Tuscany is one of the world's largest wine producing regions. For several centuries, the economy of Florence was based on the cultivation of grapes. Now this industry is somewhat inferior to heavy industry, but continues to lead in agriculture. Carefully grown south of the city in the Chianti region, the Sangiovese grape remains popular and is considered one of the world's most celebrated grapes.

The city of Florence can easily compete with Milan or Rome for the title of “high fashion center.” Many well-known companies have their own representative offices here, for example, Ferragamo and Gucci. In all areas of the city you can find elite clothing stores, the variety and richness of goods in which can surprise even the most sophisticated fashionistas. Local textile factories collaborate directly with top designers from Milan, Rome and Paris.

Tourism also constitutes a significant source of income in the city treasury. The largest number of guests arrive between April and October. At this time, the weather is favorable for long walks, and various exhibitions, festivals and conferences take place. There really is something to see here: more than 80 museums are open, a huge number of art galleries and exhibition halls are open, and on every street and alley you can find magnificent sculptures or frescoes.

Tip: The best products of the Florentine industry are leather accessories (wallets, belts, shoes, bags) and natural cosmetics. The latter can be purchased at almost any pharmacy, where they are prepared according to an old recipe. All leather goods are sold in textile stores, and even with modest financial resources, they will offer you an interesting and inexpensive option.

Blooming capital of the region

Julius Caesar is considered the founder of the city of Florence. According to archaeological data, it was he who in 59 BC. organized a settlement for legionnaires near the Arno River. Later it received the name “Florentia”, which means “blooming”. Like many Italian cities, Florence has experienced many tragic moments in its history: wars, barbarian raids, civil strife and devastation.

It managed to emerge from prolonged stagnation and decline only in the 9th century. The most developed at this time were weapons, weaving and leather production, banking and trade. Local bankers have managed to gain trust not only in their homeland, but also far beyond its borders. Soon monarchs from all over the European continent began to use their services. The heyday of the city came with the coming to power of the Medici dynasty. Artists, sculptors, scientists and architects began to come here to live, study and create.

Modern Florence fully lives up to its name. It is filled with greenery and a wide variety of flowers, which are sold everywhere: in shops, small kiosks, at the market, at the entrance to a theater, museum or restaurant. In all cafes, there are always vases with roses, daisies, etc. on the tables, and there are certainly flower beds near the benches on the streets.

Florence - a city of sculptors and painters

Florence amazingly combines the latest achievements of civilization, the bustling life of a modern city and the unique beauty of the Middle Ages. While walking along its streets, you get the feeling that the past is quite tangible and real. After all, here, for example, the very same building has been preserved, near the walls of which Dante wrote his “Divine Comedy”, or the workshop where Michelangelo carved the statue of David from marble. And the history of the city is connected not only with these two surnames. It was the home of Boccaccio, Brunelleschi, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello and many others. You can look at the rich heritage of artistic treasures of that time in the Uffizi Gallery, the city's most famous museum.

Each part of Florence has its own church, built in a special architectural style. The most interesting are the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Basilica of Santa Croce and Giotto's Bell Tower.

The only thing that cannot be found in the city in great variety is crazy discos. Although, if you really want to dance, then in the center of Florence there are several establishments where entertainment shows with fireworks, foam and a sea of ​​alcoholic drinks are held every night.

Today I would like to tell you about , a city that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists to look at its divine beauty. I would like to talk about how you can have a great vacation and what...

Where to stay in Florence

If you decide to spend your holidays in Florence, in this section you will find a short list of the best hotels for your unforgettable holiday in the city of the Renaissance.

In fact, there are more than 450 hotels in Florence, ready to cater to every need, accessible to every pocket. You can find a complete list of hotels on the famous travel portal Booking.com.

By train

You can also get to Florence by train from the Trenitalia railway company. Trains from major Italian cities arrive at the main city station, Santa Maria Novella, conveniently located in the city center. The next most important train station in Florence is Campo di Marte, where some intercity trains and trains arrive.

Once I tried an alcoholic Italian dessert called cantucci con Vin santo. As I was told, this is one of the “typical” Italian dishes. I don’t recommend getting carried away in large quantities. What it looks like: they bring you on a plate the cantucci themselves, which are sweet oblong-shaped crackers with nuts, and the wine itself, which is also sweet and very strong. You simply soak the cracker in this wine and enjoy.

I was told one story that is directly related to this dish: one foreigner was given a pack of these cantuchi (they can be bought in any store) and a bottle as a gift. A couple of days later he is asked how he and his family liked this Italian dish. To which he replied that he felt bad for several days, and he would never eat it again in his life. It turned out that our poor foreigner took a large bowl, dumped all the crackers into it, and poured a bottle of wine. He took a spoon and began to devour both cheeks in countless quantities along with the whole family! As you can see, you need to know when to stop!

. Photo risette.pourfemme.it

I’ll tell you about another simple Tuscan dish: prosciutto con melone. So, there is no need to cook melon with ham! Neatly sliced ​​ham with pieces of melon are served on a plate. Before this, I would never have thought that these things could in any way be used together. I loved it!

Prosciutto con melone. Simple and Tuscan! Photo: pischeblog.com

Where to eat in Florence?

We present to you the Top 5 best restaurants and bars in Florence (average price), according to traveler reviews posted on TripAdvisor.

1. All "Antico Vinaio- Via De" Neri 65/R 74/R, 50122 Florence, Italy

“In between visits to museums, I was very pleased to plunge into the friendly atmosphere of a Florentine shop. The abundance of delicious smells, Italian flavor, all this created a unique atmosphere of little Italy. I included ingredients of my choice in the sandwich and complemented everything with a glass of red wine. It took some time not much, although there was a crowd of people around the shop. If you are in Florence, I definitely recommend stopping by here." (Nina S. St. Petersburg, Russia)

2. I" Pizzacchiere- Via S. Miniato 1/2, 50125 Florence, Italy

“A small place with the most wonderful pizza. The owner takes orders and communicates nicely with customers. Sometimes to get a table you have to wait a little in the fresh air, but this one is not at all difficult. If I’m in the city, I’ll definitely come back here again.” (pz_90_un, Moscow)

3. Cacio Vino Trallalla- Borgo SS. Apostoli 29R, 50123 Florence, Italy

“A small place with a wide selection of wines and delicious sandwiches, it’s especially pleasant here in the evening” (Villiwein, St. Petersburg)

4. La Prosciutteria- Via dei Neri 54, 50122 Florence, Italy

"Cool restaurant. Italian atmosphere... Great place to relax and try Italian wine, delicious prosciutto, different cheeses... I recommend it!!!" (Lusin A)

5. Dal Barone- Borgo San Lorenzo 30/r, 50123 Florence, Italy

“Very sophisticated place, a lot of different dishes that are hard to find in Florence, I especially liked the meat plate with sandwiches and caviar” (Villiwein, St. Petersburg).

How to spend time in Florence? Tourism or study?

It all depends, of course, on what you plan to do on your vacation. I mean whether you like an active and educational lifestyle or prefer leisurely walks.

To Florence to study

If you plan to come there for language courses, the school will help you find a room. There are several options here: you can rent an entire apartment, a room in an apartment where students will also live next door, or live with an Italian family. I think that the last option is largely suitable for all those who are traveling to Italy for the first time and want to get acquainted with the culture and customs, and of course, with Italian cuisine. An Italian family will help you figure out simple questions, for example, where to buy bus tickets, where is the best place to go, in the end, where is the store, etc.

Florence, photo Thinkstock

By the way, regarding grocery stores: you don’t need to think that you will find supermarkets in the city center, say, near the cathedral. As you understand, Florence is no different from other European cities, so the shops are located a little further from the historical center. Many Florentines prefer COOP, and there is also Billa.

1. Own a passato remoto.
2. Know how to use congiuntivo.
3. Italian pure pronunciation, which, as you understand, can be heard in.

I’ll probably tell you a truth that many of you know: today Italian schoolchildren do not know and do not use passato remoto (in principle, this time is only needed to read works of fiction), replacing it with passato prossimo.

