What is there to see in Florence?
Jun 21st, 2006, 08:09 PM
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What is there to see in Florence?
Any suggestions for what to do or see. We aren't into museums but enjoy sightseeing. Is there any point in going to Florence? We will be staying in the Tuscany countryside.
Thanks
Thanks
Jun 21st, 2006, 08:30 PM
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Whoa! Do you have any guidebooks? History books? Does Birthplace of the Italian Renaissance ring a bell?
I don't mean to be harsh, but really....what do you mean by "sightseeing"? If you're not "into" museums, what are you "into"?
Firenze is an incredble place, but I think you do have to have some context for it. If you know nothing about the history of the place, it's just another lively, loud Italian city. If that's all you want out of it, well, that's what you'll get. If maybe you could take the time to read up on what Florence is and was, you might get a deeper appreciation for what it's all about.
That kind of holds for any foreign place you visit, I think. Otherwise, there's no "point in" going anywhere.
I don't mean to be harsh, but really....what do you mean by "sightseeing"? If you're not "into" museums, what are you "into"?
Firenze is an incredble place, but I think you do have to have some context for it. If you know nothing about the history of the place, it's just another lively, loud Italian city. If that's all you want out of it, well, that's what you'll get. If maybe you could take the time to read up on what Florence is and was, you might get a deeper appreciation for what it's all about.
That kind of holds for any foreign place you visit, I think. Otherwise, there's no "point in" going anywhere.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 05:57 AM
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No, I don't necessarily think this is a troll.
I am kind of kicking around the same question. It seems that everyone is supposed to go to Florence and marvel at the magnificent Renaissance art. And that's fine, although I might not want to visit somewhere just to spend all of my time trying to remember which painting / sculpture / building is by which master and what it "means" and why it became important.
As far as guidebooks, the one I'm currently reading has descriptions that consist of "go here, see this master's work, go here, see how this church looks like/differs from other churches, notice this gilded alter, started by a master and completed by his students" and so on. Maybe I just have the wrong guidebook, but so far, other than to see the art that the city is known for, I have no idea why I should want to go to Florence, or what else there might be to see.
I don't mean this to belittle Florence or offend those who hold the city in high esteem. I am just starting to research this trip, and these are just my initial thoughts based on only a cursory review of one guide book. I very likely will change my mind after doing more investigations here, on other websites, and with other tourist guides (which would you suggest?). I can simply understand why someone would ask this question.
I am kind of kicking around the same question. It seems that everyone is supposed to go to Florence and marvel at the magnificent Renaissance art. And that's fine, although I might not want to visit somewhere just to spend all of my time trying to remember which painting / sculpture / building is by which master and what it "means" and why it became important.
As far as guidebooks, the one I'm currently reading has descriptions that consist of "go here, see this master's work, go here, see how this church looks like/differs from other churches, notice this gilded alter, started by a master and completed by his students" and so on. Maybe I just have the wrong guidebook, but so far, other than to see the art that the city is known for, I have no idea why I should want to go to Florence, or what else there might be to see.
I don't mean this to belittle Florence or offend those who hold the city in high esteem. I am just starting to research this trip, and these are just my initial thoughts based on only a cursory review of one guide book. I very likely will change my mind after doing more investigations here, on other websites, and with other tourist guides (which would you suggest?). I can simply understand why someone would ask this question.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 06:21 AM
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Hi tc,
>Is there any point in going to Florence? We will be staying in the Tuscany countryside.<
Probably not. You will be much better off chilling out in the countryside, drinking the local wine, eating the local food, with occasional visit to a small church atop a hill.
Florence has little to offer outside a couple of musty old museums and a statue or two.
>Is there any point in going to Florence? We will be staying in the Tuscany countryside.<
Probably not. You will be much better off chilling out in the countryside, drinking the local wine, eating the local food, with occasional visit to a small church atop a hill.
Florence has little to offer outside a couple of musty old museums and a statue or two.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 06:32 AM
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Ira - you beat me to the punch, to be a tad more specific, they do have this old relic called the Uffizi that you will most certainly want to steer clear of...Why, if I may inquire, are you going to Italy ? And what sights are you seeing ?
