Un quartiere dantesco a Firenze esiste. E’ racchiuso fra piazza della Signoria, Orsanmichele, la Torre della Castagna, l’oratorio dei Buonomini di San Martino e la Badia Fiorentina: insomma il cuore medievale di Firenze, stretto fra le case di pietra, con le torri che svettano.

Che cosa è il Trekking Urbano?  E' un nuovo modo di fare turismo, meno strutturato e lontano dai circuiti più conosciuti.

Un turismo sostenibile e più libero e ricco di sorprese che privilegia gli angoli più nascosti e meno noti delle città d’arte italiane.

On the occasion of some important and recent exhibits that took place in Florence, citizen routes and relative information sheets on the trail of artists and saints have been created. More particularly, the exhibits that gave the input for the itineraries were those dedicated to Leon Battista Alberti, the one on Pietro Vannucci, called the Perugino and the one on  Santa Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi.

A Roof with a view, edition 2012 is over: it has opened terraces in  Florence, some of the most beautiful, where you can have a beautiful view on the city. Visit them and take pictures or make a short video:

Florence is very often a location for movies because of its beautiful views and of the gorgeous surroundings.

Some very popular films have been made in Florence in the past years and here you find an account of those that have peculiar romantic stories.

It was the eminent painter, architect and art critic Vasari, who coined the term ‘maniera’.

The ‘Mannerists’ were painters who took their inspiration not directly from nature, but from the style of the great artists previously active in Rome, particularly Raphael and Michelangelo.

This part of the city has the same name of the large Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella.

It includes the central railway station with the same name and and Florence exhibiton and fair center Fortezza da Basso.

CHURCH OF SANTO SPIRITO

The district of Santo Spirito in Oltrarno, the picturesque neighborhood populated by craftsmen, restorers and antique dealers, gets its name from the Church of Santo Spirito. Designed by Brunelleschi and begun in 1444, it is one of the most beautiful examples of Renaissance architecture. The interior, in the shape of a Latin cross with three naves, is pure Brunelleschian style. Inside the church we can find a wooden crucifix by Michelangelo. The sacristy was built to plans by Giuliano da Sangallo. Next to the church is the Cenacle of Santo Spirito, where there is still a fragment of the "Last Supper" by Andrea Orcagna.

BRANCACCI CHAPEL

This chapel is famous throughout the world for its frescoes by Masaccio, a masterpiece of Renaissance painting; it is located in the 13th century church of Santa Maria del Carmine. Masolino was commissioned to do the frescoes and he began work in 1424 with the help of Masaccio. When Masaccio left Florence, the frescoes were completed after 1480 by Filippino Lippi.

MUSEO ZOOLOGICO LA SPECOLA

This museum contains a rich zoological collection of both existing and extinct animals, but above all it is famous for its collection of 18th century anatomical wax figures by Gaetano Zumbo: it is considered the finest in the world for beauty and quality.

CHURCH OF SANTA FELICITA

Inside this church, in the Capponi chapel is Pontormo's painting of the "Deposition" (1525-28) which is considered one of the masterpieces of Florentine Mannerism.

PITTI PALACE AND THE BOBOLI GARDENS

This palace was commissioned by Luca Pitti in 1448. The original plans, attributed to Brunelleschi, called for a much smaller building than the one we see now: it was enlarged in 1549 when ownership passed to the Medici family. The beautiful courtyard by Ammannati dates from that period. The Pitti Palace was enlarged and modified many times over the centuries: it was the seat of the Lorraine dynasty and, when Florence was capital of Italy, of the Court of Savoia. Today it houses several museums and galleries the most important of which is the Palatine Gallery, containing the private collections of the Grand Dukes, with masterpieces dating from the 15th to 17th centuries, including paintings by Titian, Giorgione, Raphael, and Rubens. The other museums are the Gallery of Modern Art, the Silver Museum, the Costume Gallery, the Carriage Museum, the Porcelain Museum, the Royal Apartments and the Apartment of the Duchess of Aosta.

One of the most beautiful Italian gardens extends on the Boboli hill between the Pitti Palace and Forte Belvedere. It was designed by Tribolo in 1549 and then enhanced by Ammannati and Buontalenti. The 16th century fortress, Forte Belvedere, dominates the gardens and the entire city; it was designed by Buontalenti for the Grand Duke Ferdinando I.

PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO AND SAN MINIATO AL MONTE

Piazzale Michelangelo was built in 1869 to plans by Giuseppe Poggi; it offers a splendid panorama of the city. In the middle of this plaza stand bronze copies of Michelangelo's "David" and the four statues on the tombs in the Medici Chapels.

Just above Piazzale Michelangelo is the basilica of San Miniato al Monte. Its green and white marble façade is considered one of the finest examples of the Florentine Romanesque style. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, it contains fine artworks such as the chapel of the "Crucifixion" by Michelozzo and the chapel of the Cardinal of Portugal both decorated by Luca della Robbia and the splendid frescoes by Spinello Aretino, depicting "Scenes from the Life of St. Benedict".

MUSEO BARDINI

This museum contains the fine collection of art objects bequeathed to the city by the antique dealer Stefano Bardini. The many masterpieces of painting and sculpture include works by Nicola Pisano, Tino da Camaino, Pollaiolo and Donatello.

Dedicated to tourists on a limited budget, young and less young, in a time of economic crisis, here are a number of ideas for visiting Florence free or almost free, taking advantage of guided tours, strolling in public parks or villa gardens, visiting churches that are treasure troves of wonderful works of art. 
Some of the city’s famous museums offer free admission; for example the Orsanmichele, with its 14th century architecture, where you can see splendid sculptures. And regarding sculpture collections, be sure not to miss the Loggia de' Lanzi in nearby Piazza della Signoria, where a number of world renowned Renaissance sculptures are situated in the open air.

Typically Florentine and true "compendiums" of painting are the Last Supper frescoes by notable artists such as Andrea del Sarto, Andrea del Castagno, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Perugino.

Numerous guided tours are available free of charge, as there are a number of associations who offer guided visits in certain sites of the city at no charge to tourists.

The six ancient Roman pilgrimage routes of the Florentine countryside, together with the Via Francigena, were established during the Middle Ages by those making the pilgrimage to Rome, one of the three most sacred Christian pilgrimage destinations of the time, in addition to Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela.

Christmas is coming. It's time for the nativity scene or crèche, a tradition born in Italy, thanks to St. Francis, who created the first live crèche in Greccio in order to see the scene of the Nativity with his own eyes.

In this itinerary you find some places referred to passionate love stories of the past.

Visit them remembering the lives of those who lived them in Florence.

Most of the legends in Florence hides some truth. Some are tragical, some are ironical and biting, often related to love and superstitions.

Say Florence and the Renaissance comes to mind, but the city also boasts a number of very interesting baroque buildings.

Here is a short tour itinerary to explore them.

CATHEDRAL, BAPTISTERY, MUSEO DELL'OPERA DEL DUOMO

Santa Maria del Fiore, the Gothic cathedral erected over the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata, was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio who began construction in 1296. Brunelleschi completed it in 1436 with the elegant dome, the inside of which was entirely frescoed by Vasari and Zuccari. The final phase in the construction of the cathedral, that is the completion of the façade, dates from the mid-19th century.

To the right of the cathedral rises the Bell Tower, or Campanile, designed by Giotto in 1334. The square tower is covered with red, green and white marble inlays, decorated with panels and carvings, and made graceful by double- and triple-windows.

Opposite the Cathedral stands the green and white marble Baptistery of San Giovanni (1128), a masterpiece of Florentine Romanesque architecture. The interior of the dome is decorated with mosaics. The splendid bronze doors (including the Door of Paradise) were made by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti.

The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo houses artworks from Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery and the Campanile, including sculptures that had been made for the cathedral façade. The most important works in the museum are by Michelangelo ("Pietà"), Donatello ("Mary Magdalen", "Cantoria"), Arnolfo di Cambio ("Boniface VIII"), Luca della Robbia ("Cantoria").

CHURCH OF ORSANMICHELE

Originally this building, a loggia designed by Arnolfo di Cambio (1209), was a granary and market. Only later did it become a house of worship: the loggia arcades were closed off by Simone Talenti and the exterior embellished with Florentine Gothic sculptures and ediculas.

PALAZZO MEDICI RICCARDI

This is the most typical example of privately commissioned Renaissance architecture. Cosimo the Elder commissioned Michelozzo to design a palace in 1444. Inside there is an elegant courtyard, a small Italian garden and the famous chapel with Benozzo Gozzoli's fresco the "Procession of the Magi" (1459).