Oh, this is passato remoto - the thunderstorm of modern schoolchildren. Photo: ilgur.com

About long and short distance travel

Wearing museums and galleries? Want to just take a walk? I suggest you go to the area. Not far from it is the old city wall - Fortezza. In the summer, around mid-July, the celebration of fortezi begins. What does it mean? Inside the fortress there are restaurants, not only with Tuscan cuisine, but also Argentinean, Asian... There is a choice for even the most picky guest. You can also buy a new bag or wallet there. After dinner you can buy your favorite book (there is a book exhibition there). You can warm up not only spiritually, but also physically by going to a disco to dance.

Fortezza. Holidays take place outside its walls. Photo toscanaviva.com

No, what kind of vacation is it without shopping? I won’t tell you about the shops, because they are on every street, and you will definitely find what you like!

I also advise you to travel around. Visit, ... Many tourists in the summer tend to those cities where the sea is located nearby. I assure you, it is not that far from Florence to the sea. Of course, it’s worth looking for the perfect place for an even sea tan. I would recommend combining a trip to Pisa (see the leaning tower and Piazza dei Miracoli) with a trip to the sea - you will need to travel a couple of stops by bus and get to Marina di Pisa. How about going to see Chinque Terre and sunbathing on the beaches there?

Marina di Pisa. An even sea tan awaits you! comune.pisa.it

During your main stay in Florence, you can also go on long distance trips, for example, to,. You can organize trips yourself or take advantage of offers from local travel agencies.

Discover Florence!

The founding date of Florence is traditionally considered to be 59 BC. e., when a village was founded in the valley of the Arno River for veteran legionnaires of the army of Julius Caesar. According to legend, this happened in the spring, during the festivals of the goddess of flowers Flora, who personifies the spring awakening of nature. The city owes its name to her.

During the Roman period, structures characteristic of that time were erected here - baths, an amphitheater, an aqueduct. To this day, in the central part of the city, around the former Forum (today the Republic Square), the rectangular street layout typical of the Romans has been preserved. By the end of the 2nd century, Florence had become a full-fledged city, housing the headquarters of the commander of the legion controlling the region of all of modern Tuscany. The god of war, Mars, was considered the patron saint of the city.

In the 4th century Christianity established itself here. Florence became an archdiocese, and the cult of Mars was replaced by the worship of John the Baptist, the new patron of the city.

In the 5th century, Florence was invaded by the Ostrogoths, and from 570 to 774 the Lombard Germans ruled the lands of Tuscany. Their rulers chose Lucca for their residence, and Florence retreated into the shadows for a while. In 744, the Frankish king Charlemagne captured the Lombard kingdom, and a little later the Tuscan Margraviate, formally part of the Holy Roman Empire, was founded on these lands.

At the beginning of the 12th century, taking advantage of the period of aggravated conflict between the pope and the emperor, the Florentine nobility took the fate of the city into their own hands, establishing self-government. In 1183, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was forced to officially recognize the municipal autonomy of the city. Florence gradually began to capture the surrounding territories, starting with the city of Fiesole. In the 15th century, she conquered Pisa, gaining access to the sea, and in the 16th century, the resistance of Siena was broken. Rich Florence did not conquer some Tuscan cities and territories, but simply bought them up.

Florence initially owed its rise from a small town to a thriving city-state to the wool trade. The guild of wool merchants in Florence (Arte della Lana) exported wool from Northern Europe and dyes from the Middle East. Using their own weaving and dyeing techniques, the Florentines produced heavy red garments and sold them throughout the Mediterranean. Huge income laid the foundations for banking in Florence, which eventually became the financial capital of Europe. Golden florins, the money that was minted here, were the international European currency in those days.

The rich people of Florence manipulated the government with the help of the Guelph party (supporters of the pope), which was in confrontation with the Ghibellines (supporters of the emperor). The history of this confrontation is captured in the works of Dante, Machiavelli, and Shakespeare. In the 15th century in Florence, the struggle between them intensified, and rich merchants brought to power a man from their class - Cosimo de' Medici. His descendants ruled in Florence until the 18th century. Both the “golden age” of the city during the Renaissance and the end of republican rule are associated with the Medici. In 1569, Florence, expanded by the lands of neighboring cities, became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

In 1737, the Medici ducal line ended and Tuscany passed into Habsburg hands. During the Napoleonic wars, Florence had the status of the capital of the kingdom of Etruria formed in Tuscany, which became one of the provinces of France. In 1814, Tuscany returned to Habsburg control.

In 1860, in a general plebiscite, the Florentines supported the movement for the reunification of all Italian lands. At the final stage of the Risorgimento (national liberation struggle), from 1865 to 1870, Florence was the capital of Italy. This period had an ambiguous effect on its appearance: some of the historical buildings in the city center were demolished. The end of the 20th century was marked for Florence by the expansion of city boundaries to the nearest foothills and the emergence of the industrial area of ​​Rifredi.

In 1944, during the period of hostilities, when the front passed along the Arno River, the city was bombed more than once. Moreover, while retreating, German troops blew up all the bridges, with the exception of the Ponte Vecchio, which was saved. A devastating cataclysm occurred in Florence in 1966, when during the flood of the Arno River the city streets were flooded and many works of art were damaged.

Culture

Florence, whose name is inextricably linked with the brilliant Renaissance, can also boast monuments from more ancient times. Back in the 11th century, such magnificent buildings as the baptistery and the church of San Miniato al Monte were erected here. These buildings are distinguished from other Romanesque churches in Italy by the clear lines of their facades and original decor. The Gothic style that replaced the Romanesque style in Florence also has its own individual characteristics.

In the 13th century, local nobility and wealthy merchant families spared no expense in developing the city, wanting to present it and, of course, themselves in a favorable light. The most famous masters of that time began to come here. The most famous of them was Arnolfo di Cambio. The creations of this architect - the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Palazzo Vecchio, the Church of Santa Croce - still amaze with their beauty and determine the entire appearance of the city.

A contemporary of Arnolfo di Cambio was the painter Cimabue, in whose works the plasticity of figures was distinguished by extraordinary grace, which was new for that time, because the artists were strongly influenced by the Byzantine school, which required stylized images. Giotto di Bondone, the great artist and architect, also made an invaluable contribution to the treasury of world art. His innovation lies in the use of halftones, which made it possible to create volumetric space on the canvas, emphasizing the fullness of life and the beauty of the human body. Thanks to Giotto, painting took the main place in Florence: he and his students painted more paintings in one century than all German and French painters combined.

The 15th century is the golden age of the Renaissance. Rich Florentine families, competing in patronage of art, contributed to its flourishing. The ruling Medici family also played an important role in the prosperity of Florence. The Dukes Cosimo I and Lorenzo the Magnificent became especially famous for their love of beauty and patronage of the arts. Thus, Cosimo de' Medici created the first public library in Florence. He patronized scientists, artists and poets. His grandson Lorenzo, who grew up in the realm of art worship, surpassed his famous ancestor in his charitable deeds, earning the nickname “The Magnificent.” He was also distinguished by his skillful management. When the politician and thinker Machiavelli wrote the treatise “The Prince,” a popular reference book among the powers that be today, he was inspired by the actions of Duke Lorenzo.

Outstanding representatives of the Florentine Renaissance school were Filippo Brunelleschi, the creator of the colossal dome of the cathedral, and the sculptor Donatello, famous for his psychological gift of insight into the essence of the depicted image and knowledge of human anatomy. No less famous are the sculptors Lorenzo Ghiberti, Lucca della Robbia, Andrea del Verrocchio, and the artists Desiderio da Settignano, Mino da Fiesole, Antonio Rossellino.

The zenith of the Renaissance in Florence was marked by the work of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raphael Santi. But the beginning of the decline of the great century of Florence is also associated with these names. Da Vinci left here in 1506 for France, and Raphael and Michelangelo moved to Rome. With the exception of the painting “Adoration of the Magi,” Leonardo left almost nothing in Florence. Michelangelo's legacy is more expressive. In Florence, among his other masterpieces, there is the famous “David” - the largest marble sculpture since antiquity. Raphael glorified Florence with his series of paintings called the Florentine Madonnas.

