Florence - Tuscany

Long a European capital of art, architecture, commerce, political thought, museums, and an amazing assortment of gelato, Florence (Firenze) is currently one of the most metropolitan cities found in Italy-and its wealth of tourists and cultural attractions can attest to that fact! Five bridges stretch across the Arno from central Florence to the Oltrarno, the district south of the river, and nearly every city street will lead a visitor to the unmistakable dome of the duomo, the geographical heart of Florence.

History
Florence was first founded as a colony of the Etruscan city of Fiesole in about 200 BC. Later it became known as the Roman Florentia, and acted as a garrison town controlling the Via Flaminia. Always a noteworthy and preeminent destination, Florence was once hailed as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The city managed to retain this honor until 1875, when it lost its seat to Rome.

Though Florence and its population suffered greatly during the Great Plague of 1348, in the latter half of the 14th century the prominent Medici family began to take hold of municipal, financial, and political power in the city. Bankers to the papacy, members of the Medicis-such as the illustrious one-time ruler of Florence Cosimo Medici-became patrons of artists such as Donatello, Brunelleschi, Fra Angelico, and Filippo Lippi. During the reign of Cosimo's grandson, Lorenzo Medici (who came to power in 1469), the Florentine court prompted a great eruption of art, music, and poetry, and Lorenzo himself sponsored philosophers and artists the likes of Botticelli, da Vinci, and Michelangelo.

Though badly damaged during WWII by the bombs of the retreating German troops, Florence has retained an innumerable number of its riches through modern restoration techniques and salvage. The incredible works of art and architecture lavishly distributed throughout the city could take a visitor days, even years, to see…and definitely a lifetime to fully appreciate!

Sights
Though there are too many to list in detail, if you're in Florence for only a few days hit up these highlights:

The duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore), with its famed feature, Brunelleschi's Dome, took hundreds of years to construct, and boasts the world's 3rd-longest nave after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London. The Dome offers unparalleled views of the city. The baptistery, once believed to have originated as a Roman temple, is famous for its ornate bronze doors, reportedly labeled the "Gates of Paradise" by Ghiberti. Visit the Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), indeed the oldest bridge in Florence and currently the home of many goldsmith shops and medieval-looking boutiques.

The Uffizi, once home to the offices (uffizi) of the Medici administration, today holds more great art per square inch than any other museum in the world. A visit there is, above all, absolutely essential-and incredibly time-consuming! (N.B. Save hours of waiting by purchasing tickets in advance for a small additional charge.) The Casa di Dante (Dante's House), is a great stop for any Inferno fan.

The Piazza della Repubblica, full of crowds and street performers in the evening, and the Mercato Nuovo, with vendors selling purses, belts, clothes, fruit and vegetables, as well as gold and silk are two great locations to dine, browse, or market shop.

At the Accademia, Michelangelo's well-known statue of David awaits. However, make sure to buy a postcard…cameras are no longer allowed inside the building.

Cuisine
Florentine cuisine derives from the peasant fare of the neighboring countryside. Notable for its rustic dishes, made from simple preparations and the freshest ingredients, Tuscan food ranks among the best in the world. Famed specialties include bruschetta (toasted bread drizzled with olive oil and garlic, and topped with tomatoes and a variety of other garnishes), ribollita (a hearty bean, bread and cabbage stew), pecorino cheese (made from sheep's milk), and the local dessert cantuccini di prato (hard almond cookes), usually accompanied by vinsanto (a rich dessert wine made from raisins and used for dipping).

Transportation
Planes (mostly domestic and charter flights) can fly into the Amerigo Vespucci Airport in the suburb of Perestola, or into the Galilieo Galilei Airport. ATAF city buses travel from 6am to 1am to destinations all over the city. Trains stop at the Santa Maria Novella Station, Florence's only modern-style building.