Duomo picture

Florence is an historical Mecca. That is because it is a city that has stood the test of time very well. Many of the buildings and the attractions that you will see in Florence have been around for hundreds of years. The residents have done very well in protecting the many properties that surround them and they have done an even better job at marketing the city. However, it sort of markets itself due to the fact that it is beautiful and consists of much of the art that we have only read about in history books.

As for some of the attractions that are very popular in Florence, you will find:

• Duomo di Firenze – The Duomo Florence is dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore and is typical of Italian Gothic architecture. The present building was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio (c. 1245-1302). This was finished in around 1367 and was completely covered with coloured marbles, although the uncompleted facade was given its covering in the nineteenth century.

• Directly in Florence, you will find the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte, which is a beautiful church with a beginning construction date of 1013. It is named after St. Miniato, who was beheaded because he was a Christian. When he was thrown to the panthers, the panthers refused to eat him. Legend has it that Miniato carried his head up Mount Fiorentinus, which was where his hermitage was and the current site of the church.

• When in Florence, you also have to visit the Uffizi gallery, which has artwork from Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and various other well-known artists. It is one of the finest museums of art in Italy and in the world.

These are just a few of the Italian attractions. Really, you don’t have to leave Florence if you want to taste history, but some like to jump into a car and take a ride to another city. For instance, you can take a drive to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa if you like. And when back in Florence, you can just walk around the city and take in history.