Italy is known for being home to a few of the most beautiful cities in the world. Like Milan, the fashion capital of the world or Rome, the advocate of the country’s heritage and history, another city which signifies pure beauty and art and has been famous for its history and architecture around the world is Tuscany’s capital, Florence. This former capital of the Kingdom of Italy has always been the go-to place for tourists.
Unlike the other major tourist cities across Europe, the best time to catch a flight to Florence is during winters. That’s because the city’s major attractions are held indoors, therefore, they can be appreciated just as much when the rates are cheaper as compared to the summer season. However, this is just an incentive to bring a change in the tradition, seeing as during summers tourists actually outnumber the local population.
Florence has a history of providing the world with many amazing artists over time and the city is also home to a number of art galleries and museums. The most famous of these is the Uffizi gallery, one of the most renowned art museums of the world, where one can see the famous ‘Venus of Urbino’ and the ‘Birth of Venice’. The Academia Gallery, which is known for being home to Michelangelo’s sculpture of David and other collection of Renaissance paintings, is also located in Florence.
Other notable art museums in the city are Bargello, which once used to be a barracks and a prison but now is a gallery home to collections of famous artists like Michelangelo and Filippo Brunelleschi, and the Palazzo Pitti, an eye catching Renaissance palace that has multiple art galleries within.
Museums and galleries, however, are not the only advocates of art that Florence has to offer. The most recognizable structure of the city is the Florence Cathedral or the ‘Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore’, an incredibly marvellous church which has been the main cause of attraction for tourists over the years.
It features a dome which was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, a structure that is the largest of its kind anywhere in the world. Climbing the 464 steps to the top of the Dome provides visitors with a splendid view of the city of Florence. Another significant attraction of the city is the Ponte Vecchio, the Old Bridge, which is the city’s only bridge to have survived World War II. The bridge features jewellery shops, as well as souvenir sellers.
All in all, the beauty of Florence is so vast and affecting that it leads to the tourists experiencing a Stendhal syndrome, a disorder that causes dizziness and fainting when an individual is exposed to a large amount of art in a single place. Florence is also favored for the Tuscan cuisine it has to offer. The food here is delicious yet simple and plain. In the sporting world Florence is represented by ACF Fiorentina, their beloved Viola club which plays in Italy’s top division, the Serie A.
Fiorentina is categorized as a top team in Italy, its trophy cabinet is not as lavish as those of AC Milan or Juventus but it still poses a considerable challenge to the giants of the game, having won two Scudetto titles and six Coppa Italia cups. They contest their home games at the 47,000 capacity Artemio Franchi stadium. The city was also host to the 2013 UCI World Road Cycling Championship.
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