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VISITING FLORENCE
SANTA MARIA NOVELLA SANTA MARIA NOVELLA RAILROAD STATION
This is one of the first buildings of Italian rational
architecture. It was designed by a team headed by Giovanni
Michelucci, and was built between 1933 and 1935.
FORTEZZA DA BASSO
Designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger (1533-35), the
Fortezza was recently remodeled and is now an exhibition
and conference center.
CHURCH
AND MUSEUM OF SANTA MARIA NOVELLA
Begun in 1246 for Dominican friars, the church was
completed in 1360. The white and green marble
Gothic-Romanesque facade was completed by Leon Battista
Alberti who designed the upper part. Inside the church
there are splendid masterpieces including "The Trinity" by
Masaccio, frescoes by Filippino Lippi and Ghirlandaio in
the Tornabuoni chapel, a Crucifix by Giotto and a wooden
Crucifix by Brunelleschi. The Museo di Santa Maria Novella
is adjacent to the church. Here you can admire the
splendid Green Cloister frescoed by Paolo Uccello and his
school. In the Chapter Room, known as the "Cappellone
degli Spagnoli" is a famous fresco by Bonaiuto. Just a
short distance from the church is the Officina Profumo
Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, where perfumes, soaps
and fragrances are made and sold in a Neogothic setting.
MUSEO MARINO MARINI
The deconsecrated church of S. Pancrazio houses the museum
dedicated to Marino Marini, one of the foremost 20th
century Italian sculptors. Near the museum, in the
Rucellai Chapel is the extraordinary Temple of the Holy
Sepulchre by Leon Battista Alberti.
PALAZZO RUCELLAI
Bernardo Rossellino built this palazzo for Giovanni
Rucellai to designs by Leon Battista Alberti between 1446
and 1458. The loggia is also attributed to Alberti.
MUSEO DI PALAZZO
DAVANZATI
This building dates from the mid-14th century. In the
early years of the 20th century it was purchased by the
antique dealer Elia Volpi, who restored and furnished it
to recreate a period Florentine home. The many rooms,
several of which are decorated with frescoes and fine
coffered ceilings, contain carved and inlaid furniture,
chests, benches, paintings, tapestry, sculptures,
ceramics, items used every day and in the kitchens.
PALAZZO STROZZI 
Filippo Strozzi the Elder commissioned Benedetto da Maiano
to build this palace. He began working in 1489 and was
replaced by Cronaca who built the cornice and courtyard.
Palazzo Strozzi is one of the finest expressions of
Renaissance architecture.
CHURCH OF SANTA
TRINITA
This church, built in the second half of the 11th century,
was enlarged and modified according to the Gothic style in
the early 14th century. The pietra forte facade was made
to designs by Buontalenti towards the end of the 16th
century. The major artworks inside the church are the
Sassetti Chapel with the fresco cycle depicting "Scenes
from the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi" and the panel
painting of the "Adoration of the Shepherds" by Domenico
Ghirlandaio (1483-86).
CENACLE OF
GHIRLANDAIO
The former refectory of the monastery adjacent to the
Church of Ognissanti is graced by Domenico Ghirlandaio's
painting of the "Last Supper", of which even the sinopia
is visible.
SAN GIOVANNI
 CATHEDRAL,
BAPTISTERY, MUSEO DELL'OPERA DEL DUOMO
Santa Maria del Fiore, the Gothic cathedral erected over
the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata, was designed by
Arnolfo di Cambio who began construction in 1296.
Brunelleschi completed it in 1436 with the elegant dome,
the inside of which was entirely frescoed by Vasari and
Zuccari. The final phase in the construction of the
cathedral, that is the completion of the facade, dates
from the mid-19th century.
To the right of the cathedral rises the Bell Tower, or
Campanile, designed by Giotto in 1334. The square tower is
covered with red, green and white marble inlays, decorated
with panels and carvings, and made graceful by double- and
triple-windows.
Opposite the Cathedral stands the green and white marble
Baptistery of San Giovanni (1128), a masterpiece of
Florentine Romanesque architecture. The interior of the
dome is decorated with mosaics. The splendid bronze doors
(including the Door of Paradise) were made by Andrea
Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti.
The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo houses artworks from Santa
Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery and the Campanile,
including sculptures that had been made for the cathedral
facade. The most important works in the museum are by
Michelangelo ("Pieta"), Donatello ("Mary Magdalen",
"Cantoria"), Arnolfo di Cambio ("Boniface VIII"), Luca
della Robbia ("Cantoria").
