Florence – the beautiful capital of Tuscany

Florence is the capital of the region and the province of Tuscany. This city was an important place in the history of Italy and even the world. Florence is located on the Arna River at the foot of the Apennine Mountains. The city experienced its greatest economic boom between the 15th and 17th centuries. The greatest artists, painters and sculptors of the Renaissance worked here, including: Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Florence is one of the cities favorites among tourists. Due to the large number of architectural and art monuments, the town is visited every year by millions of painting and sculpture enthusiasts, as well as by vacationers.

Florence was founded in the 1st century BC and has a very rich history. The city owes its name to Julius Caesar, who in 59 BC established it as a colony for former soldiers and named it Florentina.

The city's greatest prosperity occurred during the reign of the Medici. The current shape and appearance of Florence was most influenced by the flood caused by the Arno River in 1966. Unfortunately, many monuments were destroyed then.

The charm of Florentine monuments

When going to Florence, especially in summer, you should take into account crowds of tourists and heat. No wonder, because in the capital of Tuscany we can find, among others: the most famous museum in the world, the Galleria degli Uffizzi. Another monument worth seeing in Florence is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, famous for the largest brick dome in the world (its construction took about 150 years). This is where you can admire the amazing panorama of Florence. It is also worth seeing Giotto's Bell Tower, as well as the Baptistery, which is one of the oldest buildings in the city.

Following Borgo San Lorenzo street, you can reach one of the largest churches in Florence – the Basilica of San Lorenzo, which is the final resting place of members of the Medici family. In the former monastery of San Marco (now a museum) you can admire 15th-century frescoes. Literature lovers should also visit Casa di Dante. This is a medieval building where the author of the "Divine Comedy" was probably born.

When looking for rest, it is worth visiting the Giardino delle Rose – rose garden, from which you can admire the panorama of the city and see many species of beautiful flowers. A characteristic point of the city is also the oldest Florentine bridge from the 14th century – Ponte Vecchio, where today there are many small shops (including gold jewelry). It is also worth taking a stroll through the numerous charming streets of Florence, which can instantly charm a visitor.

How to get to Florence?

If you want to reach Florence, you can decide to take a plane (the Amerigo Vespucci international airport is located about 15 minutes from the city center) or a car (it is worth using the highway or expressway). However, when going sightseeing in the city, it is better to give up the car, because car traffic in the center is limited and only its residents can enter the historical part.

Flavors of Florence

Florentine cuisine is primarily delicious bread, olive oil, fresh legumes, meat, fish and cheese. The city center is full of pubs and restaurants, offering the Tuscan soup called ribiolita, popular among tourists, as well as Bisteccia di Fiorentina beef steak, along with the famous regional wine. It is worth trying pizza, pasta dishes or regional vegetables. For dessert, you should also try delicious ice cream and caffè latte or traditional espresso or macchiato.

Camping Norcenni Girasole Club

When visiting Florence, you can choose to stay overnight in the city itself – then you can choose from a number of hotels, apartments and guesthouses. However, if you are looking for a charming, quiet place close to the capital of Tuscany, it is worth choosing the Norcenni Girasole Club campsite, which is located between Florence and Siena.

This resort is located on the slopes of the Chianti hills, which allows those staying at Norcenni Girasole Club to admire an extraordinary panorama of the charming surroundings. The campsite has a water park with water slides and 4 swimming pools.

Horse lovers can take advantage of the riding school, while enthusiasts of more lazy recreation have access to the wellness center with a sauna. The center has a pizzeria, a restaurant, a soundproof disco, and a play center with a mini-quad track and trampolines.

At the campsite you can rent a comfortable room, apartment, bungalow or comfortable cottage. The attractions provided by the Norcenni Girasole Club center can be an interesting complement to the charms of Florence and will allow you to relax wonderfully, even after a day of intensive sightseeing.