Near the cathedral stands Giotto's bell tower, named after its creator, although other famous architects also took part in the construction. There are 285 steps leading to the top of this grandiose tower. From here the whole of Florence is at your fingertips, and you get a strange feeling of flying.

To the north is one of the oldest public buildings in Florence - the Bargello. There was once a prison here, as well as a place of executions. Today the building houses the Museum of Sculpture and Applied Arts, where works by Donatello, Michelangelo, Cellini, and Giambologna are collected. Dante was born in this area, and it is here that the Bargello Abbey Church stands, where the poet from afar admired Beatrice, dear to his heart, coming to Sunday mass. Around the corner, on Via Dante Alighieri, is Dante's house, where the poet was born in 1265.

San Lorenzo

This area of ​​Florence, also known as the Medici quarter, is famous for its trading traditions. Here and now a real market gathers every day. It was closed several times, but the ancient tradition is ineradicable - the lively trade has not stopped. The market is located right on the square in front of the Church of Saint Lorenzo, which dates back to the 4th century. The Medici dukes patronized this holy monastery, which almost became their own home temple.

Behind the church is the entrance to the Medici Chapel, the tomb of the famous family, for which Michelangelo created two remarkable tombs depicting Night and Day, Dawn and Twilight. Next to San Lorenzo, Michelangelo's exquisite staircase was erected, leading to the Laurentian Library.

In this area it is also worth visiting the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, a huge but elegant structure where the Medici lived before moving to the Palazzo Vecchio. To the north is the majestic monastery of San Marco and the museum of the same name.

Florentine cuisine

For all Italians, a meal is a celebration of life; they have maintained an attitude towards it as a theatrical performance, and even a light snack here is accompanied by appropriate decoration. The Renaissance elevated cooking to the rank of art, which was promoted by Florentine merchants by founding entire gastronomic schools. And today it’s a real pleasure to while away the evening in pleasant company in Florence!

It’s best to start getting acquainted with the local cuisine with crostini – toasted white bread with the most delicate liver pate, mushrooms or tomatoes. As a first course (on the menu – “primi piatti”) in Florence they prefer soup with local specifics. People here like ribollita made from cabbage and other vegetables with bread, flavored with olive oil, as well as pasta e fagioli or pappardelle - thick noodle soups with chick peas or hare ragu sauce. Second courses are usually meat, many of them are prepared from game - hare, wild boar, pheasant. Traditional food - roast rabbit in fat, pork with herbs, cooked in the oven, the famous Florentine steak - a huge piece of beef in the most delicate olive oil, fried over charcoal. A typical side dish for this meat dish is white beans in tomato sauce and deep-fried tomatoes and herbs. A glass of pleasant-tasting Chianti wine, produced south of Florence, will not go amiss during dinner.

At the end of the feast, you should order a dessert Tuscan vin santo to dip your dry cantuccini macaroons into. And, of course, don’t forget to try gelato – Florentine ice cream, which many consider the most delicious in the world. Weighty, fresh, homemade sweet balls are sold in special gelateria cafes (each about 1.5 €).

Street cafe in Florence

The most popular establishments here are trattorias, where a hearty lunch will cost 15-18 € per person, a light snack – 5-8 €. Pizzerias and rosticcherias (a grill bar where people gather in the evenings to have a drink and a light snack) are not empty. You can look into tavola kalda - an analogue of a canteen, where you can have a hearty and inexpensive meal.

A meal in a Florentine restaurant, located away from the historical center, will cost from 40 € per person. The closer you get to the cathedral square, the higher the prices become. Many atmospheric establishments are located right in ancient palaces. The restaurant in Palazzo Antinori, where this aristocratic family has lived since 1502, is famous. It serves gourmet dishes and noble wines from family cellars. Excellent cuisine and wine list at Enotecca Pinchiorri, located on the ground floor of a 15th-century palace. There is also a charming patio with outdoor seating.

Shopping

Florence has many fashionable shops selling fashionable clothes. These include individual boutiques and entire galleries. Here you can buy excellent designer items: from elegant leather accessories to solid fur items. A system of discounts is practiced in trade all year round. In addition, the city has two sales seasons. Summer lasts from July to early September, winter - from January 5 to March 5.

Tourists most often bring from Florence a variety of products with stencils of the city's most famous attractions, cheeses, wine, as well as jewelry: jewelry and costume jewelry. For jewelry, city guests usually go to the Ponte Vecchio bridge. In the local shops and workshops, cute inexpensive pendants and respectable ancient and modern creations of jewelers are displayed.

You can also go to markets in search of souvenirs. One of them, San Lorenzo, is located on the square of the same name. The second is in Piazza Ciompi, north of Santa Croce. On Sundays, local antique dealers display their wares here: coins, jewelry, paintings, old postcards.

Where to stay

Accommodation prices in Florence are quite high. In the winter season, it is still possible to find a room for 45 € per night (3* hotel), but by May the cost has already increased by 30%. A budget option is hostels; you can stay here for 15-20 € per day per person. It is possible to rent 2-3-room apartments for 100-120 €.

There are, of course, luxury hotels in Florence, located in ancient palaces. Among them, the Four Seasons stands out, located in the Palazzo della Gherardesca, one of the Medici residences. There are magnificent interiors and antique furniture. The hotel is also famous for its huge park. Cost of living – from 350 €.

In the very center of the city stands the Palazzo Vecchietti. The 16th-century building has only 14 rooms. Comfort and luxury reign here, the interiors are decorated with ancient paintings. The rooms have a kitchen, coffee machine, refrigerator, dishes. Breakfast (included in the price) here is simply excellent and takes place at a common antique table. Accommodation – about 630 € per day.

Villa Cora also falls into the luxury category. This historic hotel is located in the hills of Florence. It was built by Baron Oppenheim in the neoclassical style and is famous for its famous guests. There is a calm atmosphere, a luxurious park, and a swimming pool. Prices: from 295 to 830 € per room.

Transport

Despite the fact that Florence is quite tiny, and traffic is blocked in the historical center, transport links in the city are well developed. Eco-friendly electric buses can get you closest to attractions. You will recognize them by their original appearance and numbers, where C1, C2, C3, D are present.

Florence has a unified ticket system for city buses and trams. A comprehensive ticket for one and a half hours costs 1.20 €. A daily pass will cost 5 €, a three-day pass – 12 €, a weekly pass – 18 €. Travel tickets are sold at newspaper and tobacco kiosks, bars, and offices of the main city transport company ATAF.

Tourists can also purchase a plastic Firenze Card. By paying 72 €, you will get the opportunity to visit 67 museums and free movement throughout the city by tram or bus for 3 days.

The cost of a taxi ride depends on the mileage (0.10 € per 1 km + landing 3-6 €). It is difficult to stop a taxi on the street; it is better to call a car by phone or go to the parking lot. Renting a car only makes sense if you want to explore the surrounding areas of Florence (from 35 €/day).

Recently, pedicabs have become popular. A 15-minute walk for two will cost you 15 €, 60 minutes - 45 €. Pedicabs have taken a fancy to Piazza San Lorenzo. You can also admire Florence from the deck of a river bus. Motor ships ply along the Arno River from April to October.

How to get there

5 km from the center of Florence is the international airport. Amerigo Vespucci. There are no direct flights from Russian cities here. You will have to fly with a transfer in Rome or one of the major European cities.

Comfortable buses depart regularly from the airport to the city. Travel time – 20 minutes, cost – 5 €. A taxi ride will cost 20 €.

It is convenient to get from Rome to Florence by regular bus. Travel time – 2.5 hours, cost – 20 €.

Florence is an amazing and unforgettable city in Italy. Florence is translated as “blooming”. Indeed, the chronicle of this city boasts a lush, flowering garden of prominent personalities and a centuries-old history that you can talk about for hours over a glass of Chianti. Therefore, we will try to briefly consider the most interesting facts about Florence and its attractions.

Florence gave the world outstanding geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Cellini, Botticelli, Giotto, Machiavelli and Petrarch.

