Spring Vacation in Florence, Italy
Recommended Activities and Best Restaurants in the Historic City
Feb 28, 2009
Luxury travelers with interests in historic travel should consider a Spring vacation in Florence, Italy. Florence is incredibly walkable, and there are examples of the world's best Renaissance history in virtually every piazza. With Bologna, Venice and Milan to the north, and Rome and Naples to the south, this city is also located centrally enough in Italy to make other famous destinations a drive away. There are so many memorable things to do in Florence, though, that a Spring vacation in this city alone will be full of sights and activities.
Recommended Museums in Florence, Italy
Galleria degli Uffizi - Containing one of the most famous collections of Renaissance art in the world, the Uffizi is hard to take in all at once. Botticelli's Birth of Venus and The Adoration of the Magi are here, along with other exemplars of Renaissance art by Raphael, Michelangelo, da Vinci, Caravaggio, Titian, and many, many more.
Galleria dell'Accademia - Tourists come here to see Michelangelo's David. There is usually quite a crowd to get in, but still - seeing David live, as it were, rather than reproduced on a college-dorm worthy poster - it is awe-inspiring. There is also a collection of musical instruments here; this is as close as most of us will get to Stradivarius violins.
Museo Nazionale del Bargello - Donatello's David is here, and it's around 75 years older than Michelangelo's more famous version. Late Gothic to high Renaissance styles can be traced here: This is very interesting on both an intellectual and cultural level.
There are other best smaller museums in Florence as well, and a Spring week in Italy should give travel planners plenty of time to decide which to see.
Recommended Architecture in Florence, Italy
The Duomo in Florence - The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and its iconic dome is an unavoidable landmark in Florence. The architect di Cambio created the basic Gothic design in 1294, Renaiisance architect Brunelleschi designed the self-supporting dome in 1418, and the dome (duomo) was completed in 1436. The famous marble facade was added in 1886, and just a couple years ago scaffolds became a common sight as cracks in the monument are in continual need of repair.
Church of San Lorenzo Florence - Designed by Brunelleschi, this could be the oldest standing complete church in Florence; original architecure dates from the 4th century. Renaissance art by Lippi, Bronzino, and Donatello are contained within the church walls.
Laurentian Library - This is in the cloister of San Lorenzo, and was designed by Michelangelo. The Laurentian Library is considered to be one of the best example of the Renaissance architecture. The collection of antique books and manuscripts is well-preserved, and utmost care is taken to continue this preservation.
Other famous architectural works in Florence are also among the best examples of the Renaissance style in the world.
Recommended Restaurants in Florence, Italy
Narrowing down all the terrific places to eat in Florence is a challenge, especially since palates and preferences differ from Italian tourist to Italian tourist. Luxury Travel's favorites include Il Latini, Ristorante Enoteca Pinchiorri, and Ristorante La Giosta.
Recommended Park in Florence, Italy
Across the Arno River lay the Boboli Gardens. Florence itself is broken up with a series of piazzas, but for some greenery, it's hard to top the Boboli Gardens. Statues line walkways and dot the landscape here, and the fountains and topiary do not clutter the space; a feeling of openness prevails. This is a wonderful park, and a relief from the sometimes claustrophobic feel of the high walls and narrow streets of Florence.
Forget Paris! Think about Spring time in Florence. It's one of the best examples of living Renaissance history, so to speak, and Spring in Italy is as lovely as the season is in France.
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