Tourist information on Florence, Italy

Florence (Firenze in Italian) is the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy, a major centre of culture and tourism that rates as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Situated on the River Arno in one of the most picturesque parts of Italy, Florence is famous for its historic architecture and its wealth of art treasures, which are exhibited in some of Europe's most prestigious museums and galleries. It has a population of about 370 thousand, the highest of any city in Tuscany. From the 14th to the 16th century, Florence was one of the most important centres of trade and culture in the world and is considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. The city's importance is what led its own vernacular to spread throughout Italy, bringing an end to Latin's supremacy as the common language of Europe.

The main attractions of Florence are its historic architecture and plethora of museums and galleries. The Uffizi is the city's most famous art gallery and exhibits an extraordinary collection of Renaissance paintings (such as Botticelli's Birth of Venus), as well as sculptures from classical antiquity. An impressive collection of Renaissance sculpture is to be found at the Bargello (National Museu of Bargello), which exhibits major works by Michelangelo, Donatello, Bandinelli and Andrea. Michelangelo's David is on display at another important museum, Accademia Gallery. Other notable museums are: Pitti Palace, the former palace of Medicis; the Cathedral Museum, which contains works by Donatello and Michelangelo; the National Archaeological Museum of Florence; and the Institute and Museum of the History of Science, which shows the development of instruments in various scientific disciplines (including Galileo's original instruments). San Marco Convent contains frescoes by Fra Angelico and his workshop.

Florence's two most visible landmarks are its cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore, the fourth largest church in Europe), whose dome was a major engineering achievement of the Renaissance, and Giotto's Bell Tower (the Campanile), which offers a fantastic view of the city, for those brave enough to climb its 414 steps. Both of these are situated in the Piazza del Duomo at the very heart of the city's historic centre, along with Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and Canonici's palace. Other important landmarks are: the Baptistery, with a vault decorated with 13th century mosaics; Palazzo Vecchio (the old city palace), exhibiting a large collection of Renaissance sculptures and paintings; Santa Croce Church, containing the tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, Dante and Machiavelli; and Ponte Vecchio (old bridge), the oldest and most famous bridge over the River Arno (and the only bridge not to have been destroyed by the retreating Germans in WWII).

Florence has a number of very attractive parks and gardens, of which the best-known is the Boboli Gardens, which contains several sculptures and Roman antiquities, and is to be found behind the Pitti Palace. The Bardini Garden, an Italian Renaissance garden, offers impressive views of the Duomo, whilst Parco delle Cascine, the city's largest park, is a popular venue for sporting activities. Giardino dei Semplici is a botanical garden maintained by the University of Florence. Some of the best views of Florence are to be found on Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo square), which is situated on a hilltop just south of the city centre. The best places to go shopping are the Via Tornabuoni, the Via del Parione and the Via Maggio.

Florence is served by Amerigo Vespucci International Airport, which is about 15 minutes from the city by bus or taxi. Low cost airlines (such as Easyjet, Ryanair and Wizzair) fly to nearby Pisa Airport, which is connected to Florence by bus and train. Florence can also be reached by high-speed train from Italy's main cities. Florence's main train station is Firenze Santa Maria Novella, on the edge of the old town. Most of the city's attractions are in a relatively small area, so walking is the best way to get around. You can cross the whole of the historic city (in either direction) within half an hour.

Florence originated as a Roman settlement for retired soldiers in 59 BC. The settlement was named Florentia, which (appropriately) means flourishing. What began as a modest army camp soon evolved into a busy commercial centre. In the 5th century, the city's population dwindled as it was threatened by the war between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines. In 774, Florence was conquered by Charlemagne and absorbed into the Duchy of Tuscany. The city's golden age of art began in around 1000 AD when Margrave Hugo chose Florence as his residency over the Tuscan capital Lucca. In the following centuries, Florence became a major trade centre, wool manufacturing being its main industry. It was the city's re-invention of money which allowed trade to flourish and brought Europe out of the Dark Ages. Florence's prosperity not only drove the Renaissance, ushering in an unprecedented era of scientific progress and artistic achievement, but propelled the Age of Discovery, financing the explorers who would establish sea routes to India and the Far East. Instrumental in these developments were the Medicis, a family of incredibly wealthy bankers who began to control the city early in the 15th century, whilst acting as an important patron of the arts. The first period of Medici rule ended in 1494 when the French king Charles VIII invaded Italy. The Medicis were subsequently restored to power, with the support of the Pope, their reign lasting until the early 1700s. In 1737, Tuscany became part of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty and was annexed by France between 1807 and 1814. After the fall of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty, Tuscany became a province of the United Kingdom of Italy in 1861, replacing Turin as the country's capital in from 1865 to 1871. Florence underwent considerable growth in the 19th and 20th centuries, and developed into one of Italy's main centres of finance, as well as growing in popularity as a tourist destination.