• The prototype of the heraldic symbol of Florence was not a lily at all, but a variety of iris, Iris germanica florentina, which grows in the vicinity of the city.
• Tuscany Day - November 30th. Celebrated since 2001, it commemorates the date when the death penalty was abolished in the Duchy of Tuscany in 1786.
• Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1871.
• The modern Italian language was “born” in Florence thanks to Dante’s “Divine Comedy”. The comedy was written in the Florentine dialect instead of the common Latin language, in which all official documents and works of art were then written.
• The most favorable period for visiting Florence is April-June and the period from September to October. At this time the weather is good, and most importantly the flow of tourists is small. The beginning of winter can also bring mild weather and sunny days.

The Statue of Liberty in New York is a copy of the tombstone sculpture in the Church of Santa Croce in Florence.

• It is better to visit the Uffizi Gallery early in the morning, otherwise valuable hours will be wasted in the queue. On Tuesday the gallery is open until 22:00, so the evening tour promises to be pleasant.

Copy of David

• There is a copy of David in Piazza della Signoria. The original, fearing for the safety of the marble, was transported to the Academy of Fine Arts 120 years ago.

• Due to a shortage of marble, the latissimus dorsi muscle of the statue of David is not accurately depicted. The same inaccuracy is reflected in the copy.

• In the 2nd half of the 19th century, the Macchiaoli school of painting emerged in Florence, close in style to French impressionism. Works using this technique are in the Gallery of Modern Art at the Pitti Palace.

• On many houses and churches (including Santa Croce) you can see a six-pointed star - magendavid. This sign has nothing to do with Jews. In Italy in the Middle Ages, such a star was only an element of ornament without any semantic meaning.

• Florence is the “culprit” of Stendhal syndrome. It was in this city that the writer was thrown into a complete stupor when visiting the Church of Santa Croce. The Church of Santa Croce is famous for the famous frescoes of Giotto's school and the many tombs of the great minds of Italy (about 300), the entire floor is covered with tombstones.
  What he saw made such a strong impression on the writer that, upon leaving the church, he almost lost consciousness... “When I left the Church of the Holy Cross, my heart began to beat, it seemed to me that the source of life had dried up, I walked, afraid of collapsing to the ground... “- this is how he described his feelings.

• Still in the same church of Santa Croce, immediately at the entrance on the left there is a tombstone familiar to many in shape. It was from this figure that the Parisian copy was made, which was later chosen by America for its national symbol - the Statue of Liberty.

Due to a shortage of marble, the latissimus dorsi muscle of the statue of David is not accurately depicted

Stendhal syndrome is a psychosomatic disorder in which a person tends to perceive works of art very keenly, as if transported into the depicted reality. Symptoms of Stendhal's syndrome are palpitations, dizziness, and a feeling of lack of support under one's feet, which occurs in someone who is in the area of ​​influence of works of art, in the place where they are concentrated. Up to complete loss of orientation in space and hallucinations.

• The Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiore (St. Mary of the Flowers) belongs to a number of dome cathedrals, like the Duomo in Milan, Pisa and Siena. The construction of the Florentine Duomo began in the 13th century and was completed only in the 19th century, with long interruptions.

"Gateway to Heaven"

• In the center of the dome of Santa Maria dei Fiore there is an image of Galileo with the globe.

• The "Gates of Heaven" Baptistery with biblical scenes from ten panels are exact copies. They were replaced after the flood.

• A copy of the Gates of Heaven doors is installed in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

• Florence has the most beautiful and largest Synagogue in Italy. There is a Judaica Museum and a kosher restaurant. On Shabbat the synagogue is closed even to Jews.

• F.M. Dostoevsky worked in Florence for two years. Here he wrote "Idiot".

• In Florence there is the first Orthodox church, made in the best traditions Moscow-Yaroslavl architecture XVII century. The construction of the church belongs to the Buturlin family back in 1818.

• In the evening, in search of fun, you should go to the left bank of the Arno to the Church of Santo Spirito. This is a gathering place for Florentine and other youth. Performances by artists, fiery flamenco, terraces of cafes and restaurants in the area are packed to capacity.

• Not far from the Church of San Miniato, along Viale dei Colli, one of the best panoramas of the city and its surroundings opens up.

• The Florentines openly dislike the Neptune Fountain in Piazza della Signoria and call it Biancone, which means “big white ugly thing.”

Fountain of Neptune or popularly Biancone

• Some hotels in the center of Florence invite everyone to an aperitif on their terrace in the summer. Here you can admire the fabulous beauty of the city while eating excellent snacks. And you don’t have to be a guest, you just need to be in the know. One of these tasty spots is the terrace near the pool on the roof of the Grand Hotel Minerva. Musicians play here to set the mood. There are telescopes, like at the best observation platforms... Convinced? The “Minerva Giò” aperitif parties at the Grand Hotel Minerva take place from June to August every Thursday at 19:30.

F.M. Dostoevsky worked in Florence for two years. Here he wrote the novel "The Idiot".

Florentine cuisine: simple and tasty

• More on the topic of panoramas. Head up to the rooftop café at the Rinascente department store. From here you have an excellent view of Brunelleschi's dome.

• The Ponte Vecchio bridge is the oldest bridge in the city and the only one that survived the Second World War. Built in 1345

• In 1993, there was a terrorist attack organized by the Sicilian mafia. The terrible explosion killed 5 people, injured 60 and caused irreparable damage to the masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery. Losses amounted to $1 million. A centuries-old olive tree with a memorial plaque was planted at the site of the terrorist attack on Via dei Georgofili.

Colossus of the Apennines

• Florence hosts colorful ancient festivals that allow you to experience the medieval atmosphere in reality: historical football in medieval costumes (held in June). The holiday dates back to 1530. And the no less colorful “Exploding Carriage”, which is held in front of the cathedral on Easter Sunday.
• While walking around the city, pay attention to funny road signs.

As you can see, Florence is a city rich in history and attractions. And not all interesting facts about him are collected here.

What do you know about Florence? What secret places and interesting facts can you tell us? Share, reader, continue the list!

The most famous definition of Florence is an open-air museum. I completely agree with this: the city that marked the beginning of the Renaissance can rightfully be considered a unique collection of values. Let's take a look inside this precious box?

When you get close to a painting in a museum or art gallery, only smears of paint and cracks in the canvas become visible. To appreciate the perfection of the artist’s plan, you need to step away and take in the entire canvas with your gaze. It’s the same in Florence: you can endlessly wander through the narrow winding streets with the same beige facades, but only when you step out into a large square with fountains and cathedrals, you realize how amazing it is. But for me, the real beauty of Florence is revealed from an even greater distance. The city looks best from a perspective: from a hill, an observation deck, or a roof.

The picture city of Florence cannot help but evoke associations with art. Have you heard the big names of Italian masters - da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Botticelli? They all lived and worked in Florence. The city has preserved everything that reminds us of the bygone era of Great artists and poets. Gone but not forgotten. The municipal authorities are indeed trying to keep that Florence unchanged. Thus, in the city it is prohibited to unauthorizedly repaint walls, change windows and doors, or redo roofs. And really, who would dare replace the window that Botticelli passed by?

Florence is considered an aristocratic city - the influential Italian clans of the Strozzi, Medici, and Pitti originate from here. Representatives of these princely and count dynasties still determine the life of Florence in many aspects. Maybe because of the big names of city patrons, Florentines consider themselves special and different from residents of other regions?

How to get there?

The heart of Tuscany can be reached by land and air. As a rule, transport problems do not arise in tourist Italy.

There are no direct flights from Russia to Florence. From Moscow and St. Petersburg you can get here with a transfer in Rome.

There are regular trains to Florence from other cities in Italy. Carriers are Trenitalia or its high-speed “daughter” Frecciarossa. It is convenient to come to the city from Milan (1.5 hours travel time), Venice (2 hours), Rome (1.5 hours). Electric trains run throughout the region to nearby cities, for example, Pisa and Siena.

From the listed cities, buses go to Florence, which, in my opinion, are significantly inferior to trains, since they are more expensive and go slower.

