ETC Posts

Italy - Florence - Arts
An art lover’s itinerary
Florence is one of the most incredible cities in the world. It’s steeped in history and is almost otherworldly in its beauty. There is so much to do in Florence, especially in regard to art history.

By lavishly funding the arts, the Medici signaled an end to the "dark ages" and kickstarted Italy's cultural rebirth.
Florence, where successive generations of the family acquired monarchic levels of authority, became the European capital of the arts in the process.
The Medici commissioned works from Donatello, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Botticelli, spending over 663,000 florins on charity, building, and taxes between 1434 and 1471.
Today, Florence's museums, squares, and churches are bursting with the products of the city's Renaissance flourishing.

Michelangelo’s David (1501-04), Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, Via Ricasoli.
This towering masterpiece depicts David before his battle with the giant, Goliath.
It was initially meant to be suspended in the niches of Florence Cathedral’s tribunes, 80 meters from the ground.
However, raising the six-tonne statue of the Old Testament figure was deemed too complicated, so the figure was placed in the square outside the Palazzo Vecchio instead. It was moved into the Galleria dell’Accademia in 1873.
Carved from gleaming white marble, the figure’s curved torso, with its sloped shoulders and angled hips, exudes beauty and strength.

Vasari’s The Last Judgement (1572–79), dome of Florence Cathedral, Piazza del Duomo
The iconic roof of Florence Cathedral remains the largest brick Read more...

Italy - Florence - Seasons
Winter Fun
Florence comes alive in the lead up to Christmas and New Year with beautifully illuminated streets, outdoor performances, holiday food tours, and chestnut stands.

3 reasons to visit Florence in winter:

Less tourists: December to February is the low season for Florence, which means it’s your best chance to experience local life without the crushing crowds.
There tend to be more Italian and European travelers, for sure though so not entirely “tourist-free.”

Competitive accommodation: Accommodation rates take a dip during December in Florence, as there is less demand and more options in the center

Sale season: January in Italy is the sale season, so you can take advantage of this and shop.

The biggest Christmas Market in Florence is held in the Piazza Santa Croce, where you can find everything from handmade crafts Read more...

Italy - Florence - Newbie
A Beginner's Guide To Florence
Florence made the Forbes Most Beautiful Cities in the World list in 2010

Florence is home to 370,000 people and was the birthplace of the Renaissance, as still seen today by the stunning architecture and art throughout the city created by the likes of Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, and others.
With its iconic cathedral towering over narrow streets, Florence is like an enormous open-air museum.
A mix of Medieval architecture and elegant Renaissance palaces and squares, everywhere you look there’s a photo waiting to happen.
The river Arno winds its way right through the city's center, straddled by one of the world’s most famous bridges, the Ponte Vecchio, which offers tourists overpriced jewelry and magnificent sunset views.

For art lovers, there are churches filled with frescoes and elaborate tombs, and an open-air sculpture museum in Piazza Signoria.
Visit Read more...

Italy - Florence - Seasons
Summer activities in Florence
During the good weather you can attend cultural events, concerts and performances spread throughout the city.

Between June and September, the city gives residents and visitors a rich and varied calendar of events ranging from music to theater, from dance to cinema.
Alongside the best-known venues, summer is also an opportunity to discover new and unusual spaces, which are opened from time to time, set up, and re-thought in an artistic key, to be experienced by day and by night.

The Anconella Park is located in the Eastern part of Florence, on the left bank of the Arno, and is one Read more...

Italy - Florence - Sightseeing
Florence Tourist Attractions
Florence city is a great open-air museum for anyone who loves history and culture.

Florence is a city in Italy full of interesting museums, squares, churches, statues, and Renaissance art.
Florence has famous landmarks and highlights such as the Ponte Vecchio, the Florence Duomo, and the Palazzo Vecchio.
During your stay in Florence, visit some of the most beautiful Florence tourist attractions and landmarks to get a good impression of what this Renaissance city has to offer.

Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore)
The Duomo of Florence is the must-see landmark with which everyone associates Florence.
Dominating the skyline, the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral has become a true landmark of the Firenze. You will find the Duomo di Firenze in Piazza del Duomo.
Climb Brunelleschi's 115-meter dome (booking required) for stunning views of the city or climb up Giotto's 82-meter campanile.

Visit Palazzo Vecchio
For years the government of Florence took place in the Palazzo Vecchio.
Even today the city council still resides Read more...