Footsteps thru Florence, Italy

“The creator made Italy from designs by Michelangelo”

-Mark Twain-

Rome 112

There are very few cities on earth that rival the beauty of Florence, Italy.  We have had the privilege of walking twice beneath sunny Florentine skies, tracing the inspirational footsteps of Michelangelo and da Vinci.  From richly colored marble and realistic masterpieces to shop lined bridges and golden doorways, Florence, Italy, speaks to the soul in a way only a historic Italian city can.  Walking the cobblestone streets is placing yourself into the very heart of history, immersing yourself in an epicentre of art and culture.

PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO

Designed in 1869 by Giuseppe Poggi, as part of a restructuring of the city walls, this is a place not to be missed.  The view of Florence from this vantage point is absolutely spectacular, and the reason both locals and tourists continuously flock to it.  There are vendors selling their wares as well as a bronze copy of Michelangelo’s ‘David’.  And as you step towards the edge, noting each of the city’s most beloved monuments and squares, from the curve of the duomo to the arches of Ponte Vecchio, the vast stretch of history will take your breath away.

We found ourselves here for not only the stunning panorama, but for a long planned Father’s Day surprise!  Pulling into the parking lot, two gorgeous red Ferrari’s came into view, surrounded by throngs of tourists, tongues wagging. What a thrill it was to tell Sam that he was about to take one for a drive!  A huge thank you to the kind gentlemen at TestDriveFirenze who were absolutely fantastic and who allowed our daughters to also partake in this bucket list adventure!

FLORENCE DUOMO

Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the most stunning structures I’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing.  With a dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, this gothic style cathedral began construction in the 13th century by Arnolfo di Cambio, and is the 3rd largest cathedral in the world.  Boasting ornate carvings and walls of pink, white and green marble, the outside is only rivaled by the mosaic flooring and beautiful frescoes of the interior.

FLORENCE BAPTISTERY

Located across from the Duomo is the Battistero di San Giovanni, constructed between 1059 and 1128, it is one of the oldest buildings in the city.  It is well known for being the place where Dante was baptized, as well as it’s three sets of bronze doors with relief sculptures.  The East doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti were dubbed the “Gates of Paradise” by Michelangelo, and are commonly mistaken for being the originals. To see the real works, you must visit the Opera di Santa Maria Del Fiore.

 

Also housed here is one of the final works by Michelangelo, the Florentine Pieta, of which he attempted to destroy in a fit of rage, following what he found to be a flaw.  The face of Nicodemus, at the top, is said to be a self portrait, and Michelangelo intended for the sculpture to adorn his tomb.

Passports and Pigtails, Florence, Italy
La Pieta, Florence, Italy

GALLERIA dell’ACCADEMIA

While there are so many pieces of art worth paying homage to in the collection at Galleria dell’ Accademia, most people step thru the doors to view the infamous Michelangelo masterpiece, David.  We had missed seeing this slice of artistic history on our last visit, as a strike caused the gallery to close for the day.  This time we were successful, and stood in awe of the 17 foot tall marble masterpiece. Everything from the natural light above, to his disproportionately massive hands and head are sheer perfection.

***avoid long lineups (that can run hours long) by booking an entrance appointment in advance online

PONTE VECCHIO

Spanning the Arno River at it’s narrowest point, Ponte Vecchio is a historic gem not to be missed.  Rebuilt after flooding, it was built for the final time in 1345, and was the only bridge spanning the Arno not to be destroyed by the Germans during WWII.  The massive pedestrian bridge is filled with tourists, meandering across as they peer thru windows offering spectacular gold and jewelry, stopping in the center to view the river passing below.

PIAZZA DELLA  SIGNORIA

This is perhaps one of my favorite places to visit in Florence.  Located close to Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo, it is also the gateway to the Uffizi Gallery.  Situated beneath the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio, the square is rich in monuments, such as those of the open air gallery,  Loggia dei Lanzi. A menacing bronze ‘Perseus’ beheading Medusa, the marble ‘Abduction of the Sabine Virgins’ by Giambologna and ‘Hercules slaying the Centaur Nessus‘ are absolutely captivating.