You can also come to the Renaissance city by car. A charming picture awaits you in the window, because on the way from Moscow to Florence lie the snow-capped Alps! However, not everyone finds it tempting to drive for 30 hours, paying for endless toll roads and cursing fuel prices in Europe.

By plane

The most popular flight from Moscow with a transfer in Rome is operated by Alitalia (in alliance with Aeroflot). The cost of round-trip tickets is approximately 16-20 thousand. You can find flight prices for your dates. The flight to Rome is 4 hours, and then the wait for a connecting flight can range from 5 to 12 hours. This time can be spent at your discretion - either at the airport or walking around Rome. As Monica Bellucci says, it is so beautiful that you completely forget about time. Therefore, I advise you to carefully watch your watch so as not to miss the next plane to Florence - it can really charm you! There is no need to collect your luggage in the capital of Italy; it will be registered at your destination.

The flight from St. Petersburg to the capital of Tuscany is approximately the same. From those that I have seen, connections from St. Petersburg were even more convenient (although, tell me, what is inconvenient about a 10-hour walk around Rome?). If you decide to stay at the airport, you will have to wait less, about 4-9 hours.

From both capitals of our country there are two or more flights per day. Flights from the main city of Italy to Florence are also carried out daily.

In Florence, the airport is located just 4 km from the city. It is located in the Peretola area and is named after Amerigo Vespucci (another famous Florentine).

I never recommend a taxi as the preferred mode of transportation in a country like this, but in this case the price of the trip will not be unbearably high (about 20 EUR), and the travel time to the center will be about 15 minutes.

Of course, there is public transport from the airport to the city center. Immediately outside the terminal you will see buses going to Santa Maria Novella Central Station. Buses run from 6 am to 8.30 pm every 30 minutes, and after half past eight every hour. It turns out that at night a taxi will be your only way to get to the city, but as we have already mentioned, in Florence this is by no means something problematic and expensive.

The price of a trip from the airport to the station by bus is 4.5 EUR.

By train

If for some reason the option of getting to Florence by air is not acceptable for you, you can try to create a train route. There is no direct train from Russia to Florence, but nevertheless, rails to Italy from Moscow have been laid across Europe. On the Russian Railways website you can check which Italian cities can be reached from Moscow. Information available

Once a week a train leaves from Moscow to. I talked about this route. After arriving in Florence, you will have to spend another hour and a half on wheels. There are too many trains in this logistics for my taste. Personally, I begin to suffer after the first 10 hours on the road.

How to get to the city center

In Florence, you will arrive at Santa Maria Novella Station, which is located in the city center.

The photo below shows Santa Maria Novella Station.

A trip to Florence from another city in Italy is another matter! A quick and comfortable trip. Let's list the main directions:

• Venezia - Firenze (from Venice). The train leaves every hour, travel time is 2 hours 5 minutes, cost from 34 EUR.

• Milano - Firenze (from Milan). The train departs every 20 minutes, travel time is 1 hour 40 minutes, cost from 36 EUR.

• Roma - Firenze (from Rome). The train departs every 15 minutes, travel time is 1 hour 30 minutes, cost from 30 EUR.

In Florence, trains also arrive at the main station (pictured below).

Booking regional train tickets is very convenient

By bus

You can get to Florence from other Italian cities by bus. But, again, buses in Italy are not the most preferred way of transportation. Bus travel is provided by various European carriers, one of the most popular being Eurolines. Tickets and directions can be viewed on the website. Buses often make long stops in other cities and often cost the same as the train or more.

The Florence bus station is located next to Santa Maria Novella (map in the “By Train” section just above).

Both the train and bus stations are located directly in the city center. You can easily reach any attractions on foot.

By car

I always support road trips, and in the context of Florence I’m ready to sing an ode to road tripping. Yes, (for example, from Florence to Pisa about 10 EUR), but they are of excellent quality, and it is a pleasure to travel along them. Yes, gasoline is more expensive than in Russia, but you can rent a diesel compact car with ridiculous consumption. You can read about the peculiarities of driving in Italy.

But not everyone will risk driving to Florence from Moscow, because the cities are separated by about 30 hours by car along the highways of Russia, Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy.

But I assure you that it is better to travel around Florence itself on foot, leaving your car in the hotel parking lot. (Note: it’s worth finding out in advance that it exists). Because then there will be nowhere to park the car. Parking is a real problem in Italian cities, especially in tourist centers like Florence. The problem is not even that parking is paid, but that there are no parking spaces at all. After driving the fifth lap around one block, you begin to understand why Italians are such nervous drivers. To be honest, I learned Italian profanity during car trips. However, if you think that you can’t live without a car, you can compare prices from different rental companies.

Clue:

Florence - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Ekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go?

Usually, when traveling to a city like Florence, the weather is a secondary factor. In my opinion, Florence is always beautiful in any season. This is confirmed by the huge number of tourists here all 12 months of the year. Even in those seasons that are not formally considered high, there are a lot of people who want to visit the city.

Florence is not a beach holiday where the success of the trip depends on sunny days. There is something to do here in any weather. You can hide from the heat (or, conversely, cold and dampness) in art galleries and under the umbrellas of the ice cream man (mulled wine seller). However, to idealize the picture of the trip, let's look at the climatic conditions.

Florence in summer

In Florence, summer comes in summer :) Already in early June the temperature rises to +30. Combined with high humidity (the Arno River flows through the city), the heat is not tolerated very well. Therefore, many residents leave the city and go to the seashore. Tourists reign supreme in the city; their number is greatest in Florence during the summer. The weather becomes pleasant in the evening, when it gets colder to 17-20 degrees, and sometimes even lower (so even in summer in Florence you may need a light jacket).

Of course, you can go to Florence in the summer. But, in my opinion, only for a few days. In a week you can become extremely tired of the round-the-clock buzz of the crowd, queues at museums and cathedrals, and stuffy, humid air. In order not to lose the opportunity to enjoy your summer Italian adventure, it is better to combine a trip to Florence with a seaside holiday, and then return here in the fall.

Florence in autumn

Italian autumn is one of my favorite times of year, and Florence is no exception. True, autumn here can be very different. September (which is generally considered the summer month in Italy) is warm and pleasantly dry. From October onwards it gradually gets colder in Florence. But for a long time the weather remains very comfortable for travel. In November, the average temperature in the city is +10...+12.

And what colors are around! Don't forget that Florence is located in Tuscany - a picturesque region with a riot of greenery, which is saturated with new colors in the fall. You will be able to bring home not only memories of the warm Florentine autumn, but also delightful photographs in green, red and yellow tones.

Florence in spring

A trip to Florence in the spring is my favorite. Since March, gardens and trees bloom in the Tuscan region, and everything around becomes bright and colorful. Daylight hours are increasing, the sun is warm, but not hot. The atmosphere in Florence is amazing at this time. As you already understand, the flow of tourists is invariably high, but the queues are compensated by the azure sky, the aroma of flowers and spring freshness.

Florence is considered one of the cities you need to see before you die. I completely agree, this city deserves a visit. And if you managed to see Florence in the spring, you are very lucky!

Florence in winter

In winter, Florence becomes cloudy and rainy. Clear days are disappearing, but +7...+2 reign in the city. However, the cultural richness and vibrancy of Florence cannot be washed away by any rain. Sometimes the temperature drops slightly below zero: in the frost, the city's domes turn silver. December brings bright Christmas lights. Snow may fall, which melts quickly due to high humidity.

In January and February it becomes calmer and the flow of tourists finally subsides. Then it’s time to enjoy half-empty cathedrals and the absence of long lines at the art gallery. By the end of February, sunny weather returns to the city. Then all Florentines, putting on sunglasses, go for walks around the city or sit on open terraces in anticipation of spring.

Florence - weather by month

Clue:

Florence - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

Florence has an official administrative division of the city into districts, but it is not used by tourists and guides. For convenience, the city is divided into quarters formed around the main attractions and places important for city guests. Below is a map of the main tourist areas with the average price per night for a hotel. I usually search on, and you can compare prices from different sites.

