It's a beautiful city all year round, but is said to be at its best in late spring and fall. Central to Florence is the River Arno, which runs through the city, except in summer when it dries up.
However, when it is full of water, it has sometimes flooded and the townspeople have had to travel by boat on the nearby streets.
There are six bridges across the Arno. The oldest is called Ponte Vecchio and is lined with goldsmiths' stands, which has become a hallmark of the bridge.
In Florence, 350,000 people live in an area of 102 square kilometers, giving a population density of just over 3400 inhabitants per square kilometer.
As a city, Florence is a cultural experience, perhaps most notably for architecture and art lovers, with a wide range of magnificent works of art, places of interest and historic buildings.
The grandest is the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Florence has also been home to many of the truly great artists, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Donatello and Ghiberti to name a few. In the city's museum, the Uffizi, Italy's answer to the Louvre in Paris, you can take a closer look at the works of these artists.
History of the city
Florence was mentioned by Roman war veterans as early as 59 BC. They discovered that Florentia, as they called the city, had fertile soil and decided to build a city much like a military camp there.
A look that still exists in the city today. Emperor Diocletian then made Florentia the capital of the Tuscias (Tuscany). The first cathedral of Santa Refarata was built as Christianity spread in the 200s.
Development then took off and trade with other cities became a reality. Already in the Middle Ages the city was an important art center and during the Renaissance it became important for science and architecture. From 1865 to 1871, Florence was the capital of a united Italy under the rule of Victor Emmanuel II. Today, the city has grown to become one of the world's most popular tourist destinations and a haven for artists.
Attractions
As we mentioned earlier, there's a lot to see in Florence: amazing churches, museums and palaces, shopping streets and beautiful piazzas with cozy outdoor seating. Below are three must-see attractions that you should not miss during your visit to the city of art.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
With statues and lots of funny and unusual details in triangular, circular and rectangular shapes, this ugly church building is a feast for the eyes. Santa Maria del Fiore is definitely worth a long tour of discovery, both inside and out, including the baptistery, the dome and the cathedral museum.
Bargello Palace
The Bargello is one of Florence's oldest buildings, dating back to 1255. Like the Palazza Vecchio, the Bargello has been home to a variety of professions.
Initially, it was the seat of government, but in the 16th century the chief of police moved in and since then it has also been a prison. Until the end of the 18th century, some executions took place here.
The Bargello has since been restored and is now a museum with many famous sculptures, including the bronze sculpture David by Donatello.
The palace Palazzo Vecchio
In Piazza Signoria, this 700-year-old dark stone fortress-like palace was inhabited by the medieval Medici banking family and the Florence City Council.
The palace has also been the main building for the government and parliament. The Loggia della Signoria museum is also located here.
Ponte Vecchio
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