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 Except for Venice, no other
European city lives of its past like Florence (Firenze). After all, it
was the birthplace of the Renaissance, an amazing outburst of activity
from the 14th to the 16th century that completely changed the Tuscan
town and the world. Under the benevolent eye (and purse) of the Medicis,
Florence blossomed into an unrivaled repository of art and architectural
treasures by geniuses such as Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Cellini,
Donatello, Fra Angelico, Ghiberti, Giotto, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and
Raphael. Since the 19th century, it has been visited by millions wanting
to see Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Brunelleschi's
dome on the Duomo, and Giotto's campanile (bell tower).
At first glance, Florence might seem a bit foreboding. Architecturally,
it's not a Gothic fantasy of lace like Venice. Many of its palazzi look
like severe fortresses, a characteristic of the Medici style. (They were
built, after all, to keep foreign enemies at bay.) But these facades,
however uninviting, mask treasures within, drawing thousands of visitors
who overrun the narrow streets.
May and September are the ideal times to visit. The worst times are the
week before and including Easter, and from June until the first week of
September. |
