Florence, Italy
You're reading Florence, Italy, posted on Sunday, November 30th, 2008 at 1:52 pm in Italy, on BrainBloggers at the Exotic Countries blog. More after the jump.
Florence, Italy is referred to as the “cradle of Renaissance” because of the many historical churches, monuments, and buildings. Many tourists will flock to this city to soak in their fill of culture and history as well as getting a chance to taste the authentic Italian food and wine.
When visiting Florence you must start with the architectural jewel in the whole of the city. This would be the domed cathedral – Santa Maria del Fiore – also known as The Duomo. This dome was built by Filippo Brunelleschi. This building is open to tourists who can climb the building and look at the panoramic view.
The historical center of the city of Florence was declared to be a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. This is because there are medieval walls that were built during the 14th century in order to help defend the city and keep it safe. In the heart of the city is the Bartolomeo Ammanati’s Fountain of Neptune. This is a marble masterpiece that stands at the fully functioning Roman aqueduct.
Another great church to visit is the San Lorenzo. Inside the church is the Medici Chapel and the mausoleum of the Medici family. The Medici’s were the most powerful family in Florence during the 15th to the 18th century. Close to this church is the Uffizi gallery – which has become one of the world’s finest art museums. It was founded by the last member of the Medici family and holds dozens of masterpieces.