Florence (Firenze in Italian) is the capital of the province of the same name and also of the region Tuscany. It is the second most visited city in Italy after Rome. Famous sights are the Duomo, the Uffizi Museum and the Ponte Vecchio. Florence is also a traffic hub and therefore a good base to visit Tuscany‘s other interesting towns.
All about Florence (City Guide)
Tourist Information
There is a tourist office in the city’s main train station. Other Info Points are located at the airport, in the Via Cavour, at the Brancacci Chapel and at the Bigallo Museum.
Museum card
The Firenzecard costs 85 Euro and gives 72 hours of free access to the museums (and some of the city’s churches). The Firenzecard+ costs 7 Euro extra and has the added value of being able to use public transport.
Tourist Attractions
The entire historical center of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 10% of the country’s works of art are to be found in the Tuscan capital. Note that during the Covid crisis for most of the museums and other sights the Green Pass is required.
Main Sights
A visit to the city had best start at the Piazza del Duomo. The Cathedral is built around the earlier Santa Reparata Cathedral. Highlights are Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. The Duomo is free, there is a combo-ticket for these other highlights.
The San Lorenzo Basilica, the Santa Maria Novella Church and the Santa Croce Church are all world famous.
Superb museums are located in Palazzo Pitti, Palazzo Vecchio and the Galleria degli Uffizi.
The Ponte Vecchio and the Corridoio Vasariano are must-sees and the Forte di Belvedere and the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi are some of the most famous historical buildings.
Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
The Giardino Boboli (“Boboli Garden”) is one of the most famous gardens in the world. It is a Renaissance garden and is located behind the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. The garden is graced with countless statues, fountains, grottos and all sorts of other structures and edifices. The palace hosts several museums.
Useful Information
Airports
Florence has its own airport, Amerigo Vespucci Airport in the Peretola district. However, most tourists arrive at Pisa‘s Galileo Galilei Airport. From both airports there are good connections to the city center.
Public transport
There are a number of train stations in Florence. The central station is called Santa Maria Novella and is within walking distance of the city centre and most sights. The city is on the train line between Rome and Milan and there is also a direct train to Pisa. Florence does not have a metro system. The central bus square is right next to the station. Most of the bus connections outside the city are provided by the company Flixbus.
By car
Florence is very easy to reach by car. It is the most central city of Italy and a junction of several important roads. The Autostrada del Sole, the highway that connects northern Italy with the tip of the boot, passes the city. There is a direct road to Siena (exit Firenze-Certosa) and the Autostrada Firenze-mare (exit Firenze Nord) leads to the Tuscan coast.
Annual Events
The most important event held each year is the historic football match. Despite the name, this extremely violent spectacle has very little to do with football as it is played nowadays. The Scoppio del Carro takes place on Easter Sunday. Apart from these there are several other interesting annual events in Florence.
A brief history of Florence
The history of Florence starts with the Etruscans, who were the first to inhabit the territory. After the Etruscans, the Romans founded the trading town of Florentia. In the early Middle Ages, the city was conquered by several peoples. Florence‘s greatest period of prosperity began in the 15th century, under the Medici. Even among their successors, the house of Lorraine, the city enjoyed great economic and political prosperity. After the unification of Italy, Florence became the first capital of the new country.
Antiquity to the early Middle Ages
The first settlement of what was eventually to become Florence, was of Italic origin. This was then taken over by the Etruscans, who had arrived in Italy from Asia Minor and settled in what are now Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. The reason they stayed was the abundance of minerals for the production of weapons and utensils.
After the Romans, led by Silla, had conquered the settlement, it became a flourishing trade city, called Florentia. The Romans adopted many of the Etruscan customs after having conquered them.
In the Byzantine period, it was a stronghold against the Gothic invasions. Later it was occupied by the Lombards and the Franks.
In the 7th century, Charlemagne beat the Lombards and was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. This led to a prolonged conflict between church and emperor.
Until the 8th century the famous Cathedral was outside the side walls. The new walls were constructed in order to include the Duomo.
In the 10th and 11th centuries, the city started becoming more influential.
Late Middle Ages and Renaissance
In 1115, after the death of Coutness Matilde, Florence became an independent city.
In the 13th century, the city was divided into two factions. The Ghibellines supported the Holy Roman Empire, while the Guelphs were on the side of the Papal State. The Guelphs eventually got the upper hand.
Despite the internal disagreements, Florence became the main power in present-day Tuscany. Other important cities, such as Pisa, Pistoia, Volterra, Arezzo and Siena were all conquered and subjected to Florentine rule.
From the 15th century onwards, the Medici were in charge in Florence. It was at this time that the guilder was introduced in the Netherlands. This coin was named after the Florentine currency fiorino d’oro (“Golden Florine”).
Wealthy bankers supplied artists and architects with money to build palaces and produce masterpieces. This period became known as the Renaissance and is the most important period in the history of Florence.
After the last Medici died childless, the Habsburg House of Lorraine took over power in the city. They ruled there from 1734 to 1859, with an interval during the French rule (1799-1814).
Modern history Florence
After the unification of Italy, Florence became the capital of the new state, a situation which only lasted for a few years (1864-1870).
In 1887, the Royal house of Savoy had the area around the old market destroyed in order to create space for the Piazza della Repubblica.
During the Second World War, the city was heavily bombed. All of the city’s bridges were destroyed by the Germans, except for the Ponte Vecchio. In 1966 a flood of the Arno river caused a lot of damage.
Lately, business and industry have moved to the suburbs, to an area called Firenze Nuova. The historical center is now a cultural and tourist haven.
Day trips from Florence
One of the most beautiful excursions outside Florence is Fiesole, which also offers a great view of the provincial capital.
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