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An overview of the art and architecture of Florence, Italy. This town
is home to the largest collection of Renaissance art and
architecture in the world.
In the 1700's, Voltaire wrote that the Renaissance in Italy marked one of mankind's greatest cultural achievements. Today, Italy has the most, and best preserved, Renaissance art in the world. Venice, Milan and Rome boast many well-known masterpieces from this age of enlightenment. However, the largest concentration of high art and architecture of Renaissance Italy, hence of the world, is in Florence. To travel in Florence is to truly take a trip back in time, to the age of discovery, when mankind passed from the darkness of the Middle Ages to a time of luxury, increased artistic freedom and scientific advancement.
Museums in Florence
The museums seem endless, from the Uffizi with Botticelli's Birth of Venus and the Galleria dell' Accademia with Michelangelo's David, to smaller, lesser-known museums such as the Museo Archeologico and Museo di Storia della Scienza.
Leonardo Da Vinci is a classic example of a Renaissance artist in Italy, and his scientific theories and research are as interesting as are his masterpieces. Indeed, the bottom floor of the Uffizi is currently given over to an examination of Da Vinci's scientific research as it relates to his artistic genius. And, of course, the Uffizi has had Da Vinci's "Adoration of the Magi" on display since 1670.
The Museo di Firenze Com' era, or "Florence as it was," houses many ancient hand-drawn maps and prints, from Roman to Renaissance Florence. Five centuries later, some structures are still standing. Of special interest, and available for viewing, are prints of unfinished facades of The Duomo and Santa Croce.
Architecture in Florence
The architecture of Florence is classically medieval, with its narrow pedestrian-friendly streets flanked by buildings dating from both the medieval and Renaissance eras. The grid-like layout harkens back to the Romans who first planned Firenze.
The most prominent Florentine family in the 15th century was the Medici family, bankers who were known for their patronage of the arts. The Medici influence is evident everywhere in Florence, building upon building. The Medici tombs can be viewed in the Augustine Church of San Lorenzo, behind the Medici Palace in Florence. Michelangelo, Donatello, and renaissance sculptor and architect Brunelleschi all worked on this church, paid for by the Medici family. The Medici Palace itself, built in 1444, features a renaissance courtyard with the Medici coat of arms and a chapel in the open first floor.
In the center of Florence is Il Duomo; you can't miss it. The Duomo was started in 1290 or so, and not completed until 1418, when Brunelleschi finished the world-famous dome. The museum at the Duomo, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, houses many great works of renaissance art, the most famous of which is probably Michelangelo's Pieta.
The Santa Maria Novello church, near the train station, is often the first stop for those who travel by bus or train. With its frescoes and renaissance facade, the S. Maria Novello is a great place to start exploring the architecture of Florence.
The Boboli gardens, or Giardino di Boboli, is a massive green area on the west side of the Arno River. Cross the Arno at the Ponte Vecchio, a bridge which was built in 1345 and was home to butchers and their stock until the Medici family ordered them to removed (can you imagine the smell?). Today the Ponte Vecchio hosts many jewelry shops. There are non-commercial bridges, for those who want to avoid temptation en route to the Boboli Gardens and the Palazzo Pitti.
The Palazzo Pitti is an architectural wonder, designed by Brunelleschi, and abutting the Boboli Gardens. The Palazzo Pitti is home to two world-class museums, the Galleria Palatina and the Appartamenti Monumentali.
Clearly, it is impossible to separate art and architecture in Florence, or Italy as a whole. Art and architecture were as tied together in Renaissance Italy as were their creators, and the philanthropy of the Medici family.
Related, on Suite 101:
Index of Florence Articles
Three Florentine Restaurants
Ristorante La Giostra
The Florence Airport
Tips for Getting Around Florence
Renaissance Architecture in Florence, Italy
The Duomo in Florence, Italy
Copyright Jennifer Miner and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright.
The copyright of the article Florence - Italy's Art Capital in Luxury Travel is owned by Jennifer W. Miner. Permission to republish Florence - Italy's Art Capital in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Jun 5, 2006 7:05 PM
Jennifer W. Miner :
This vacation was another example of when a trip takes an unexpected turn
for me. I fully expected to take a relaxing time strolling piazzas,
sampling gelato and cappucino, and sleeping late. Instead I was so taken
by the romance and history of Florence, that I happily spent time waiting
on lines to get into the amazing museums. Has a vacation ever taken an
unexpected turn for you?
