The pearl of Tuscany - Florence

The capital of Tuscany

In the heart of Tuscany, at the foot of the Apennines, on the Arno River, lies the cultural and commercial center of the region - Florence. Millions of tourists visit it every year, which is not surprising given the extraordinary beauty of this city. The Church of Santa Croce, Palazzo Strozzi or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore are just some of the monuments that attract visitors' attention and delight.

Apart from them, tourists are also tempted by one of the greatest painting galleries - Galeria degli Uffizi. It contains the largest collection of Italian art in the world, including works by Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian. You can see "The Birth of Venus" by Botticelli, Rembrandt, van Dyck, there are also works by Rubens, as well as many portraits of Polish kings.

Florence tourist attractions

There is a long way to talk about the must-see places upon arrival. Florence tempts with many beautiful buildings, and their interiors can be as impressed by the speech as the facades.

One of such buildings is the Church of Santa Maria Novella - a Dominican church and monastery built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. Inside, we can admire beautiful, richly decorated frescoes, including the famous fresco by Masaccio "Holy Trinity". Apart from the liturgy, the church acts as a museum. There are two 16th-century astronomical devices on the facade of the building - a sundial and an armillary sphere. With its help, astronomers determined the equatorial and ecliptic coordinates of celestial bodies.

The already mentioned cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the most famous monuments in Florence. From the outside, it is decorated with frescoes and multicolored marbles. It is distinguished by a large dome (duomo, the world's largest dome made of bricks) and the beautiful Campanila di Giotto, i.e. the church belfry. The soaring and majesty of the structure, typical of the Gothic style, are also captivating. The cathedral was created by Arnolfo di Cambio - an artist who also created the designs for the Palazzo Vecchio and Santa Croce church.

One of the oldest buildings in the city is the Baptistery of St. John (Battistero di San Giovanni). It was established in the years 1059-1128, and it was created in the Romanesque style. The fame of the building is brought mainly by three pairs of carved bronze doors. Particularly noteworthy are the last, 15th-century "Gates of Paradise" by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The ten bas-reliefs on the façade were considered to be masterpieces of the early Renaissance. Tourists who cross the threshold of the cathedral are surprised by the modesty of the interior. The only thing that stands out is the great fresco in the dome, the 16th-century "Last Judgment" by Vasari. And the size of the cathedral itself.

Another pearl of Florence is the Basilica of St. Cross (Basilica di Santa Croce), the largest Franciscan church in the world. It houses the tombs of famous people in Florence, including Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Gioacchin Rossini. The walls of the basilica are covered with frescoes by Giotto.

Florence - a magical city

Tourist attractions are not only temple buildings. Also of note is the Ponte Vecchio, a 14th-century bridge over the Arno. It is built of stone, has a structure of segmented arches and a two-story gallery. At the bottom there are shops and stalls with jewelry, and at the top there was a passage connecting the Medici palaces at one time - thanks to this, representatives of higher families did not have to walk the streets with the commoners.

After crossing the bridge to the other side of the river, we come to Palazzo Pitti, the Medici Palace, located by the Giardino di Boboli Park. The garden stretches up the hill with a wonderful panorama of the historic part of the city.

An equally beautiful view can be seen from the Piazzale Michelangelo square on Viale Michelangelo. From there, you can see the roofs of Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce and picturesque bridges, including the Ponte Vecchio.

In a campervan for a trip

Florence is crowded with tourists, which is considered a major disadvantage by some. Residents often go outside the city for the weekend, and that's when it's best to start sightseeing. It's just less crowded. Visitors who have arrived here in their own car cannot park in the city center - only native residents are allowed to do so.

On the other hand, those who came not by car, but by camper, have several options for choosing a stopping place, each with a beautiful view of Florence. One such place is the Michelangelo campsite (Viale Michelangelo 80), advertised by the owners themselves as follows: “When you are with us, you are already in Florence. At the same time, you feel as if you are in the countryside, where you can rest, looking at the cradle of the Renaissance ”. Because what could be a better place than in Piazzale Michelangelo, on a hillside overlooking the entire city? The historic center of the Tuscan capital is less than 10 minutes' walk away. For approx. EUR 37.30 / day (2 people, space for a vehicle, access to electricity and tourist tax) you can spend the night here surrounded by olive trees. All year round.

The Villa Camerata campsite (Viale Augusto Righi 4) is also a great choice. The accommodation prices are here, depending on the season, 7.50-8 euro / day (adult), 12-15 euro / day for a motorhome and 5 euro / day for a child. It is about 5 km from the center, so it is quiet enough to enjoy the tranquility in a beautiful setting, while tourists can easily get to the city itself.

Florence - the pearl of Tuscany

Beautiful, with an exceptionally large number of monuments, most of which are centrally located. For this, which can boast of delicious cuisine, festivals, parades and fairs - Florence will be remembered by everyone.