Florence, Italy

Florence, Italy, oh my, what an amazing place! It is the hub of the Renaissance, rich with literature and architecture, and has been a top destination for tourists for centuries. I believe it was Charlotte Bartlett in A Room With a View who said, “When one comes to Florence, one must have a view.” Here is the view we had from our hotel window.

We stayed at Hotel Bigallo Florence, a perfect location for exploring the city on foot. The hotel is quiet, comfortable and comes with breakfast.

The most popular attraction in Florence is the Duomo. It is an absolutely amazing cathedral both inside and out. It was designed by Fillippo Brunelleschi and dates back to the 13th century. The combination of pink, white and green marble adorn the outside of the structure.

This famous clock was designed by Paolo Uccello in 1443, and is still a highlight.

There is so much more to see in Florence, including the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, a historic library containing ancient manuscripts and books. It was designed by Michelangelo, and finished by Tribolo, Vasari and others. I was interested in one of the many documents here, this one was written by Leonardo Bruni in the 15th century, and was titled “Oration against a foul mouthed scamp.” I guess some things never change.

Pitti Palace is another interesting place to visit. It was the home of the Medici family beginning in the mid 1500s.

It is a beautiful place to visit with some amazing views of Florence.

Florence is a large city, but easily walkable with so many other beautiful sites to see. The river Arno, cuts through the city and has with many bridges, including the oldest bridge in Florence, Ponte Vecchio.

I haven’t even mentioned the amazing restaurants and food! We had so many delicious meals, including seafood, pasta, pizza, there are too many options to mention.

Florence is a major tourist destination, it has been for centuries, and probably will be for many more years, but don’t let that put you off. It has so much to offer, and you’ll be glad you visited.