Archive for 'Florence'

If you're looking for a holiday with a spice of history and culture but you aren't really interested in staying in a city then you should have a look at Florence.

The city holds many of the main attractions, being a key part in the Renaissance, however there are many other interesting parts of the province that are not so well known. There are some beautiful wineries, monasteries and other attractions situated in the Florentine hills and many people choose to holiday in Villas in these areas due to the fact that not only do they have beautiful scenery and a quiet, tranquil place to relax, but also that they are situated in the middle of a choice of activities such as travelling to the city for a day to see some of the famous art and architecture (including the Statue of David and The Basilica Santa Maria Del Fiore), hiking trips, wine tours, etc.

If this type of holiday interests you, why not have a look at some of our luxury villas in Florence?

In case you missed it, the first part of the Top Ten Places to Visit in Florence was posted last week. Be sure to read it!

Florence has been one of those iconic cities that people have dreamed of visiting for hundreds of years. During the Renaissance it was a major center of thought, expression and art of all kinds. Many magnificent churches, opulent palaces and impressive monuments were constructed over the centuries, making it one of the most memorable cities in Italy!

Florence has been one of those iconic cities that people have dreamed of visiting for hundreds of years. During the Renaissance it was a major center of thought, expression and art of all kinds. Many magnificent churches, opulent palaces and impressive monuments were constructed over the centuries, making it one of the most memorable cities in Italy!

In Florence, it can be difficult to not accidentally bump into some grand piece of history. The city is nothing if not living, breathing history: a museum that people live their day to day lives in. One such piece of history lies right across the Arno from the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery, the Palazzo Pitti.

The Palazzo Pitti was originally constructed by Luca Pitti who gained his wealth as a banker in Florence.

When thinking of Florence, one name repeatedly comes to mind: Medici. The Medici’s were arguably the most powerful family in Tuscany, in Italy from the thirteenth to the seventh centuries.

The Medici’s expanded the territory of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany during their rule through military might, political influence, and simple timing as many smaller towns were ravaged by the Plague and suddenly found the advances of Florence more affable in their weakened state. The Medici’s many contributions to the city are still standing as a testament to their rule. One of the most notable of these landmarks is the Palazzo degli Uffizi, sitting serenely off of the Piazza della Signoria across from the Palazzo Vecchio.

Construction on the Uffizi began in 1560 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I de’Medici. His trusted architect Giorgio Vasari designed and oversaw the construction of the Palazzo degli Uffizi. The original intent of the Palazzo was to house the offices of the city magistrates, but slowly the halls and the rooms of the Uffizi were transformed to house the ever growing collection of art that the Medici’s procured.