FLORENCE HISTORIC CENTER

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Day 2: Florence: Duomo Square, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Baptistery and Campanile, Plaza della Signoria, Vecchio Palace, Santa Croce Square, Ponte Vecchio

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

After yesterday's transfer from Genoa airport to Florence and the hours at which we arrived in the city, we have to say that it was not too easy to wake up this first day of the trip to Florence and Pisa with the sound of the alarm clock. As we told you yesterday we stayed at the Globus Hotel, near the Santa Maria Novella train station. The idea is to start visiting today Florence and the first of the things we have to see is the Duomo Square, to see in it the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and also him Baptistery of San Giovanni and the Campanile of Giotto, which are in the same square.

Duomo Square

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore It is one of the masterpieces of Gothic art and the first Italian Renaissance. Symbol of the wealth and power of the Tuscan capital during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the Florentine cathedral is one of the largest buildings in Christendom, where what stands out is its dome, erected by Brunelleschi, and covered with brick red, something that introduced a new technique to lift this great dome.
A good option to learn about the history of the cathedral is to book this guided tour in Spanish.

Santa Maria del Fiore

You can climb the dome but we prefer to climb the Campanile, from where you have some great views of Florence and as you go up you see the reddish roofs of the characteristic houses of Florence.

Baptistery

Views of Florence from the Campanile

You can also enjoy others breathtaking views of Florence from the Church of Santa Croce or the Vecchio Palace.
A good option to not miss anything about the city and learn more about its history is to book a guided tour in Spanish that includes the entrance to the Uffizi Gallery and the Skip-the-Line Academy Gallery or this Free Florence tour. Free!

Santa Croce Church

Vecchio Palace

Another of the jewels of the square is the Baptistery, place that you can not miss and where we recommend you go first thing in the morning or late afternoon, as in the whole square, to enjoy these places with tranquility and loneliness

Florence Baptistery

Although it is not normally open to the public, we were lucky and this time we were able to enter and enjoy its magnificent mosaic ceiling, really spectacular.

Baptistery inside

From outside, if you have risen early, you will be able to observe with all the time in the world, The Gates of Paradise, made by Ghiberti and representing various biblical scenes.

The gates of Paradise

Book the best rated tours and excursions in Spanish from Florence by travelers:
- Offer: Florence + Uffizi + Academy
- Excursion to San Gimignano, Siena and Chianti
- Excursion to the Cinque Terre
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After the first visit, we headed towards the Della Signoria Square, stopping before in the Loggia of the Straw Market, although it was closed, since at this time of year, Christmas does not work. Here you can see a bronze fountain called Il Porcellino, which represents a wild boar. Tradition says that if you want to return to the city you must throw a coin into the animal's snout and try to fall into the hole located at the bottom. If you succeed, you will be assured of your return to Florence.

Loggia of the Straw Market

In this area of Florence there is an alley where we can see Dante's house, which can be visited.

Dante's House

After getting lost in the streets of Florence, we arrive at the Della Signoria Square, the most beautiful in Florence. On the right side of the square we can see theLoggia dei Lanzi, a portico from 1376, built by Benci di Cione and Simone di Francesco Talenti, where a series of sculptures are located, highlighting the bronze statue of Perseus.
This incredible statue is the work of Benvenuto Cellini and portrays the body of the Greek hero, resting on one leg, who lifts the decapitated head of the Medusa with his right arm.

Perseus

Opposite, next to the Loggia, is the Vecchio Palace, which was the Palace in which, for centuries, the Medicis decided the fate of the Republic of Florence and that today is still the place of government of the city.
You can skip the lines and learn about the history of the palace by booking this guided tour in Spanish or take this quick entry ticket.

Florence Vecchio Palace

In front of Vecchio Palace we will find true sculptural jewels, from an exact replica of the David by Michelangelo that for centuries it had been in front of the Palace and we couldn't see why they were restoring it. Although in the Galleria Della Accademia You can see the original. Here we will also find many statues related to the most important events in Florence, such as the equestrian monument of Cosme I, of Giambologna, the fountain of Neptune, sculpted by Ammanati or the copy of Marzocco de Donatello.

More practical information to prepare your trip to Florence
- 50 things to see and do in Florence
- 10 essential places to visit in Florence
- The 5 best tours and excursions in Florence
- Florence guide in two days
- 10 essential tips for traveling to Florence
- The best free tours in Florence for free

As we have enough time for after visiting the square to have a good hot chocolate to calm the cold that is in this time in the city.
After this short break, we headed towards the Santa Croce Square in Florencewhere is the Santa Croce Church, where the graves of many famous artists rest, such as Michelangelo Buonarroti, Galileo Galilei, Machiavelli and Ugo Foscolo. Here too there is a cenotaph of Dante. This poet had to go into exile in 1301 and died in the city of Ravenna, which has always refused to return the poet's remains to his hometown.

Do not stop paying attention to the grave of Michelangelo, in which are the statues of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.
An interesting option to know the history of this beautiful church is to book this visit with a guide in Spanish that includes the entrance.

Santa Croce Square

Other Essential visit in Florence is the Ponte Vecchio, the only ancient bridge that is preserved in the city since the others fell during World War II.

Ponte Vecchio

The bridge is full of jewelry stores that were closed as a holiday. Curiously, these jewelry stores had previously been butcher shops. On the shops there is a secret passage known as the Vasarian Corrodoium that connects the Uffizi Gallery with the Pitti Palace. Vasari built this passage with the idea of protecting the powerful Medici family from the Florentine plebs when they went from one palace to another. This passage can be visited by reservation.
After a full day, we decided that the time has come to stop and go to dinner. In the end we choose the area of the Republic Square, full of restaurants and pizzerias, where it is difficult for us to decide on one.
It is not yet 11 pm when we are entering our room at the Globus Hotel, wishing to fall in bed to rest and start a new day tomorrow in Florence.