Jun 22nd, 2006, 06:41 AM
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You must see:
The Duomo- Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The fourth largest cathedral in the world, it is the spiritual heart of Florence. The building work took around 200 years, and its green, pink and white marble fasade contributes to the chromatic harmony of the square; its imposing dome is visible for miles around. The interior houses many masterpieces including Michelangelo’s Pietà, frescoes by Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno rub shoulders with terracottas by Luca Della Robbia and the sarcophagus of Saint Zanobi. It is possible to climb up to the top from where there is an extraordinary view over Florence.
The Piazza della Signoria
Florence’s most famous square, it was used for centuries as a backdrop by artists, then by film-makers. The former political centre of the city, it includes some of Florence’s main historic buildings and contains the most admired sculptures in the world.
Palazzo Pitti
One of the most visited sites on the southern bank of the Arno, this palace was designed by Brunelleschi for the Pitti family, rivals of the Medicis. It's a huge and imposing building, and a treasure house of the Medici family's massive art collection including works by Raphael, Filippo Lippi, Tintoretto, Veronese and Rubens, all hung in lavishly decorated rooms.The palace also houses a gallery of modern art and a costume collection.
Ponte Vecchio
Old Bridge, has been built in 1345, this beautiful bridge, is only one who survived second word war, and it is the oldest bridge in Florence, souranded with many shops and goldsmiths. There is a secret passageway which is connected with Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace, today big touristic attraction.
The Basilica of Santa Croce
Geometrically coloured marble decorates the building's fasade, but the real treats lie inside, where many famous Florentines lie in peace. The walls are lined with tombs, and 276 tombstones pave the floor. The church's most famous inhabitants are Michelangelo, Macchiavelli, Galileo and Bardi. Its various chapels feature works of art by Giotto and della Robbia, and the serene cloisters were designed by Brunelleschi.
The church of San Lorenzo
The former parish church of the Medici family in Florentine Renaissance style, built from 1420 by Brunelleschi. Donatello, who designed the bronze pulpits, lies in one of the chapels. Passing through the cloister, you reach the Laurenziana Library, commissioned to house the family's huge collection of books and featuring a sublime staircase by Michelangelo. The Medici Chapels are sumptuously decorated with precious marble and semiprecious stones; the most powerful Medicis were buried here. The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo and contains his Night and Day, Dawn and Dusk sculptures.
Boboli gardens
Adjacent to the Palazzo Pitti, this garden is one of the most famous in the world. It was created from 1549 by Tribolo then by Vasari, Ammannati and Buontalenti. Its fountains, lakes, geometric flowerbeds and terraces lined with trees wonderfully represent the Renaissance style. At the top of the hill stands the Forte di Belvedere built in a star shape by Michelangelo with a magical view over Florence.
Cascine park
This huge farming estate, situated between the Arno and the Mugnone rivers, which belonged to the Medici family, was turned into a park by Giuseppe Manetti towards the end of the 18th century. The enthronement of Ferdinand III took place here in 1791.
More you can find here:
http://www.tuscanweb.com/news/?ID=51
The Duomo- Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The fourth largest cathedral in the world, it is the spiritual heart of Florence. The building work took around 200 years, and its green, pink and white marble fasade contributes to the chromatic harmony of the square; its imposing dome is visible for miles around. The interior houses many masterpieces including Michelangelo’s Pietà, frescoes by Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno rub shoulders with terracottas by Luca Della Robbia and the sarcophagus of Saint Zanobi. It is possible to climb up to the top from where there is an extraordinary view over Florence.
The Piazza della Signoria
Florence’s most famous square, it was used for centuries as a backdrop by artists, then by film-makers. The former political centre of the city, it includes some of Florence’s main historic buildings and contains the most admired sculptures in the world.
Palazzo Pitti
One of the most visited sites on the southern bank of the Arno, this palace was designed by Brunelleschi for the Pitti family, rivals of the Medicis. It's a huge and imposing building, and a treasure house of the Medici family's massive art collection including works by Raphael, Filippo Lippi, Tintoretto, Veronese and Rubens, all hung in lavishly decorated rooms.The palace also houses a gallery of modern art and a costume collection.
