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City Guide - Florence - Sightseeing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sightseeing Most visitors are overwhelmed by the artistic minefield of Florence. They spend their holiday dashing from one masterpiece to the next - with their nose stuck in a guidebook and their eyes glued to a video camera - dazzled by an excess of genius. The cultural heritage of Florence cannot be ignored. Cradle of the Renaissance and home of the Medici family - Italy's most progressive art patrons - it houses some of the world's greatest treasures. Piazza della Signoria, once the hub of Florence's political machinations, remains a central reference point for visitors and citizens alike. Visitors can take a coffee in one of the square's gilded cafés and admire the powerful hulk of Michelangelo's David (a copy) guarding the city's Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's town hall since 1322. An array of sculptures, including Cellini's Perseus brandishing the head of Medusa (currently undergoing restoration) and Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Women, stand under the square's loggia - an impressive overspill from the nearby Uffizi Gallery. Passing tourists admire the rusticated palazzi that line the square, their solid style underscored by a light Renaissance touch, whose origins can be found in the family palaces of the Strozzi and Rucellai repeated all over Florence. The square's landmark crenallated tower, the Torre d'Arnolfo, can be seen best from Piazzale Michelangelo - a balcony over Florence with spectacular views of terracotta roofs, the River Arno and Brunelleschi's portly dome - all backed by the rolling hills of Chianti. It is the sight of a thousand picture postcards and Merchant Ivory film shots, but it never fails to take your breath away. Tourist Information Azienda di Promozione Turistica (APT) Via Cavour 1r Tel: (055) 290 832. Fax: (055) 276 0383. E-mail: infoturismo@provincia.fi.it Web site: www.firenze.turismo.toscana.it Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0815-1915 and Sun 0815-1345 (Apr-Oct only). Other branches are located outside the station, at the airport and in Borgo Santa Croce, near the church. Passes There are two types of passes available. The Biglietto Unico allows entry to the Bargello, the Accademia and the Medici Chapels. It lasts three days and costs L25,000. There is also a Carnet available for L10,000 allowing half price entry to the Palazzo Vecchio, the Brancacci Chapel, the museum in the church of Santa Maria Novella and the sacristy in Santa Spirito, as well as a number of lesser known museums. Both passes can be bought at participating venues. Given the queues, it may be worth considering booking tickets in advance (tel: (055) 294 883). Tickets for the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia, the Bargello and San Marco can be reserved for a L2000 surcharge. |
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