• District of Santa Maria Novella. If you come to Florence for a day or a couple of days, and then go to another city in Italy, it will be very convenient to stay near the main station of Santa Maria Novella. From here the Duomo and the city center are just 15 minutes on foot. Santa Maria Novella is an important transport artery in Tuscany, so the area is a bit noisy. However, you can find affordable accommodation options. Santa Maria Novella is not only a station, first of all it is the name of a beautiful church located very close by.

• Ognissanti area. South of the main station, towards the Arno River embankment, is the Church of Ognissanti (Church of All Saints), which gives its name to this quarter of Florence. On the embankment itself, along Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci Street, there are luxury five-star hotels, for example, The St. Regis Florence, The Westin Excelsior. A night in such a hotel can cost 500-600 EUR. But if you are looking for a hotel not on the “first line”, you can find acceptable options for 100-150 EUR per night.

• District of San Lorenzo. This is the historical center of the city, where the main attractions are located: the Church of San Lorenzo, Piazza della Signoria, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery of St. John and other beautiful and oldest places in the city. There are many places where tourists can stay, and in this area there is either a hotel or a palazzo. Indeed, even in simple hotels and hostels in the historical center of Florence you will see arches, columns, facades with stucco, paintings on the walls. This beauty also has a downside: such buildings often do not have elevators, there may be problems with sewerage and sound insulation, and there are staircases so narrow that two people of average build cannot pass on them. Prices here are higher than in the station area, but lower than on the embankment. Be careful when choosing hotels near the Church of St. Lorenzo: the city market is very close by, where active trading activity begins in the morning, accompanied by market noise. By the way, about the noise. In the center during the day you will constantly hear the hum of tourist groups and other sounds of the streets. In the evening the noise gradually subsides and a cozy calm reigns. At first I was surprised why Florence was empty in the evening, but later I realized that many tourists come here for a day sightseeing tour, and in the evening they board buses with a guide and go back. The photo below shows Piazza della Signoria.

• The area of ​​the embankment and Ponte Vecchio. Hotels on the waterfront provide stunning views of the majestic Arno River and the legendary Ponte Vecchio shopping bridge. The Uffizi Gallery and the Galileo Museum are also located here. Housing prices here are slightly higher than in the center, but there are many mid-price hotels. The closer to the Uffizi Gallery, the higher the price. But the hotels in this area are also part of ancient architectural complexes and are extremely pleasing to the eye.

• District of Santa Croce. It got its name from the Church of Santa Croce (Holy Cross). This is a continuation of the historical center of Florence, some even believe that the very center of Florence is here. Due to the fact that there is a lot to see in the Santa Crove quarter, there are also many tourists and a lively atmosphere. Prices are approximately the same as in the center, maybe even a little higher. This is a district of palaces: the Antella Palace stands majestically here, the Cocchi-Serristori Palace stands, the Spinelli Palace and others are located. Pictured below is the Church of Santa Croce.

• Oltrano area. This is my favorite area of ​​Florence. It is located on the other side of the Arno River, on its left bank. If the right one is famous for its churches and museums, then the left one is famous for its parks and garden complexes. You should definitely visit the Boboli Gardens, which I would call, without exaggeration, a work of art. You have never seen such urban gardens before! The Pitti Palace is also located here. You will also find many pleasant restaurants with Tuscan cuisine and artisan shops. In the Oltrano area, everything is cozy and Italian, and housing prices are lower than on the other side.

• District of San Nicolo. Hotels in this area are cheaper than in the city as a whole. It is a little far from the main attractions. But what is so special about the San Nicolò area? Because from here you can see the same view of Florence that I mentioned in the introduction. The city is a must see from Piazzale Michelangelo, located here.

What are the prices for holidays?

In Florence, prices are on average the same as in Italy, i.e. a priori, not very low for people who receive income in rubles, with which they will have to buy euros. By the way, it is better to do this in Russia - the exchange rate in Florence will be less favorable.

You can save money on a cultural program. If you are planning an active forced march through museums, it makes sense to buy. The card costs 50 EUR and is valid for 72 hours. It takes you to 72 museums (one hour each) throughout the city, including art galleries (including the Uffizi), churches and cathedrals. In general, it turns out to be quite profitable, considering that entrance only to sacred places in Duomo Square will cost 15 EUR.

In some places you can admire artistic paintings completely free of charge. For example, in the Basilica Santissima Annunziata - Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation - you can see magnificent frescoes. The Church of Santa Felicità, which is also free to enter, houses paintings by Italian artists. There are other churches with open entrances and great works of art.

Of course, there are goods that are much cheaper in Florence (and the rest of Italy) than in Russia. These are, for example, coffee (1-1.4 EUR for a cup of cappuccino) and local food (pasta, prosciutto, pizza). Services of any other kind will, on the contrary, be more expensive - for a taxi, haircut or phone repair they will ask for 2-3 times more.

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub

Main attractions. What to see

Top 5

When you visit Piazza Duomo for the first time, you will be very impressed. There is a magnificent architectural, cultural and Catholic complex located here. Each of its properties is worth a visit, and they all have different opening hours. To save time, Florence has introduced a single ticket for all attractions in Piazza Duomo. It costs 15 EUR and can be purchased at the ticket office opposite the entrance to the Baptistery or. The ticket is valid for 48 hours, so visiting different parts of the Duomo can be divided into 2 days. I can’t say that such a single ticket is very convenient. The price of 15 EUR remains unchanged, even if three of the five places are closed for reasons unknown to us. It is not possible to buy a separate ticket to the buildings you are interested in (or operating on the day of your arrival). Maybe the city administration is taking advantage of the fact that these are must-see places, and even if only one of them is open, they will still buy tickets? It’s insidious, but the approach is correct: if you have already arrived in Florence, you should not spare 15 euros for a ticket.

Where can you go with this ticket?

• Santa Maria del Fiore – Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
• Cupola del Brunelleschi - Brunelleschi's Dome.
• Battistero di San Giovanni - Baptistery of San Giovanni.
• Campanile di Giotto - Giotto's Bell Tower.
• Museo dell'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore - Museo del Opera Santa Maria del Fiore.

More information about Piazza Duomo can be found in a separate article dedicated to this majestic square -.

Piazza della Signoria – Signoria Square

This is one of the main squares of Florence, and like everything else here, it is an art object. Here you will see Palazzo Vecchio – the Old Palace. Next to it is the Lanzi Loggia - an arched pavilion with statues. There are both originals and copies here. One of the most incredible replicas is Michelangelo's statue of David.

I really like the Neptune fountain in this square. Everything here invites delight, surprise and admiration, so look in all eyes and directions. For example, it’s hard for me to imagine that the fires of the Inquisition once burned in this square.

Ponte Vecchio – Ponte Vecchio

The most postcard view of Florence. I still maintain that the best way to observe the beauties of Florence is to look at them from afar. For example, Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) looks very picturesque from the embankment or other bridges that span the Arno River nearby.

The bridge is remarkable not only because since ancient times it has allowed people to cross from one bank to another, but also because active trade has been carried out on it all this time. Nowadays, butcher shops have replaced luxury jewelry stores. There are also a lot of street vendors here, trying to sell souvenirs to tourists walking here. During high season, the bridge is packed with people and gives the impression of a metro station during rush hour.

Galleria degli Uffizi – Uffizi Gallery

Everyone has heard about the Uffizi Gallery; it is also a kind of calling card of Florence. It is located between Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio. This gallery contains masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Raphael and other legendary artists. It is not surprising that all visitors to Florence strive to get to the Uffizi. There are many jokes about the Florentine queues. They say that during the high season, the queue for the Uffizi Gallery (on the right bank of the Arno) and the queue for the Pitti Palace (on the left bank of the Arno) touch their tails. You can save time and buy a ticket on the museum website. The cost is about 16 EUR. The gallery is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 08.15 to 18.15. The ticket office closes at 18.05.

