Florence, Italy

Florence is blessed with a wide choice of delightful pensione. Some have an intimate charm, adorned with lovely furniture and frescoes; others are chic, others grand. You need to book well in advance, especially between April and October. Many of them are without a restaurant, but that is no hardship in a town stuffed with interesting places in which to eat. The province of Florence draws its southern border across the Chianti hills. A line of defensive castles marks the ancient boundary with Siena, a reminder of the bitter emnity between the two in medieval times.

Santa Maria del Fiore The Duomo
Piazza del Duomo

A distinctive feature of Florence's skyline is the dome of the cathedral (Duomo), Santa Maria del Fiore. The building itself, located due north of the Piazza della Signoria, was begun by the sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296. Numerous local artists continued to work on it during the following century and a half. The painter Giotto designed its sturdy bell tower (campanile) in 1334. Yet, the massive octagonal cupola (1420-36) that truly dominates both the church and the city was the proud achievement of Filippo Brunelleschi, master architect and sculptor. Opposite the cathedral stands the Baptistery; the building dates from the 11th century but was believed by Florentines to be a surviving Roman monument when they commissioned for it a series of bronze doors with relief sculptures (1330; 1401-52). The third pair of these doors, by Lorenzo Ghiberti, were of such rare beauty that Michelangelo christened them the ' Gates of Paradise.'

The cathedral of Florence itself had been begun in the Gothic style by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296. But in 1366 the City of Florence, following the advice of certain painters and sculptors, decided that the Gothic should no longer be used and that all new work should follow Roman forms, including an octagonal dome 42 metres in span to be built at the east end of the nave. The dome was not built until the early 15th century, when Filippo Brunelleschi, a goldsmith and sculptor, began to make statues for the cathedral. Gradually he became interested in the building itself and built some smaller parts of it. In about 1415 he prepared a design for the dome that he daringly proposed to build without the aid of formwork, which had been absolutely necessary in all previous Roman and Gothic construction. He built a 1:12 model of the dome in brick to demonstrate his method; the design was accepted and built under his supervision from 1420 to 1436.

Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio leads you across the Arno River past the stores of jewelry, souvenirs, and other tempting trinkets. It is unique because it is the oldest surviving bridge in Florence. It once housed blacksmith, butchers, and tanners who saw the river below as a convenient sewer. By the end of the Renaissance, they were evicted and goldsmith's and other artisans moved in. Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in Florence that survived W.W.II.

Galleria dell'Accademia

via Ricasoli 60
Open: 9-6 p.m. Closed Mondays.

The Galleria dell'Accademia contains one of the most famous statues in the world, Michelangelo's David. Michelangelo's David originally stood in front of the Palazzo Vecchio at the beginning of the sixteenth century, as the symbolic guardian of the liberty of the Florentine Republic. In 1873 it was moved to the Galleria and was replaced by the copy which now stands in its original location.

Uffizi Gallery

Via della Ninna 5
50122, Firenze, Italia
Tel: +39 (0)55 2388651-652
Fax: +39 (0)55 2388699.

Open: Tuesday-Sunday 8.15am- 7.00pm
Close: every Monday, January 1, May 1, December 25.
The ticket office is located on the ground floor; the Gallery is mainly located on the second floor. Entrance L. 12.000

The Uffizi Gallery, founded in Florence in 1581, by the De Medici family, is one of the oldest museums in the world. Many important works of Italian and other schools, dating from between the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries, are kept here, including the largest existing collection of Tuscan Renaissance paintings. Features works of da Vinci, Botticelli, Michaelangelo, Raffaello, Canaletto and others.

City of Florence Tourist Office:

Borgo S. Croce, 29/r - Ph. 055.2340444 - 055.2264524
Piazza Stazione (beneath the metal canopy outside on the arrivals side) Ph. 055.212.245

Opening and closing times

Banks: Usually they are open weekdays 8:30am - 1:30pm and 2:45pm - 3:45pm.

Churches: Most are open from early morning until noon or 12:30, when they close for two hours or more; they open again in the afternoon, closing about 7:00pm or later (see Time Tables).

Museums: Hours vary and may change with the seasons (see Time Tables).

Shops: there are individual varations, depending and climate and season, but most are open 9:30am to 1:00pm and 3:30pm or 4:00pm to 7:30pm.

National Holidays

National religious holidays (everything closed):

New Year's Day (January, 1)
Epiphany (January, 6)
Easter Sunday and Monday
Liberation Day (April, 25)
Labor Day (May, 1)
Assumption Day (August, 15)
All Saint Day (November, 1)
Immaculate Conception Day (December, 8)
Christmas and Santo Stefano (December, 25 and 26)
St. John (June, 24)

Temperatures in Florence

The city, lying at the foot of the Appennine chain, is barely affected by the mild influence of the sea although it is not far away (less than 100 kilometers). The four seasons in Florence are very distinct with extreme temperature in the summer and winter months and heavy rainfall in spring and autumn months.

In the summer the temperature during the day, aggravated by the humidity which is felt even at night, can easily reach 36-37° C with occasional, but not exceptional peaks of 40°C and above, while in January and February it can often drop below 0°C. In the winter, you need heavy coats and warm clothing. In spring and fall you must be equipped with a raincoat and umbrella.

Special Interest Excursions Around Florence

Ballooning: Champagne Flights over Tuscany, Florence. Ph: +39 0577.725.517 Fax +39 0577.725.519. Buddy Bombard Balloon Adventure (333 Pershing Way, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Tel. 561/837-6610 or 800/862-8537, fax 561/837-6623). All inclusive tours of 7 days/6 nights in Siena with daily balloon excursions above Siena and the Tuscan counryside.