 This city rooted in the Renaissance is an absolute must see.  Whether you spend a day or a lifetime, it simply will not be enough time to explore every historical corner.  From breathtaking views of a distant duomo to awe inspiring pieces of the masters themselves, Florence shall always be one of the most beautiful cities on Earth, that place where footsteps remain forever.

Until we meet again,

Amy

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39 thoughts on “Footsteps thru Florence, Italy

  1. I have been to Florence hundreds of times and not once did I manage to step inside the Uffizi! I know its a big shame but that will change in 2016 – especially after reading your post #getting_inspired! 🙂

    1. I am envious! We have only been twice, and I have to admit I loved it so much more when we were there in November, less crowds and much cooler temperatures! But it is simply so amazing, I would go again in a heartbeat….and hope to again very soon!

  2. I was in Florence with the kids last summer and we had the most amazing holiday: I left Italy over 12 years ago and for the very first time, while there, I questioned my move… that’s how much it got under my skin! I love your mention of the ferrari: we booked a ferrari tour for a friend and made the most of the photo op too – I have super cute photo of my daughter in it: will get the post out next week, you gave me the motivation I needed to finally write it!

  3. I remember I told you we are getting to do a conference (or my husband is) in May! I can’t wait! I will be keeping you in mind for advice! Great, great article and I love the history and pictures. I am interested in seeing all of this. My son and husband love history so will love it. I am getting more appreciative of history the older I get and I am interested in Christian history. I bookmarked it and will pin it and share!

    1. Fantastic! Florence is so spectacular. We’ve also done Michaelangelo’s childhood home, and although we’ve never been, the da vinci museum is supposed to be excellent and interactive for kids. Thanks for reading!!

          1. Thanks! Didn’t you say you stayed there twice for a month each time? We will do well to stay two weeks. Also I’m pretty sure you had the great article about staying with three really nice families or in their B & B.

  4. You are so right. Florence is gorgeous and one of my favorite Italian cities. Borghese Gallery is one of my favorite galleries in the world.

  5. Oh I do love Florence! My sister used to live there and I used to visit every year, I’ve got great memories there. I’m yet to bring my son, but I feel an Italy trip is on the cards 🙂 Lovely photos, and I can only imagine just how much your husband loved the Ferrari experience – what a treat!

  6. I absolutely love the fact that you got to test drive Ferraris in Florence to fulfill bucketlist dreams! I loved Florence but it’s been 20 years. Need to go back

  7. I once tried to get lost in Florence and failed miserably because I kept winding back up at the Duomo, haha. Were you yelled at for taking photos of David? I had to sneak it when I was there, hehehe.

  8. I’m almost embarrassed to write (because so many disagree) that Florence was my least favorite city in Italy! I really would like to go back because before and after, all I hear is good things about it. I just didn’t feel it. It was dirty and we met really shady people while there taking public transportation. I need to give it another chance for sure! Maybe it was just timing because your pictures and adventures sound amazing.

    1. Never be embarrassed to have an opinion! I’m sorry your experience wasn’t pleasant, I think every city has the ability to be either positive or negative. We’ve seen Florence in fall and summer and both were vastly different, so I understand!

  9. Florence looks like a beautiful, romantic city! That’s pretty neat that you can book an entrance reservation to avoid long lines! Love all your photos, great job!

  10. Florence is one of my most favourite towns in all of Europe. On both of my visits, we have motorhomed through here and camped up on the hill near Michelangleo Place on the other side of the river. From here, all we could see was the terracotta rooftops of the city. Just beautiful. Loved the Duomo anad the markets. I still have a leather jacket and handbags that I bought from here in ’97 and 2005. Great article.

  11. Florence is really a poem of a city. Words are inadequate to describe the ethereal beauty of this place. We were there a couple of years ago and we are still to wake up from that dream. Such is the effect that the place has had on us.

  12. Oh wow Florence looks absolutely beautiful. I haven’t been to Italy yet but I’ve certainly heard of Florence. I didn’t really think about visiting it until I read this post though.

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