Jun 6, 2006 9:25 AM
Jill Florio :
I have not been to Florence, but in Rome I found myself completely
enchanted by the art and architecture as well. I love the subtle stories
inherent in ancient art - great artists put a trememdous amount of thought
into making deeper meanings and newsy reflections of the times into their
works. before I vistited Rome, I studied up on the Michealangelo/Rapheal
tensions and was completely enchanted with seeing what they did with their
art, and their little digs at each other, in the Sistene Chapel. It really
added to my experience.
Now with the Da Vinci Code so hot, it
seems other people are figuring out how cool art history is. Which is
always nice.
BTW. I did get to stroll piazzas and sample gelato
...why is all the food in Italy so GOOD?
Jun 7, 2006 9:14 PM
Jennifer W. Miner :
I so agree about the food in Italy! Although, I must say I've never eaten
pig, in so many forms, as I did on this trip. Ow, my arteries!
Even
the capuccino was uniformly excellent. I was pretty disappointed to come
back to Starbucks. :)
Jen
Jun 7, 2006 10:02 PM
Jill Florio :
Yeah, I'm actually not a Starbucks fan. Even though I live in Seattle! LOL.
I like my coffee black and unsullied, and don't drink their bitter sludge.
:(
Jun 8, 2006 1:57 PM
Dan Florio :
I agree about the food in Italy. I would go back just for food even if i
didn't love the art, landscape and history.
The food in Greece
was not so good, though. All full of fat and well, grease, actually.
Jun 9, 2006 4:02 PM
Jennifer W. Miner :
I think there's some variety in Greek cuisine, depending where you are.
Certainly there is more fat in the food than you may like on the mainland,
but I believe the islands can offer alternatives like healthily-prepared
seafood. Italy similarly has options of healthy and unhealthy fare...as
does everywhere, I suppose. :)
Jun 13, 2006 10:45 AM
Jill Florio :
No, I agree with Dan. All the greek food you get here is not greek food -
greek food is NOT hummus, falafel, feta salads and gyros. those are more
like Turkish and middle eastern foods. Food in greece is really different
than what one expects. I don't know about the islands, but the mainland had
really dense, greasy heavy oily meals. It was very odd. maybe the influence
of the Ottoman empire, I don't really know.
Jun 14, 2006 7:23 PM
Ginger Groves :
Why IS the food in Italy so good???? I've asked myself the same question. I
was visiting L'Aquila, a city about 65 mile north of Rome a while back and
had the best Chinese food ever!!! Then I ate at McDonalds and that was
pretty darn good too....so is it the food... or the ambience???
Jun 14, 2006 7:55 PM
Jill Florio :
Ginger, I noticed there was a McDonalds right in front of the
Parthenon...random juxtrapostion of ancient and proud with modern and
junky...
Jun 15, 2006 8:39 AM
Jennifer W. Miner :
Jill, Florence and other towns in Italy are FULL of that juxtaposition! It
gave me a little cognitive dissonance to see a Fendi store in a revamped
Renaissance-era building. Hmm, do I shop, or stop to feel the endless
sweep of time wash over me? What to do, what to do... :)
Jun 15, 2006 9:08 AM
Jill Florio :
That's funny. Brings to mind The Forum in Vegas...how Caesar's Palace may
not be as fake as we think...now it's simulating the real thing, along
these lines of odd cognition. LOL.
And while we mention Vegas,
the Venetian is my fave...I have heard people mention the canal is actually
BETTER than the real thing, since it's cleaner and doesn't smell...only in
modern society can the fake be better than the real....Enter the Matrix!
:)
Jun 19, 2006 12:54 PM
Jennifer W. Miner :
Well, I might be in a minority here, but give me the real thing any day.
Stinky smell and all! ;)
Aug 9, 2006 10:28 AM
Alan Sorum :
I would love to visit this area. We spent a couple weeks in western Europe
this June and it wasn't nearly enough time to see a fraction of what there
is to see.
Aug 10, 2006 9:58 AM
Jennifer W. Miner :
Isn't that the way it always is? That's why I prefer to spend a solid week
in one area and really get to know it, as compared to taking that week to
run around and see a little of as many places as I can. If you're ever
going to Italy, Alan, I think you'd especially like the "Italian
Riviera" region. It's coastal, obviously, and gorgeous, with many
boat rental options! :)
Jen
Dec 6, 2007 8:24 AM
born4thesurf :
<a href="http://www.luxique.com">Rome luxury
hotels</a> are beautiful. I have been lucky enough to stay at Hotel
de Russie, Hotel Eden and St Regis Grand in my stay in Rome and they were
all stunning. I always use <a
href="http://www.tripadvisor.com">Trip Advisor </a> to
read unbiased hotel reviews before booking so I know which hotels comes
recommended and which to stay clear of.
15 Comments
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Jun 5, 2006