BASILICA OF SAN LORENZO AND THE MEDICI CHAPELS

The original church that stood on this site was consecrated by Ambrose, Bishop of Milan in 393; Cosimo the Elder had it enlarged and remodeled by Brunelleschi. Inside there are works by Rosso Fiorentino, Desiderio da Settignano, Donatello and Bronzino. The church is flanked by the splendid, square-shaped Old Sacristy by Brunelleschi and the New Sacristy, by Michelangelo (1524), that houses the Medici family tombs. Along with the Baroque Chapel of the Princes, the New Sacristy comprises the museum of the Medici Chapels. To the left of the church is the Laurentian Library, also designed by Michelangelo, by order of the Medici family who wanted a place to conserve their fine collections of books, papyri and manuscripts.

Not far from the San Lorenzo complex is the Mercato Centrale, or central market, a fine example of late 19th century steel and glass architecture.

MUSEO FIRENZE COM'ERA AND MUSEO DI PREISTORIA

The Museo e Istituto Fiorentino di Preistoria and the Museo Storico Topografico "Firenze com'era" are situated in the former convent of the Oblate Nuns, whose buildings were once part of the Arcispedale di Santa Maria Nuova, the city's oldest (and still functioning) hospital that was founded by Folco Portinari in 1286.

GALLERY OF THE ACCADEMIA

This is one of the best known museums in Florence, because it houses famous sculptures by Michelangelo, including the "David". There are also many paintings, collected by the Grand Duke Peter Leopold to help the young artists enrolled in the Accademia d'Arte, which is still next door to the gallery.

OPIFICIO DELLE PIETRE DURE

The Opificio was founded by Ferdinando de' Medici in 1588. It is an important center for the restoration of inlays and mosaics, and it has a fine display of inlays, studies and drawings.

CONVENTO DI SAN MARCO

Michelozzo rebuilt and expanded this convent for Cosimo the Elder, and it still contains the splendid frescoes that Beato Angelico painted to decorate the monks' cells. Inside there is also a beautiful library that Michelozzo designed in 1448; this, the first public library of the Renaissance, contains many fine illuminated manuscripts.

The church of San Marco that stands alongside the convent was redesigned by Michelozzo.

UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

The entrance to several of the University's scientific museums are on Via La Pira: Geology and Paleontology, Mineralogy and Lithology and the Botanical Gardens, or "Giardino dei Semplici", founded by the Medici and then enriched under the Lorraine rule; the Botanical Museum, on the other hand, dates from the 19th century.

CLOISTER DELLO SCALZO AND CENACLE OF SANT'APOLLONIA

The Cloister "Dello Scalzo" is located in Via Cavour; it contains monochrome frescoes by Andrea del Sarto portraying "Scenes from the Life of St. John the Baptist" and two "Allegories of Virtue". The entrance to the cenacle of Sant'Apollonia is on Via XXVII Aprile; on the back wall there is a "Last Supper" by Andrea del Castagno.

BASILICA OF THE SS. ANNUNZIATA

Founded in 1250 and then expanded over the centuries, this is one of the most important churches in Florence. The Cloister of the Voti and the Cloister of the Morti contain frescoes by Andrea del Sarto, Rosso Fiorentino, Franciabigio and Pontormo. Inside the temple of the Annunziata, designed by Michelozzo, there is an image of the Virgin Mary that is considered miraculous.

SPEDALE DEGLI INNOCENTI

This building was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, with a fine loggia decorated with glazed terracotta roundels by Andrea della Robbia. Originally a foundling hospital, it hosts activities for children even today, along with the Galleria dello Spedale that contains many fine paintings such as the "Adoration of the Magi" by Ghirlandaio.

ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

This collection, begun by the Medici and continued by the Lorraine, contains many important items related to Etruscan art and civilization such as the "Chimera of Arezzo", the "Orator" and the "Minerva of Arezzo", as well as several tombs that are in the garden. The Greek and Egyptian sections are also quite noteworthy, in fact, this is one of the major archeological museums in Italy.

Discover Florence science museums!

Ancient scientific instruments, botanical gardens, skeletons, titanic insects: all this can be found in Florence Science Museums.