Culture: Hire a professional licensed local guide of Florence to take you around giving you lectures about history and art. You can also join an art treasure tour organized by Esplanade Tours: 581 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, Phone: 617/266-7465 or 800/426-5492.

Adventure: Eplore Worlwide Ltd. (1 Frederick Street, Aldersot Hants. GU11 1LQ, England, E-mail: info@explore.co.uk), Mountain travel Sobek (6420 Fairmount Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530, tel 510/527-8100 or 800/227-2384) and Wilderness Travels (801 Allston Way, Berkley, CA 94710, tel. 510/548-0420 or 800/368-2794) can take you on hiking tours through the medieval hill towns of Tuscany

Music: Dayley-Thorp Travel (330 W.58th St., New York, NY 10019, tel 212/307-1555, a performing art specialist, offers music and opera tours in Italy. Smoka Tours (Box 856, frederick, MD 21705, tel. 301/695-3661 or 800/722-0057) can arrange custom summer Italian opera, concert, and music festival tour.

Gardens: Endless Beginnings (9825 Dowdy Dr., Suite 105, San Diego, CA 92126, tel. 619/566-4166 or 800/822-7855) visit Tuscan Garden and Villas.

Food and Wine: Grape Adventures Inc. (307 Maynard Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776 USA, Ph. 978/4409754 in Italy call 0338.8180266) will escort tour members to a premier wine estate in Tuscany (usually Chianti Classico). On route, the guide will provide background information about the history of the area, its wines, etc... At the destinations winery, tour members will enjoy a tour with wine-tasting and have the opportunity to purchase wines, olive oils, honey, and other farm products.
Lorenza de'Medici's Villa Table (Badia a Coltibuono, Gaiole in Chianti, Siena, tel. +39 0577 749498 fax +39 0577 749235) offers weeklong courses of cooking for English speaking visitors at a restored 17th century monastery and winery.

Parks and Gardens

Historical gardens open to the public in Florence and its province.

Boboli Garden Address: Piazza Pitti, 1 Firenze.
State owned.
Opening times: every day (except Monday) from 9,00 to 16,30.
(Extended according to the time of the year.)
Phone: 055.218.741
Ticket: Lire 5000

Botanical Gardens
Address: Via P.A. Micheli, 3 - Florence.
Owned by the Università degli studi di Firenze.
Opening times: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, from 9,00 to 12,00.
Phone: 055.275.7402
Entrance: free.

The Garden of Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Address: Via Cavour,1 - Florence.
Owned by the provincia di Firenze.
Opening times: from 9,00 to 13,00 and from 15,00 to 18,00.
Sunday from 9,00 to 13,00. (Closed Wednesday).
Phone: 055.276.01

Giardino dell'Orticultura
Address: Via Bolognese, 17 - Florence.
Owned by Comune di Firenze.
Opening Times: from 8,00 to 20,00.
Phone: 055.483.698

Villa Stibbert
Via Stibbert, 26 - Florence.
Owned by Opera Museo Stibbert.
Opening times: from 9,00 to 17,00 (extended according to the time of year).
Closed Thursday morning and Sunday afternoon. Phone: 055.486.049 / 475.520

Villa Strozzi.
Via di soffiano - Florence.
Owned by Comune di Firenze (Town Council of Florence).
Opening Times: from 8,00 to 18,00 (extended according to the time of year).
Phone: 055.739.8004

Villa Il Ventaglio
Via Aldini, 10-12, Florence. State owned
Opening Times: from 9,00 to 16,30 (extended according to the time of year).
Phone: 055.218.471

Le Cascine
Owned by the Town Council (Comune di Firenze).
Opening Times: always open.

The Garden at Villa della Petraia
Villa della Petraia, 40 Località Castello, Florence.
State owned.
Opening Times: Every day (except Monday), from 9,00 to 16,30.
(extended according to the time of year).
Phone: 055.425.691
Ticket: Lire 4000

The Garden al Villa di Castello
Via di Castello, località Castello, Florence.
State owned.
Opening Times: Every day (except Monday), from 9,00 to 16,30.
(extended according to the time of year).
Phone: 055.454.791

Villa Guicciardini Corsi Salviati
Sesto Fiorentino.
Via Gramsci 462, Sesto Fiorentino.
Opening Times: on request.
Phone: 055.443.805 / 443.778

Villa La Gamberaia
Via del Rossellino, Località Settignano - Florence.
Privately owned.
Opening times: Monday - Saturday from 8,00 to 12,00 and from 13,00 to 17,00.
Phone: 055.697.205

Pratolino
Address: Via Bolognese, Pratolino, Vaglia - Florence.
Owned by Comune di Firenze.
Opening times: Thursday, Saturday, Friday, Sunday, from 10,00 to 20,0.
Open from May to September.
Phone: 055.409.225 / 409.558.
Ticket Lire 5000, red. Lire 3000

Villa Pozzolini
Via di ampagna, 24 Località Bivigliano, Vaglia.
Privately owned.
Opening times: from 10,30 to 13,00 and from 15,00 to 19,00.
Phone: for an appointment: 055.406.717

Fattoria di Meleto
Via Meleto, 25 Castelnuovo d'Elsa, Castelfiorentino.
Privately owned.
Phone: for an appointment 0571.673.192

Granaiolo
Via Senese Romana, Località Granaiolo, Castelfiorentino.
Privately owned.
Phone: for an appointment 055.293.301