the first buildings of Renaissance architecture.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The Museo dell'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore or Opera del Duomo contains original sculptures from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The sculptures with which the temple is now decorated are mostly skillfully made copies. The most famous exhibits of the museum are: “Madonna with Glass Eyes”, Donatello’s wooden sculpture “Mary Magdalene”, “The Baptism of Christ” by Andrea Sansovino.
Giotto's Bell Tower
Giotto's Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto) stands next to the Cathedral of Florence. The foundation of one of the most elegant Italian campaniles was laid in 1334. The tower was for the architect Giotto di Bondone the concentration of all creative forces; it was in it that he achieved the synthesis of painting and architecture that he had been trying to find all his life. Giotto did not have time to complete the construction; he died, having erected only the first floor. The 84-meter tower soaring into the sky, proportionally divided by horizontal divisions with elongated Gothic windows, is an integral part of the architectural ensemble of the Duomo.
Baptistery of St. John the Baptist
The Basilica of Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world. It is famous for Giotto's frescoes and the tombs of great men of Italy. The temple is made in the shape of an Egyptian cross, and the pointed arches soaring upward create a special sacredness of this place.
Church of Orsanmichele
Basilica of San Lorenzo (Basilica di San Lorenzo) is one of the oldest churches in Florence (393). It houses a large number of works of art, precious materials and revered relics. The basilica brings together many famous names: Filippo Brunelleschi, Donatello, Antonio Manetti, Filippo Lippi, Desiderio da Settignano... In addition, it houses the tomb of the noble Medici family, whose tombstones are decorated with works by Michelangelo.
Piazza della Signoria
The true decoration of Piazza della Signoria is the Palazzo Vecchio or Palazzo della Signoria. Growing on the foundations of an ancient tower, the 94-meter Arnolfo Tower is one of the most recognizable symbols of Florence. The palace is massive on the outside, but inside is a real treasure trove of genuine triumph of art. Today the palace houses the town hall and an art museum. Here you can see a sculptural group created by Michelangelo, paintings and sculptures by Domenico de Rossi, and works by Vasari.
Palazzo Pitti
If you go down from Piazza della Signoria to the southern bank of the Arno, the road will lead to another iconic landmark of Florence - Palazzo Pitti. The palace was built for the family of the Florentine aristocrat Luca Pitti. It is a symbol of the power of the influential aristocracy. The Dukes of Lorraine and Tuscany lived in its luxurious halls, and for some time it was the residence of the Italian king.
Today the palace is one of the popular museum complexes of Florence, which houses the Palatine Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Porcelain Museum, the Silver Museum, the Costume Gallery and the Carriage Museum.
Boboli Gardens
National Museum
A hundred meters from Piazza della Signoria there is another iconic place for travelers - the National Museum (Bargello). The building itself was erected around 1255. They built it as a fortress capable of withstanding any battle. The history of sculpture in Italy is hidden behind the impregnable walls of the palace. The works of medieval masters are exhibited here; separate rooms are dedicated to the brilliant creations of Donatello and Michelangelo. No less interesting are the collections of carpets, knightly armor and terracotta figurines located on the second floor of the museum.
Uffizi Gallery
The greatness of the cultural heritage, its intimacy, mystery and indescribable beauty can be fully experienced in another Florentine museum - the Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi). The gallery building itself is an outstanding work of art, erected in the middle of the 16th century by order of the Duke of Medici, a passionate lover and admirer of art. It is the collection collected by the Medici that forms part of the fund of the modern gallery. Also, hundreds of tourists come here every day to see the works of Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Caravaggio.
Ponte Vecchio Bridge
And of course, you can’t visit Florence without standing on the Ponte Vecchio bridge. In 1345, this stone structure, thanks to the skill of Neri di Fioravanti, connected the two banks of the Arno River. Initially, meat trade was carried out near the bridge, but Ferdinand I, irritated by the oppressive stench, ordered jewelry workshops to be built on the site of butchers' shops. So the three-arched structure soon became overgrown with residential buildings on both sides and received the nickname “Golden Bridge”.
Events, holidays, activities in Florence
The city's climate is determined by its low-lying location: Florence's altitude above sea level is only 50 meters. In winter, under the influence of the dry continental masses of the Arctic, the air temperature rarely rises above 10 °C, but in the summer, when the influence of western air currents dominates, it reaches 30-40 °C at the peak of the season. Spring and autumn delight with comfortable temperatures.
How to get to Florence
When traveling to Florence, you should remember that there is no direct flight from Moscow to Florence. The best option is to fly through Rome and then travel around Italy.
Comfortable trains travel from Rome to Florence; the travel time is one and a half hours. The plane flight will take about an hour. Trains come to Florence from Rimini, Bologna, Milan, Verona, Venice, Pisa. There is also a bus service between the cities.