Ponte Vecchio
Old Bridge, has been built in 1345, this beautiful bridge, is only one who survived second word war, and it is the oldest bridge in Florence, souranded with many shops and goldsmiths. There is a secret passageway which is connected with Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace, today big touristic attraction.
The Basilica of Santa Croce
Geometrically coloured marble decorates the building's fasade, but the real treats lie inside, where many famous Florentines lie in peace. The walls are lined with tombs, and 276 tombstones pave the floor. The church's most famous inhabitants are Michelangelo, Macchiavelli, Galileo and Bardi. Its various chapels feature works of art by Giotto and della Robbia, and the serene cloisters were designed by Brunelleschi.
The church of San Lorenzo
The former parish church of the Medici family in Florentine Renaissance style, built from 1420 by Brunelleschi. Donatello, who designed the bronze pulpits, lies in one of the chapels. Passing through the cloister, you reach the Laurenziana Library, commissioned to house the family's huge collection of books and featuring a sublime staircase by Michelangelo. The Medici Chapels are sumptuously decorated with precious marble and semiprecious stones; the most powerful Medicis were buried here. The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo and contains his Night and Day, Dawn and Dusk sculptures.
Boboli gardens
Adjacent to the Palazzo Pitti, this garden is one of the most famous in the world. It was created from 1549 by Tribolo then by Vasari, Ammannati and Buontalenti. Its fountains, lakes, geometric flowerbeds and terraces lined with trees wonderfully represent the Renaissance style. At the top of the hill stands the Forte di Belvedere built in a star shape by Michelangelo with a magical view over Florence.
Cascine park
This huge farming estate, situated between the Arno and the Mugnone rivers, which belonged to the Medici family, was turned into a park by Giuseppe Manetti towards the end of the 18th century. The enthronement of Ferdinand III took place here in 1791.
More you can find here:
http://www.tuscanweb.com/news/?ID=51
Jun 22nd, 2006, 10:00 AM
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Give it a chance. At the site of the David, the Baptistry doors, the Primavera and the Birth of Venus, and the Duomo, you will be brought to your knees like the rest of us. These are world treasures.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 10:10 AM
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When anyone askes "Is there any point in going to ....?" my first impulse is to say "no." If you resist the whole idea of art or architecture, why would you even think of inflicting a city that's one whole "museum" on yourself?
But the question "what do you mean by sightseeing?" certainly seems fair here. Just shops, restaurants, and pretty views of water and mountains? Or the biggest ball of string or tallest bridge?
Forgive the tart tone, but asking travel-lovers to talk you into something you already dislike? Stay outside in Tuscany until you have a better idea what you'd be missing if you don't go to Florence.
But the question "what do you mean by sightseeing?" certainly seems fair here. Just shops, restaurants, and pretty views of water and mountains? Or the biggest ball of string or tallest bridge?
Forgive the tart tone, but asking travel-lovers to talk you into something you already dislike? Stay outside in Tuscany until you have a better idea what you'd be missing if you don't go to Florence.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 10:52 AM
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My boss replies:
Some people are not interested in the "high brow" persuits of looking at art and architecture. Don't bash them for it; it is just not their thing.
Last year, my mother, husband, and friend travelled to Istanbul. We took at day tour that included a boat ride on the Bosphorus, a tour of the Spice Market, lunch, and a tour of famous mosaics at Chora. There was a family on our tour who never even went into the mosque/church of Chora. They sat at the cafe across the street and ate ice cream (and this was right after lunch). To them, a holiday was eating ice cream and relaxing. To us, a holiday was looking at art and architecture.
Maybe if you don't want to visit the Bargello or Uffizi, you could walk around eating gelato and shop for pretty paper? People watch at Cafe Gilli in Piazza Repubblica? Buy some gold jewelry at a shop in Santa Croce Square?
It takes all kinds to make the world go round.