CHURCH OF
ORSANMICHELE
Originally this building, a loggia designed by Arnolfo di
Cambio (1209), was a granary and market. Only later did it
become a house of worship: the loggia arcades were closed
off by Simone Talenti and the exterior embellished with
Florentine Gothic sculptures and ediculas.
PALAZZO MEDICI
RICCARDI 
This is the most typical example of privately commissioned
Renaissance architecture. Cosimo the Elder commissioned
Michelozzo to design a palace in 1444. Inside there is an
elegant courtyard, a small Italian garden and the famous
chapel with Benozzo Gozzoli's fresco the "Procession of
the Magi" (1459).
BASILICA OF SAN
LORENZO AND THE MEDICI CHAPELS 
The original church that stood on this site was
consecrated by Ambrose, Bishop of Milan in 393; Cosimo the
Elder had it enlarged and remodeled by Brunelleschi.
Inside there are works by Rosso Fiorentino, Desiderio da
Settignano, Donatello and Bronzino. The church is flanked
by the splendid, square-shaped Old Sacristy by
Brunelleschi and the New Sacristy, by Michelangelo (1524),
that houses the Medici family tombs. Along with the
Baroque Chapel of the Princes, the New Sacristy comprises
the museum of the Medici Chapels. To the left of the
church is the Laurentian Library, also designed by
Michelangelo, by order of the Medici family who wanted a
place to conserve their fine collections of books, papyri
and manuscripts.
Not far from the San Lorenzo complex is the Mercato
Centrale, or central market, a fine example of late 19th
century steel and glass architecture.
MUSEO FIRENZE
COM'ERA AND MUSEO DI PREISTORIA
The Museo e Istituto Fiorentino di Preistoria and the
Museo Storico Topografico "Firenze com'era" are situated
in the former convent of the Oblate Nuns, whose buildings
were once part of the Arcispedale di Santa Maria Nuova,
the city's oldest (and still functioning) hospital that
was founded by Folco Portinari in 1286.
GALLERY OF THE
ACCADEMIA 
This is one of the best known museums in Florence, because
it houses famous sculptures by Michelangelo, including the
"David". There are also many paintings, collected by the
Grand Duke Peter Leopold to help the young artists
enrolled in the Accademia d'Arte, which is still next door
to the gallery.
OPIFICIO DELLE
PIETRE DURE
The Opificio was founded by Ferdinando de' Medici in 1588.
It is an important center for the restoration of inlays
and mosaics, and it has a fine display of inlays, studies
and drawings.
CONVENTO DI SAN
MARCO
Michelozzo rebuilt and expanded this convent for Cosimo
the Elder, and it still contains the splendid frescoes
that Beato Angelico painted to decorate the monks' cells.
Inside there is also a beautiful library that Michelozzo
designed in 1448; this, the first public library of the
Renaissance, contains many fine illuminated manuscripts.
The church of San Marco that stands alongside the convent
was redesigned by Michelozzo.
UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS
AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
The entrance to several of the University's scientific
museums are on Via La Pira: Geology and Paleontology,
Mineralogy and Lithology and the Botanical Gardens, or
"Giardino dei Semplici", founded by the Medici and then
enriched under the Lorraine rule; the Botanical Museum, on
the other hand, dates from the 19th century.
CLOISTER DELLO
SCALZO AND CENACLE OF SANT'APOLLONIA
The Cloister "Dello Scalzo" is located in Via Cavour; it
contains monochrome frescoes by Andrea del Sarto
portraying "Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist"
and two "Allegories of Virtue". The entrance to the
Cenacle of Sant'Apollonia is on Via XXVII Aprile; on the
back wall there is a "Last Supper" by Andrea del Castagno.
BASILICA OF THE SS.
ANNUNZIATA 
Founded in 1250 and then expanded over the centuries, this
is one of the most important churches in Florence. The
Cloister of the Voti and the Cloister of the Morti contain
frescoes by Andrea del Sarto, Rosso Fiorentino,
Franciabigio and Pontormo. Inside the temple of the
Annunziata, designed by Michelozzo, there is an image of
the Virgin Mary that is considered miraculous.
SPEDALE DEGLI
INNOCENTI 
This building was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, with a
fine loggia decorated with glazed terracotta roundels by
Andrea della Robbia. Originally a foundling hospital, it
hosts activities for children even today, along with the
Galleria dello Spedale that contains many fine paintings
such as the "Adoration of the Magi" by Ghirlandaio.