Giardini Boboli

A wonderful park complex on the other side of the Ponte Vecchio, next to the Medici residence and the Pitti Palace. The entrance to the garden is through the palace. This is a garden of sculptures, mysterious grottoes, bright greenery and unusual fountains. All as one hand of ancient masters of varying degrees of fame.

Dostoevsky loved to walk in this park (but I just don’t fit the existential literature of Fyodor Mikhailovich with the cheerful Boboli gardens). The park complex is both nature and art; here you can have a wonderful time taking leisurely walks.

On the territory of the park there is a museum complex and an art gallery. We also found here a piece of real Tuscany, which you usually don’t see in the city center.

The Boboli Gardens are open until 18.30, in summer until 19.30. Ticket price is about 14 EUR. There are discounts for students, but only those studying in Europe in history and art. The ticket includes admission to the Pitti Palace and all museums.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

In addition to the Florentine Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, which I have already talked about, there are other interesting and significant churches in the city. Here are the ones I recommend visiting:

Chiesa di Santa Croce – Church of Santa Croce (Holy Cross)

Another “box” church in Florence with a beautiful facade and green splashes on white marble.

This church is incredibly important for the city, because its greatest inhabitants found their final refuge here: Machiavelli, Galileo, Michelangelo. In addition to the tombs of noble citizens, the church is famous for its 16 chapels and beautiful frescoes by Giotto. In the courtyard there is a museum with works by famous Florentine artists. Church opening hours: from 9.30 to 17.30. Entrance costs 4 EUR.

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella – Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

This openwork church will be the first one you see when you arrive in the city by train. It contains the works of the Italian genius Brunelleschi, already known to you: the sculpture “Crucifixion”.

I highly recommend wandering around the inner gardens of the monastery. It is very quiet and peaceful here. The church is open from 9.00 to 19.00 (in winter until 17.00). Entrance costs 5 EUR.

Basilica di San Lorenzo – Basilica of San Lorenzo

And here it could not have happened without the talented architect Filippo Brunelleschi, after whose death the work on the church was taken over by Michelangelo Buonarotti.

This church is grandiose, and if you are not impressed by its facade, then when you go inside, you will definitely be amazed by the grandeur of its columns, the scope of the area, the intricacy of the carved patterns and the brightness of the frescoes and medallions. The church is closed on Mondays. Entrance costs 3.5 EUR.

Chiesa di Ognissanti – Church of Ognissanti (All Saints)

This church is much less touristy as it is a 15-minute walk from the center of Florence.

However, this is an extremely significant place, because here is the resting place of the great Florentine painter - the grave of Botticelli himself! In addition, the church has an incredible collection of sculptures and paintings. The entrance is free.

Basilica di Santo Spirito – Basilica of Sant Spirito (Holy Spirit)

San Spirito was designed by Brunelleschi, so you can immediately expect a magnificent architectural spectacle. By the way, this basilica is the last work of the Florentine genius.

From the outside the church looks very ascetic. But remember that the rule “don’t judge a book by its cover” also applies to ancient buildings. Inside you will find very touching bas-reliefs with angels, living frescoes depicting biblical events. The entrance is free.

Chiesa di Orsanmichele – Church of Orsanmichele

You will find this church in the very center: between the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. It’s hard to pass by, and you shouldn’t pass by!

This church is amazing because it combines the functions of a spiritual institution, a museum and - suddenly - a concert venue! In addition, there is an observation deck. The height is not the same as from the Duomo Dome, but the view is nice. The entrance is free. The Orsanmichele Church pleases the eye with its decoration (in the openwork Gothic style) both inside and outside.

Chiesa Ortodossa Russa della Natività – Russian Orthodox Church

Many tourists from our country are very interested and pleased to see a piece of their Motherland abroad.

In Florence there is the Russian Church of the Birth of Christ and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Even on the street you will see a “gingerbread” facade with multi-colored domes like those of the Savior on Spilled Blood or St. Basil’s Cathedral. The architect of the Church of St. Nicholas was a famous Russian architect of the 20th century. The entire parish is made up of Russian clergy.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

Accademia di belle arti di Firenze – Museum of the Academy of Fine Arts

A prestigious educational institution and a collection of paintings and sculptures. The art collection presented here is highly valued not only in Italy, but throughout Europe.

The original statue of David is kept here! At the very least, the works of Michelangelo and Giambolini make this museum noteworthy, but the exhibition includes works by other talented artists.

Museum opening hours: 08:15-18:50, closed on Mondays.

Ticket price: 17 EUR.

Palazzo Pitti – Pitti Palace

This is the same palace behind which are the famous Boboli Gardens. Actually, entry to this museum is with a garden ticket.

Palazzo Pitti is the largest collection of historical and cultural treasures in Florence. Titian, Botticelli, Rubens, Palantine left their mark here. The treasures of the Medici family are kept here. In addition to the art gallery, you can visit the Porcelain Museum, the Silver Museum and the Costume Museum. As I already said, these gates are open to guests until 18.30 (19.30 in July and August), and the ticket costs about 14 EUR.

Palazzo Vecchio – Palazzo Vecchio

You will definitely see it in Piazza della Signoria. The entrance to the palazzo is guarded by Michelangelo's David (as you understand, a copy) and Hercules Bandinelli.

In addition to works of art, brilliant interiors await you here. Be sure to walk through all the floors; the Palazzo Vecchio is not a place where you need to save time. You can also go to the Terrace of Saturn to get a view of the historical center of Florence from above.

Opening hours: from April to September from 09.00 to 23.00, in other months until 19.00. On Thursdays the museum closes at 14.00!

Ticket price: 10 EUR.

Museo Galileo – Galileo Museum

This is a museum of science and technology. Various areas of natural and technical sciences are presented here: astronomy, physics, biology, chemistry.

The museum is very interactive; you can touch some parts of the exhibition with your hands, activate mechanisms, and press buttons. It will be interesting here, including for schoolchildren. Here you will learn that Florence does not live by art alone, and that many scientific discoveries have been made here.

Opening hours: 09.00-18.00, Tuesday until 13.00.

Ticket price: 9 EUR (under 18 years 5.5 EUR).

Museo del calcio – Football Museum

In the Coverciano area (north-eastern part of the city) there is a museum for those who are partial to football.

It was opened by the Italian Football Federation about 6 years ago. In the museum you can learn about the famous players of the country and city, the history of the development of football in Italy, see photographs from the very first national matches, and personal belongings of famous football players. Bus number 17 comes here from the center, the stop where you will need to get off is called Museo del Calcio. The word “calcio” actually means “football”.

Opening hours: 09.00-13.00, 15.00-19.00 (on Saturday only the first half of the day).

Ticket price: 5 EUR.

Parks

In addition to the main Boboli Garden, Florence has several other picturesque places for outdoor recreation within the city.

Giardino Bardini – Bardini Gardens

The Bardini Gardens are located next to the Boboli Gardens - there is a transition from one park to the other. This garden delighted me with its greenery, flowers, elegant sculptures, mysterious stone grottoes.

There are far fewer visitors here than in the main gardens, which makes it feel very cozy and private. What a view of Florence from here!

As I was leaving the garden, I was struck and impressed by two olive trees planted nearby about 6-8 years ago, dedicated to the two tragic men and women who died here (a sign nearby said so). I was unable to find out what happened and who these people were. Maybe you know? Then please write about it in the comments.

This is such a mysterious but very picturesque garden.

Giardino Torrigiani – Torrigiani Garden

On the same bank of the Arno River, following Via dei Serailli, you will find a huge garden belonging to the Torrigiani family.

This garden is pure luxury in everything from the combed blades of grass on the English lawns to the lion statues scattered throughout the grounds. Here is a fragment of the old city wall.

And sometimes open lectures on painting and gardening are held in this garden. In Florence, it is not surprising how these two directions can coexist: Florentine gardens truly carry a spark of art.

There are also wild, mysterious corners with moss-covered stones and ancient sculptures.

Tourist streets

The main streets of Florence, where you should go for the most vivid impressions, are not streets, but squares.

• Piazza del Duomo – Duomo Square

• Piazza della Signoria

Florence's shopping streets are listed in the Shopping and Stores section.