JBG
Some people are not interested in the "high brow" persuits of looking at art and architecture. Don't bash them for it; it is just not their thing.
Last year, my mother, husband, and friend travelled to Istanbul. We took at day tour that included a boat ride on the Bosphorus, a tour of the Spice Market, lunch, and a tour of famous mosaics at Chora. There was a family on our tour who never even went into the mosque/church of Chora. They sat at the cafe across the street and ate ice cream (and this was right after lunch). To them, a holiday was eating ice cream and relaxing. To us, a holiday was looking at art and architecture.
Maybe if you don't want to visit the Bargello or Uffizi, you could walk around eating gelato and shop for pretty paper? People watch at Cafe Gilli in Piazza Repubblica? Buy some gold jewelry at a shop in Santa Croce Square?
It takes all kinds to make the world go round.
JBG
Jun 22nd, 2006, 11:28 AM
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I expect that I'll need to take occasional breaks from the "museum shuffle" (you know, the walking pace that's so hard on the knees) when I finally get to Florence this fall, so I've planned:
Fiesole, to wander around the ruins and to see the view of Florence
Boboli Gardens, a gigantic formal garden
Duomo, which has that climb to the top of the dome
Piazza della Signoria, to people watch
(I happen to love Renaissance art and architecture, but it is conceivable to me that someone else might not - this question could have been posted by my sister in law, who has seen all my beautiful photos of the Tuscan countryside and wants to go, but wouldn't know Fra Fillippo from Fra Angelico.)
Fiesole, to wander around the ruins and to see the view of Florence
Boboli Gardens, a gigantic formal garden
Duomo, which has that climb to the top of the dome
Piazza della Signoria, to people watch
(I happen to love Renaissance art and architecture, but it is conceivable to me that someone else might not - this question could have been posted by my sister in law, who has seen all my beautiful photos of the Tuscan countryside and wants to go, but wouldn't know Fra Fillippo from Fra Angelico.)
Jun 22nd, 2006, 11:41 AM
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It was truely a sin not to see David, it's the one piece of master I hope to see one day. Florence has much more to offer then art, even though it is what the city was built on, lovely place, with many day trips available.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 12:26 PM
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Florence is a great place for wandering. Numerous piazzas where you can just sit, soak up the atmosphere and people watch. Lots of outdoor markets and you're likely to take in one of many outdoor performances, jugglers, musicians, what have you. I spent hours once just watching the antics of these hugh water rodents ( I think they're called nutrias) cavorting in the Arno.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 01:05 PM
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Hi tcmazz,
While some destinations you can enjoy and have an appreciation for, others speak to your soul. Only you will know which is which...
I adore Florence, and I love her art, but it is not just because of the superb collection of art that my heart belongs to this lovely city. I could go back tomorrow and not enter a museum if I HAD to. (I would be a little sad but... hee.)
The Boboli Garden, the churches, the bridges, watching the crew teams row down the Arno, the architecture, sitting in the piazzas sipping vino, wandering down the cobblestone streets with my husband. The streetlamps, the shutters, the windowboxes full of blossoming flowers, deciding which art or leather gloves or stationary to purchase. I bask in it, all of it.
With that said, Florence is not everyone's cup of tea. Go to the library or google some of her scenery, she if she is for you...
See which will speak to your soul!
Have fun, Tiff
While some destinations you can enjoy and have an appreciation for, others speak to your soul. Only you will know which is which...
I adore Florence, and I love her art, but it is not just because of the superb collection of art that my heart belongs to this lovely city. I could go back tomorrow and not enter a museum if I HAD to. (I would be a little sad but... hee.)
The Boboli Garden, the churches, the bridges, watching the crew teams row down the Arno, the architecture, sitting in the piazzas sipping vino, wandering down the cobblestone streets with my husband. The streetlamps, the shutters, the windowboxes full of blossoming flowers, deciding which art or leather gloves or stationary to purchase. I bask in it, all of it.
With that said, Florence is not everyone's cup of tea. Go to the library or google some of her scenery, she if she is for you...
See which will speak to your soul!
Have fun, Tiff