ARCHEOLOGICAL
MUSEUM
This collection, begun by the Medici and continued by the
Lorraine, contains many important items related to
Etruscan art and civilization such as the "Chimera of
Arezzo", the "Orator" and the "Minerva of Arezzo", as well
as several tombs that are in the garden. The Greek and
Egyptian sections are also quite noteworthy, in fact, this
is one of the major archeological museums in Italy.
SANTA CROCE
 PALAZZO
VECCHIO AND PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA
This is the most important civil building in the city;
construction, to plans by Arnolfo di Cambio, was begun in
1299. It was the seat of the Priori delle Arti, of the
Signoria and the ducal residence; over the centuries it
was remodelled several times. The 14th century courtyard,
graced with the fountain with the "putto", a copy of
Verrocchio's original, was later modified by Michelozzo.
Inside, it is worth seeing the Salone dei Cinquecento, the
study of Francesco I, the room of the Elements and the
Sala dei Gigli.
The Loggia della Signoria or "dei Lanzi" overlooks the
square; here there are several important statues including
"Perseus" by Cellini and the "Rape of the Sabine Women" by
Giambologna.
UFFIZI GALLERY,
VASARI CORRIDOR AND PONTE VECCHIO 
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the greatest museums in Italy
and the world. It was founded in 1581 by Francesco I de'
Medici, who collected numerous artworks in the building
designed by Vasari. Today the Uffizi contains masterpieces
by Italian and foreign artists from 13th to 18th century
such as Cimabue, Giotto, Masaccio, Beato Angelico,
Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Piero della
Francesca, Raphael, Caravaggio, along with Rubens,
Rembrandt, Durer, Goya and many others. The Vasari
Corridor that connects the Uffizi Gallery with the Pitti
Palace hosts a rich collection of self-portraits by past
and present artists. Built by Vasari in 1565,it passes
above the Ponte Vecchio,the oldest bridge in the city,with its many jewelry shops. The same building houses the
Contini Bonacossi Collection.
ISTITUTO E MUSEO
DI STORIA DELLA SCIENZA
Palazzo Castellani houses the Istituto e Museo di Storia
della Scienza, containing the Medici collections of
scientific instruments that was enriched by the Lorraine
rulers, along with Galileo Galilei's original instruments.
MUSEO NAZIONALE
DEL BARGELLO
This building dates from 1255, when it was built as the
seat of the "Capitano del Popolo", the commander of the
local militia. Later it became the seat of the "Podesta"
and then of the Capitano di Giustizia (the magistrate) or
"Bargello", from which it gets its name. Since 1859 it has
been the home of the National Museum dedicated to
sculpture and the minor arts. It contains masterpieces by
Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Cellini, Giambologna, and
Donatello along with priceless ivories, enamels, jewels,
tapestries and weapons.
The Badia Fiorentina, the city's oldest monastery (978) is
just a short distance from the museum. Here there is a
masterpiece by Filippino Lippi. And nearby in the Palazzo
Nonfinito is the rich Museum of Anthropology and
Ethnology, while the Museo Casa di Dante (Dante's house)
is right behind the Badia.
CASA BUONARROTI
This building was constructed by Michelangelo's
great-grandson, and since then many descendants of the
family have brought together works by the great master,
such as drawings, portraits, and early pieces. The purpose
of Casa Buonarroti is to collect and enhance
Michelangelo's art and among other items it contains the
"Battle of the Centaurs" and the "Madonna of the Stairs".
BASILICA OF SANTA
CROCE AND MUSEO DELL'OPERA DI SANTA CROCE 
This Franciscan basilica was begun in 1295 to plans by
Arnolfo di Cambio. It contains countless artworks,
including Giotto's famous frescoes in the Peruzzi and
Bardi chapels, and it is universally famous as the final
resting place of several great Italians. The most
important monuments include the tomb of Alfieri by Canova,
the tomb of Leonardo Bruni by Rossellino and the tomb of
Carlotta Bonaparte by Bartolini. The Museo dell'Opera
contains renowned artworks such as the "Crucifix" by
Cimabue, frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi and Andrea Orcagna and
the graceful Pazzi Chapel designed by Brunelleschi.
MUSEO DELLA
FONDAZIONE HORNE
This museum contains fine collections of artistic and
crafted items dated from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries
donated to the city of Florence at the beginning of the
20th century by Herbert Percy Horne. This English antique
dealer recreated a noble Renaissance residence in his
home; one of the most interesting pieces is a "st
Stephen" attributed to Giotto.
