Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region in Italy. Florence is famous for its rich history: a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, it is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art, artistic architecture and monument, and has been ranked by Forbes as ont of the most beautiful cities in the wold, and also declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. It is also one of my favourite cities in the world!
Piazzale Michaelangelo
This is one of the MUST DO in florence - sunset viewing from Piazzale Michaelangelo. It is atop a hill that overlooks the entire city and gives a panoramic view. Every evening, tourists flock here for a breathtaking view of the sunset against this beautiful city.
Awww, how romantic, taking wedding shots in the sunset in this romantic city.
Here's the legendary statue of David by Michaelangelo.
Every meal was pizza and pasta. The food was so good that I couldn't get sick of eating it!
Academia Gallery
Academia Gallery is one of the most popular museum and we had to queue early to get tickets as it would get crowded later in the day. Tickets are at 15euros and the ticket office is just steps away from the Academia Gallery.
Former hospital in the 14th century, then an Academy of Fine Arts, it houses ”David”, the absolute masterpiece by Michelangelo, a must for all visitors of Florence. Sculpted between 1501-1504 to be an outside decoration of the Cathedral of Florence, it became instead a symbol of the commitment of the Florentine State to freedom and independence, as well as a symbol of the Medici's defeat in 1494. It still personifies energy, vigour and courage, symbolizing the whole mankind fighting for survival. His anatomy, later reproduced by Michelangelo’s contemporaries, was carefully depicted, thanks to the in-depth studies carried out by the great artist. In addition to David, 4 statues of the Slaves commissioned by Pope Julius II as a decoration of his grave, the “Mourning over Jesus Christ” and “St. Matthew”. The museum houses an interesting collection of paintings from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and early 17th century.
(Wikipedia)
Duomo di Firenze
Florence's Duomo is the city's most iconic landmark. Capped by Filippo Brunelleschi's red-tiled cupola , it's a staggering construction whose breathtaking pink, white and green marble facade and graceful campanile (bell tower) dominate the medieval cityscape. Sienese architect Arnolfo di Cambio began work on it 1296, but construction took almost 150 years and it wasn't consecrated until 1436. In the echoing interior, look out for frescoes by Vasari and Zuccari and up to 44 stained glass windows.
The Duomo's neo-Gothic facade was designed in the 19th century by architect Emilio de Fabris to replace the uncompleted original, torn down in the 16th century. The oldest and most clearly Gothic part of the cathedral is its south flank, pierced by Porta dei Canonici (Canons' Door), a mid-14th-century High Gothic creation (you enter here to climb up inside the dome).
(Lonelyplanet)
Got tickets for the climb to the top of the duomo - it was quite hard to find as it's tucked in between rows of shops. Had to ask a few locals before finding the ticket office, which was located in one of the galleries.
Majestic view of the interior of the dome, painstakenly hand-painted by the artist. Couldn't imagine the amount of time and the risk involved in getting the roof painted.
The hike up was a dungeon-like stairs which was pretty managable at the first 10 minutes. After which, the steps got steeper and narrower, only enough for one person at a time. I was already panting by then but still perservered by looking through the little peepholes to the exterior of the building and told myself how near I was to the top. The final few steps were very challenging and it was a flight of ladders up to the top of the duomo.
The climb down was much easier. There was times when 2 groups of people are in different directions, and that's where the guide came into place by controlling the traffic in the narrow stairways.
