Florence
A Half-Day Tour of Florence, in slow motion, enjoying every moment, focusing on artistic beauty, Florentine lifestyle, funny stories, mysteries and curiosities of this city. For me, a guided tour of Florence is not a history conference, so I will do my best to offer you a relaxing and pleasant walk in Florence.
Piazza San Giovanni and Piazza del Duomo are the religious centre of the city. We will discover here one of the oldest architectonical monuments, the Baptistery, the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto's Bell-Tower. I will reveal you the legends, the funny stories and the most important episodes that occurred in these suggetive places in Florence…
Piazza della Repubblica was the heart of the city in Roman times, was the central market square. Today the square is famous for its historic cafés and pastry shops.
Our next stop will be Orsanmichele, a special church in Florence with a fascinating history.
We will walk towards the former straw market that Florentines call "Mercato del Porcellino"( Little Pig Market), because of the bronze statue of a pig with a shining nose. If you rub his polished snout and throw a coin in the fountain, I assure you that you will return to Florence!
Ponte Vecchio is the Paradise of jewelry lovers, but also the oldest bridge in Florence, the only one that the Germans spared during the Second World War.
After a few steps we will find the largest square in Florence, where stands the magnificent Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Garden.
We will also admire the Uffizi building that houses since the 16th century the richest collection of paintings in Italy, being the oldest museum in Europe.
Piazza della Signoria is an open air museum unique in Tuscany and even in Italy with its magnificent statues. Here we will admire Palazzo Vecchio, the actual municipality Centre, one of the most important palaces in Florence.
After a short walk along a colorful medieval street, we will find Piazza Santa Croce and the Basilica of Santa Croce.
The piazza changes its atmosphere after sunset; many bars, discotheques and clubs light up the night until the morning, but during the day, the statue of Dante in front of the Church seems to control the piazza and ask for silence…
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