What to see when you come to the Italian city of Florence for 2 days. Main attractions and interesting places, map. My short guide.
As it turned out in practice, the city of Florence is very convenient in terms of tourism. All historical places are concentrated around small and large squares and it is very rare to find a separate landmark somewhere in the middle of historical streets.
But first, some practical information about how to get to the city and where to find inexpensive housing.
How to get to the city of Florence
- : you can get from the airport by ordering for 50-60 € or using shuttle buses for 6 €. A budget option is the city tram T2 for 1.5 €.
- , and Venice, Milan etc.: You can get from these cities either by bus or by rail. The bus network covers all these cities, and tickets cost from 10€. Trains cost a little more, starting from €15; all train tickets are sold without extra charge in Russian.
Where to stay in Florence
- Apartments: On almost all my trips around Italy, I choose private apartments, which allows me to save money without losing comfort. Without changing tradition, I book an apartment on. Detailed review of the apartment near attractions in the story -.
- Hotels: For everyone else who prefers hotels, I suggest using a search engine, which often finds prices cheaper than on the classic one. In addition to this, use .
Sights of Florence
Before the film Inferno, Florence was a very popular place, and after the film it became even more popular, which affected the density of tourists and increased queues. To avoid queues as much as possible and plan your route, some tickets should be purchased in advance; this will discipline you upon arrival and allow you to see the city to the maximum.
- — 23€
- — 8,5€
- without a queue - 19€
- without a queue - 16€
- — 20€
- — 15€
- — 16€
- — 120€
What to see in Florence in 1 day
As I already wrote in a short introduction at the beginning of the article, everything in the city of Florence revolves around squares and the story will be built around the squares and dashes between them. If you look at the map of attractions, you can clearly see this.
My story will start not from the square, but from the apartment in which I stayed. Not far from it there were some historical gates, the description of which I could not find anywhere.
Lower Fortress – Fortezza da Basso
There is another attraction near the apartment - the Lower Fortress. It looks gloomy and neglected, but still these are the remains of a once defensive structure. Many will pass by and perhaps not get here, but if you come to the city by bus, the stop will be next to this fortress.
San Marco Square
When you mention San Marco, most will immediately remember, but here, like in many cities in Italy, there is such a square. In the middle of the square there is a monument to General Manfredo Fanti, and the square itself is decorated with the Basilica di San Marco.
Santissima Annunziata Square
Just one street and 200m separates this square from the previous one. And if St. Mark's Square might not be remembered for anything, then here everything is more interesting. Here will be the first mention of the Medici surname. This surname was practically equated with the word Florence. The recently released series “Medici - Lords of Florence” also helped this.
In and around the square is the Basilica of Santissima Annunziata, the Equestrian Statue of Ferdinando I de' Medici, the Sea Monster Fountains and the Orphanage.
Duomo Square
From Piazza Santissima Annunziata you will be able to view the most important attraction of Florence - the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore.
Its appearance is more captivating when approaching than up close. This huge structure gets lost when you get very close and you are left looking at small pieces, which is not so interesting. An even better view of the cathedral opens from Michelangelo's observation deck, but we will get to it on the second day.
The square does not end with just the cathedral; there is also the Baptistery of San Giovanni,
Plaza San Lorenzo
Around the central Duomo square there are several other small squares and one of them is San Lorenzo. Among the attractions here is the square itself with the basilica of the same name and the monument to the military leader Giovanni delle Banda Nera Medici, nicknamed the Big Devil.
- — 8,5€
Attached to the Basilica of San Lorenzo is a chapel or, in other words, the Medici Chapel. This is one of the must-visit destinations for lovers of Michelangelo's work.
Central Market - Mercato Centrale
This is not exactly a Florence landmark, but for a break from the endless squares and a change of scenery, it’s a very good place to visit. This market, of course, is not such a tourist attraction as in the one, but it is also located almost in the very center next to the Medici Chapel. This is also a great option to buy fruit for a snack on the road or food to cook dinner in the evening.
Piazza Santa Maria Novella
We return from the market to the squares and go to the central station, next to which there is a square with the same-domain Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. Behind the basilica there is the building of the Catholic Church Cappella Del Sacramento and it is not clear what square it belongs to, so I will add it here.
- — 15€
Republic Square
The square lives up to its name and is the largest in the city. Among the Attractions here is the Colonna dell’Abbondanza, which was once a symbol of the center of the Florentine Republic, but was remodeled and demolished so many times that it lost its original appearance and was installed in another place.
There is a children's carousel in the square with its name Carousel Antica Giostra Toscana. This is apparently now also part of the tourist symbol of Florence.
Piazza della Signoria
Quite an unusual square compared to others in this city, and if you read about the sculptures in this square, you understand that you came here for a reason.
