Florence

It’s in Florence, birthplace of the renaissance that Italy keeps it’s artistic treasures, this town contains the richest museums of the country and the monuments of white and green marble are a testimony of an era dedicated to beauty. Florence is also a soft and romantic place where life is particulary enjoyable.

The Stendhal syndrom, also called Florence syndrom is a psychosomatic condition involving rapid heartbeat, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations, allegedly occuring when individuals become exposed to objects or phenomena of great beauty. The affliction is named after 19th century French author Stendhal who described his experience with the phenomenon during hist 1817 visit to Florence.

« I was in a sort of ecstasy, from the idea of being in Florence, close to the great men whose tombs i had seen. Absorbed in the contemplation of sublime beauty… I reached the point where one encounters celestial sensations.. Everything spoke so vividly to my soul. Ah, if i could only forget. I had palpitations of the heart, what in Berlin they call nerves. Life was drained from me. I walked with the fear of falling.

Map of the Town

Where to stay in Florence ?

The Dome

The central monument of the city, coated with white and green marble, this huge edifice build between 1296 and 1436 is enough of a reason to visit Florence. The Brunelleschi paintings on his Dome are absolutely sublime, the entry is free but you have to pay 10€ to go to the top of the Dome. There, a stair will make you go around the Dome paintings, giving you the opportunity to have a closer look at them. The 10€ ticket give you also the right to climb to the top of the Campanile de Giotto if you still have enough energy, the Campanile is the tower located on the flank of the Dome, the Baptistry is also accessible with the ticket, the inside is coated with magnificent mosaic.

Palazzo Vecchio

The Palazzo Vecchio is located on the famous place Plazza della Signoria between the Neptune fountain and the Loggia de la Sinoria with it’s arched arcades and sculptures. Build at the end of the 13th century this medieval style city hall has housed the offices of the Florence republic government since the beginning. Besides from being the current mayor office, this building is also a museum. The inside is of great beauty, to be seen.

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Gallery of Offices or Uffizi museum

The biggest collection of renaissance artwork in the world, this is the spot. Leonard da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, Michel ange, Giotto, The Perugin.. Paintings, sculptures, illuminations, tapestry. You simply can not afford yourself not to visit this museum.

Santa Maria Novella church

The first basilica of Florence. Very visited for its mural paintings, in particular the trinity fresco by Massacio precursor of the renaissance

Ponte Vecchio

Build in 1345 it was the first Florentine bridge to cross the Arno, the only one that survived since the medieval time. The bridge is filled with shops selling Florentine articles like gold and silver jewlry.

Santa Croce church

The biggest Fransiscan church of Florence, built to compete with the Dominicans church Santa Maria Novella. This sublime church contains the tombs of Dante Alighieri, Michel Ange, Gallileo and Nicolas Machiavel.

Bargello's Palace

This ancient prison is today a missknowned museum where you can see the Michel Ange Bacchus and Bronze David of Donatello.

The Chapels of the Medicis

If you were impressed by the tombs in the Santa Croce church, wait until you see those of the Medicis. In the Medicis chapels : The new sacristy, the princes chapel and the treasure chapel you will be able to see what a burial worthy of the name is.

Pisa

It would be a shame to go to Florence without making a detour to Pisa, there is more to see in this town than the infamous Pisa tower. It is a place full of life and history frequentated more by the locals than by the tourists.

How to go to Florence ?

Where to stay in Pisa ?

Tower of Pisa

On the Piazza dei Miracoli you will be able to see not only the most famous tower in the world but also the Saint John of Pisa baptistry and the Notre dame of ascension cathedral made of white marble, the emblem of Pisane architectur.