You haven’t planned or done your Florence Day Trips yet…

Shame on you ! BUT – just maybe… the following, written by a lover of all things Florentine will help to convince you …….if you are short of time and would rather read a capsule summary of this site – please bookmark where you are right now and proceed to the following article….http://www.florencedaytrips.com/qiv

It becomes apparent once you’ve visited – that you will have found yourself  captivated and mesmerized by the charm and intellect of this city and its physical characteristics – it truly will become an integral part of your being if you allow it to get inside. You can appreciate the entire landscape at the view site known as the Piazza Michelangelo that looks down upon the city.  The Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, and the meandering Arno River as it serpentines its way through the center of this beautiful city are all below you from this magnificent vantage point.

 

Florence Day Trips allows you the liberty of traversing her challenging street structure at its core. Are you aware that some of the buildings that you passed were built more than 1200 years ago ? Do you appreciate the significance of walking on cobblestones that were laid over 1500 years ago ?  Are you aware that America was named for a Florentine cartographer by the name of Amerigo Vespucci who was the first to prove that Christopher Columbus had indeed discovered a new continent ?

It is assumed that you are aware and do understand the importance of the architecture and public services in a city that can easily change the period of time as well as your mind.  As soon as you really get into your Florence day trips and become captivated by its inherent beauty – you remove yourself from reality. You are escalated to a previous era and this is where and when it attacks your empathetic senses. The air tastes sweeter, the buildings look superior, the food attacks your sensory areas, and the people…. the people ? …..it is because of them that this magnificent city enjoys a greater reputation than most others of its size in this wonderful country. Allow me the liberty, after multiple lengthy visits, to offer you a capsulized summary of its unique historical tapestry.

Firenze [Florence] enjoys a population in the area of more than 400,000 inhabitants – certainly,  not excessively large by any standard. It is the capital city of Tuscany as well as that of the Province of Florence. It contains the oldest art gallery in the world – The Uffizi – building began on this edifice in 1560 and was completed in 1580.

The collections were initiated by donations from the illustrious Medici family as well as their commissioning works that were done specifically for the gallery by Florentine masters of the time. The Uffizi was finally bequeathed to the people of Florence by the last surviving member of The Family in 1737. Anna Maria Medici was her name and she was also instrumental in willing ALL of the Medici properties to the city on the condition that none would ever leave [ including the art work of the Uffizi ].

Florence was the epicenter of the Italian Renaissance and the centre of medieval European trade and finance during that period. It also became the capital of the ‘Kingdom of Italy’ from 1865 – 1870. On a much more significant and recent note – the historic center of the city was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1982.

As you do your Florence day trips either on foot or by bicycle [ the only methods possible as motorized transport within the city  is prohibited except by special permit ]…you will inevitably come upon the San Lorenzo Church that was built in 393 AD !

Yes, 393AD – this is not an error. Work continued on this edifice for centuries and, in fact, the façade has never been completed to this day. This was the parish church of the Medici Family and they did not hesitate to lavish their wealth on its adornments. Michelangelo, who taught himself to draw in the Medici Gardens, was commissioned to work on the Medici tombs and he designed and built the Laurentian Library in 1524.

The Accademiadi Bella Arti was built in 1563 making it the oldest Art School in the world and it is still functioning in its original location. The Spedale Degli Innocenti – at its inception in 1444 became the first orphanage in Europe. We cannot forget the indubitable Ponte Vecchio that was built in 1345 and was initially inhabited by butchers, tanners, and blacksmiths.

It was the stench created by these trades coupled with their dumping of trash into the Arno River that necessitated their eviction in 1593 and, upon its rebuilding, the goldsmiths and jewellery shops were enticed to occupy the premises where they remain to this day.

In 1565 the Corridoio Vasariano was built over the top of the bridge to allow the Medicis to move between their residences and the Uffizi without having to mingle with the masses below.

These are but teasers for the abundance of wonderful sights that await your Florence day trips. There are so many edifices, buildings, works of art, and ‘magnificences’ that it would take several volumes to describe them all. Suffice to say that, without hesitation, your day trip to this ‘heaven on earth’ will be among the most unforgettable of your life.  Allow her [ the city] to captivate your senses in absolutely every respect and just….ENJOY ! Walk until you drop….eat until you cannot absorb one more morsel….love it like a mistress….and return as often as possible!!!

You will have noted by now that I have refrained from any and all personal comments to this point. If you will allow – I would be terribly remiss if I did not mention our most favorite hotel [ certainly in Florence - maybe anywhere ? ].

It is The Hotel David which is situated at #1 Viale Michelangelo, a delightful ten minute walk along the Arno River to/from The Ponte Vecchio or a three minute ride on the public transit. This is a converted Florentine villa [  250 years old ? ] that is full of antiques collected by the owners. It is owned by the Ceccioni Family and managed by Gabriele Ceccioni and his wonderful, well-informed staff. You will thank me for this one !

One more item that you will use and remember for many years is our most favorite website …In Italy.com …you need days to navigate this monster but it has every tidbit of information that you will ever need on this outstanding country in order to make your Florence day trips that much more enjoyable. The only source for better information would be Gabriele Ceccioni, himself !!

I am going to list [below], in no particular order, a small group of items that should not be missed on your Florence day trips. I have organized them under the main districts of the city to make it easier for you….you just need to have a printed or a GPS map of those districts for your visit. I have created links for some sites [shown underlined in blue]…just click on them and for all others please use Google to search for the site that most appeals to you.  It is so important that you allow yourself the luxury of being extremely casual in your scheduling…you will absolutely enjoy the sights more when in a simple and casual frame of mind and are prepared for your Florence day trips.

We are NOT professional or commercial tour operators nor travel agents…we are true travelers who are totally and absolutely infatuated with this city and its contents. We look forward to sharing our experiences and knowledge with all those interested. Enjoy your journey with Florence Day Trips.com as one of your guides and please view our “Florence Tours” page by clicking right here…http://www.florencedaytrips.com/florence-tours

Thank You.

 

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