The most surprising thing is the Loggia Della Signoria - there is continuous suffering and murder, one sculpture is more bloodthirsty than the other. It is especially surprising that these are the creations of the great Michelangelo and Donatello. It is strange that they are stored almost in the open air. Maybe these are copies? To go and see it closer, as well as go inside, you will have to buy.
Where in this square you can visit a museum for 7 €, and the main asset of the square is a ticket to which costs 19 €.
Basilica of Santa Croce
This landmark of Florence also has a square of the same name nearby and is located a little further from the center, so you have to walk here for about 10 minutes. Apparently I was too lazy to walk or there were other reasons, but I didn’t get to the basilica and had to look at it from the Michelangelo observation deck.
A little to the left in the photo you can see another historical building - the central library of Florence.
Florence in 2 days
The second day in Florence can be devoted to the southern bank of the Arno River, as well as the bridges across it and the Vasari corridor. You can start from the Vasari corridor and walk, if not inside it for a fee, then at least along it.
Vasari Corridor
The Vasari Corridor is a hidden tunnel in the roofs and galleries of Florence, impoverishing the Palazzo Vecchia and Palazzo Pitti, located on opposite banks of the Arno River and passing through the Ponte Vecchio bridge. The Uffizi Gallery is also part of the corridor.
- without a queue - 16€
Ponte Vecchio Bridge
It’s hard not to pass by the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. It looks more interesting from the outside than from the inside. When you walk along the bridge itself, you may not even understand it, it seems that you are on an ordinary street. Although the street is unusual, they only sell jewelry here.
In the middle of the bridge there is a small opening in the form of arches from where you can take photographs of Florence on both sides of the Arno River. There is also a sculpture by Benvenuto Cellini, the fence of which tourists use to hang a padlock as a keepsake.
The capital of Tuscany and the former capital of the Italian Republic, Florence (Firenze, Florentia or Fiorenza) is located on the upper reaches of the Arno River between the hills of the Sense Clavei region. This ancient city (founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar) has absorbed a colossal number of historical monuments, turning today into one large open-air museum, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982.
Sights of Florence
The most famous monuments of the city include (the "Old Palace", or the Palace of the Signoria, 1299-1314), a building, a square, an observation deck on, Bargello palaces, Pitti(1458-1539, the most grandiose palace of the city with adjacent ones), Rucellai, Strozzi And Medici-Riccardi.
It is definitely worth a visit ("Old Bridge", XIV century) with its famous Corridoro Vasariano(a secret passage above the shops of the bridge, specially built for the Medici dynasty, connecting the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace), squares, Piazza della Santissima Annunziata And Piazza della Liberta, bridge Ponte Santa Trinita(1567-1569, the oldest arch bridge in the world), fountain "Neptune"(1565) in Piazza della Signoria, tropical garden of the Institute of Agronomy, botanical garden Giardino delle Iris(the iris flower is a symbol of Florence since 1251) and a tower Bargello.
Almost every quarter of the city has its own church, and almost each of them is of great artistic value. The best examples of religious architecture in Florence include the Gothic (1296-1466), bell tower Giotto(XIV century), basilicas (Capella Medici, 1393-1419, here are the tombs of members of the Medici clan), (XIII-XIV centuries, here is the famous " Pantheon of Florence" - the graves of the most famous citizens of the city, including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo, Rossini, Dante and others), Santa Maria Novella(1246-1360) and Della Santissima Annunziata(1250-1520), churches Orsanmichele(1337-1404) and Santo Spirito(XV-XVI centuries), cathedral and monastery San Marco and baptistery San Giovanni(“Gates of Paradise”, a former defensive tower of the Roman period, rebuilt in the 4th-5th centuries AD) with gilded bronze gates.
Museums of Florence
Florence has a huge number of museums. in Piazza della Senoria is not only one of the oldest museums in Italy (1560), but also the most complete and significant collection of Italian painting in the world. Museum San Marco is located in the building of an ancient Dominican monastery (XIV century) and is famous for the frescoes and paintings of the great Dominicans Fra Beato Angelico (1395-1455) and Fra Bartolomeo, as well as the cell of Savonarola. Also interesting: Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts, Pitti gallery in the royal apartments, Palatine Gallery, Gallery of Contemporary Art, Silver Museum, Carriage Museum, National Bargello Museum, Archaeological Museum in the Crocetta Palace with an extensive collection of ancient art, Medici Museum in the Medici-Riccardi Palace (XV century), Museum of Zoology and Natural History La Specola near the Pitti Palace, and also Opera del Duomo Museum And National Museum of Palazzo Bargello.
And this is only a small part of the attractions of Florence! The city is so rich in historical monuments, works of culture and art that some tourists who come here for the first time experience the so-called “Stendhal syndrome”, when the abundance of “beauties” leads to dizziness, increased heart rate and even fainting. In any case, to see at least part of the city’s unique heritage, you need to spend months and even years here.