SYNAGOGUE AND JEWISH MUSEUM
The Byzantine-style Synagogue was built at the end of the
19th century to plans by Marco Treves. The mosaics inside
create a sumptuous Eastern atmosphere. The Jewish Museum
reconstructs the history of the Jews in Florence through
photographs, documents, etc. and it contains a fine
collection of ceremonial items.
CONVENT DI SANTA MARIA MADDALENA DE' PAZZI
The Chapter Room of the convent is decorated with
Perugino's famous fresco of the "Crucifixion" (1493-96).
SANTO SPIRITO
 CHURCH
OF SANTO SPIRITO
The district of Santo Spirito in Oltrarno, the picturesque
neighborhood populated by craftsmen, restorers and antique
dealers, gets its name from the Church of Santo Spirito.
Designed by Brunelleschi and begun in 1444, it is one of
the most beautiful examples of Renaissance architecture.
The interior, in the shape of a Latin cross with three
naves, is pure Brunelleschian style. Inside the church we
can find a wooden crucifix by Michelangelo. The sacristy
was built to plans by Giuliano da Sangallo. Next to the
church is the Cenacle of Santo Spirito, where there is
still a fragment of the "Last Supper" by Andrea Orcagna.
BRANCACCI CHAPEL
This chapel is famous throughout the world for its
frescoes by Masaccio, a masterpiece of Renaissance
painting; it is located in the 13th century church of
Santa Maria del Carmine. Masolino was commissioned to do
the frescoes and he began work in 1424 with the help of
Masaccio. When Masaccio left Florence, the frescoes were
completed after 1480 by Filippino Lippi.
MUSEO ZOOLOGICO LA
SPECOLA
This museum contains a rich zoological collection of both
existing and extinct animals, but above all it is famous
for its collection of 18th century anatomical wax figures
by Gaetano Zumbo: it is considered the finest in the world
for beauty and quality.
CHURCH OF SANTA
FELICITA
Inside this church, in the Capponi chapel is Pontormo's
painting of the "Deposition" (1525-28) which is considered
one of the masterpieces of Florentine Mannerism.
PITTI PALACE AND
THE BOBOLI GARDENS
This palace was commissioned by Luca Pitti in 1448. The
original plans, attributed to Brunelleschi, called for a
much smaller building than the one we see now:  it was
enlarged in 1549 when ownership passed to the Medici
family. The beautiful courtyard by Ammannati dates from
that period. The Pitti Palace was enlarged and modified
many times over the centuries: it was the seat of the
Lorraine dynasty and, when Florence was capital of Italy,
of the Court of Savoia. Today it houses several museums
and galleries the most important of which is the Palatine
Gallery, containing the private collections of the Grand
Dukes, with masterpieces dating from the 15th to 17th
centuries, including paintings by Titian, Giorgione,
Raphael, and Rubens. The other museums are the Gallery of
Modern Art, the Silver Museum, the Costume Gallery, the
Carriage Museum, the Porcelain Museum, the Royal
Apartments and the Apartment of the Duchess of Aosta.
One of the most beautiful Italian gardens extends on the
Boboli hill between the Pitti Palace and Forte Belvedere.
It was designed by Tribolo in 1549 and then enhanced by
Ammannati and Buontalenti. The 16th century fortress,
Forte Belvedere, dominates the gardens and the entire
city; it was designed by Buontalenti for the Grand Duke
Ferdinando I.
PIAZZALE
MICHELANGELO AND SAN MINIATO AL MONTE 
Piazzale Michelangelo was built in 1869 to plans by
Giuseppe Poggi; it offers a splendid panorama of the city.
In the middle of this plaza stand bronze copies of
Michelangelo's "David" and the four statues on the tombs
in the Medici Chapels.
Just above Piazzale Michelangelo is the basilica of San
Miniato al Monte. Its green and white marble facade is
considered one of the finest examples of the Florentine
Romanesque style. Built between the 11th and 13th
centuries, it contains fine artworks such as the chapel of
the "Crucifixion" by Michelozzo and the chapel of the
Cardinal of Portugal both decorated by Luca della Robbia
and the splendid frescoes by Spinello Aretino, depicting
"Scenes from the Life of Saint Benedict".
MUSEO BARDINI
This museum contains the fine collection of art objects
bequeathed to the city by the antique dealer Stefano
Bardini. The many masterpieces of painting and sculpture
include works by Nicola Pisano, Tino da Camaino, Pollaiolo
and Donatello.
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