What to see in 1 day

If you only have one day left, don't worry! This is enough to see the most important attractions of the city from the top 5 list of our guide. Namely:

• Cathedral Square and its buildings.
• Piazza della Signoria.
• Ponte Vecchio.
• Uffizi Gallery (though only for an hour or two).
• Boboli Gardens.

What to see in the area

By staying in Florence, you get the chance to see other Italian cities.

• . First of all, tourists strive to see the famous “leaning” Leaning Tower of Pisa. From Florence, regional trains depart from Santa Maria Novella Station to Pisa Centrale Station every hour. Train tickets will cost approximately 10 EUR. You will spend a little over an hour on the way.

• . One-day forays into university cities are also a success. Trains run with about the same regularity as to Pisa. And the price is about the same: a ticket to Siena and back costs from 9 EUR. Travel time is 1.5 hours.

• Milan. If you're drawn to big cities, Italy's excellent railways provide quick access to the main city of the neighboring region of Lombardy -

  This is perhaps the most famous Florentine specialty. Fiorentina steak is a huge (at least 1 kg) piece of beef from a special breed of cows raised in the Chianti Valley. Cooking and serving such a steak is a whole ritual. First, they will bring you a raw cut of meat and weigh it in front of you. If you are satisfied with the size and appearance, the steak is taken to the oven. Please note that you will not be asked for the degree of doneness. Fiorentina is always cooked the same way – minimal. Inside, the meat remains completely raw, with a fried crust. A wonderful thing, I tell you! Especially with a glass of dry red Chianti or Montepulciano. Steak is usually eaten without a side dish, but for me this amount of half-cooked meat alone is too much. In general, this portion is either for one hefty worker, or for two people with an average appetite. By the way, Fiorentina is not a cheap dish. On average, a steak costs from 60 EUR.

  • Panino lampredotto – cow stomach sandwich

  

  This is the oldest Florentine dish. It has been eaten in Tuscany for over 500 years. Originally it was the food of the poor who simply could not afford meat. Now well-to-do Europeans are queuing for panino lampredotto! Cow's stomach is not the most appetizing phrase. The smell during cooking is also very specific. But in fact, this sandwich is very tasty. The cow's stomach is washed, soaked and boiled for a long time with tomatoes, celery and herbs. Then put it between crispy buns. You can buy such a sandwich at special lampredottai kiosks, scattered not only throughout the historical center of the city, but also in working-class areas.

  • Ribollita – thick ribollita stew

  

  This is a thick Tuscan soup whose name means “overcooked,” literally “double-cooked.” It was also part of the peasants' diet. Ribolitta includes beans, slices of dry bread, various vegetables and herbs.

  • Pappa al pomodoro – tomato soup

  

  This is another very tasty Tuscan soup, very rich and thick due to the pulp of fresh tomatoes and bread. Garlic, olive oil and basil are added to the soup. As you have already noticed, the set of ingredients is again very, very simple! Laconicism and simplicity are inherent in the cuisine of the region, and despite this, Tuscan dishes are very tasty and self-sufficient.

  • Panazella – panacella salad

  

  This salad contains the same ingredients as pappa al pomodoro soup. Only the tomatoes will, of course, be fresh. Despite all the asceticism - bread, tomatoes, olives - the salad tastes great. I think the secret is the amazing vegetables grown in the fertile Tuscan soil. And Tuscan olive oil is considered the best in Italy!

  • Cantucci – cantucci cookies

  

  Be sure to try the Florentine dessert cantucci as a “dolce”! This is a very interesting gastronomic experience. Dried almond biscuits that you dip in wine before you bite into them. Sweet wine will be served along with cookies. A very unusual and light dessert. After you taste the Florentine steak, there is no question of any cake or other serious dolce, but dry and light cantucci certainly will not require much space in the stomach.

  Things to do

  Shopping and shops

  Florence has luxury shopping and interesting city markets.

  About shops

  The city is full of fashionable clothing stores and boutiques. Florentines, like all Italians, love to dress fashionably and look good. Clothing and jewelry stores are scattered throughout the center, and leather goods shops are literally at every turn.

  

  Main shopping streets:

  • Via Tornabuoni. Luxury boutiques - Tiffany&Co, Trussardi, Emilio Pucci, Armani, Hermes (including a children's clothing store), Rolex. Among the more democratic ones, Tommy Hilfiger is represented here.
  • Via della Vigna Nuova. Continuation of the theme of Italian luxury. On this street there are Lacoste, Valentino, Chopard stores.
  • Via del Corso. The global mass market is concentrated on this street and there are many outlets of famous brands: DKNY, Patrizia Pepe, Diesel. There are interesting Italian stores with their own collections; here you can find one-of-a-kind items.
  • Via dei Calzaiuoli. Here, democratic brands like Benetton and Tenzeis coexist with Chanel and Furla. You can buy clothes for every day and treat yourself to a chic bag. This is also where you will find the Disney Store. And don't forget that Ponte Vecchio is a trade bridge. Luxury jewelry and jewelry are sold there.

  About markets

  The main market of the city is San Lorenzo.

  There are a lot of leather products on display here. Of course, prices will be lower than in name-brand stores. Plus, you have the opportunity to recklessly bargain and bring down the price. However, let me advise you to be careful: market traders may try to sell leatherettes at the price of natural leather.
  

  In addition, clothing and souvenirs are sold here. Inside you can buy groceries: vegetables, fruits and Tuscan delicacies. The market is always an interesting gastronomic experience that can tell a lot about the traditions and life of the city. There are restaurants in the San Lorenzo market where the price for a meal will be significantly lower than in a cafe in the city center.
  

  Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

  Local olive oil will be a wonderful souvenir from Florence. You can also take with you a bottle or two of the famous Tuscan wines Chianti and Chianti Classico. The city sells a large number of Tuscan ceramics. I really like the Bartolucci souvenir shop on via Condotta (this is the center), where Pinocchio figures are carved out of wood! In this store you feel as if you are in a fairy tale! Personally, like a child, I ran from stand to stand and said “I want, I want, I want.”

  

  And, of course, purple fan scarves of the Fiorentina club, magnets from the Ponte Vecchio and postcards with paintings from the Uffizi are sold at every turn. As a rule, souvenirs cost 5-15 EUR.

  How to get around the city

  Buses also run around the city: a trip costs approximately 1.2 EUR. I remind you that tickets must be validated (fines for inattention will cost a tidy sum from 100 EUR).

  Taxis in Florence can be ordered by phone, for example, or at special taxi stands. One of these is located near Santa Maria Novella station. You most likely will not be able to stop a checkered car with a wave of your hand while standing on the side of the road: drivers are prohibited from accepting passengers in this way.

  There is no metro in the city.

  Florence - holidays with children

  It would seem that museums are the least favorite part of most children's curriculum. But in Florence there are places to go with young travelers. Here are some places that will be interesting for children.

  • Museo dei ragazzi – Children's Museum. The museum is located in the Palazzo Vecchio. Costume shows and entertainment programs for children are held here. Here you can also play with toys that belonged to the descendants of the Medici family. Admission for children is 7 EUR.
  • Fontana del porcellino – Boar Fountain. The sculpture of a cute boar is one of the children's favorite places in Florence. Be sure to perform the following ritual: a coin is placed in the boar’s mouth, then you make a wish and remove your hand. The coin slides down and falls into the fountain: if it falls into the slot of the water grate, the wish will come true. If not, no luck. There are always a lot of families with children near the fountain, and the patch of Porcellino has been polished to a bronze shine (for good luck) by many generations of tourists. The fountain once so impressed the fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen that he dedicated his work to it. Why not introduce your children to a fairy tale before your trip?

  

  • Negozio Bartolucci – Bartolucci Store. I already mentioned this puppet shop in the “Souvenirs” section. Children will find it very interesting here, because this shop has a fabulous atmosphere. In addition to bobbleheads, many bright wooden crafts are sold here. Children will be able to watch the process of creating a toy with the hands of a master - just like 100 years ago, toys are made only by hand. You won’t be able to leave such a store empty-handed, so be prepared to leave a tidy sum here.