This beautiful Franciscan church is one of the symbols of Florence thanks to its artistic value. The church shelters the tombs of a few Italian artists, such as Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo. This is the reason why it’s also known as “the Temple of the Italian Glories”.

Situated in the square with the same name, Basilica di Santa Croce dominates the entire area with its imposing marble exterior. It is considered the largest Franciscan church in the world. Beyond this imposing exterior, the interior of the church is even more impressive.

Blessed with no less than sixteen chapels, this place will give you the chance to admire some beautiful works of art.The mysterious Maggiore Chapel which paints the history of this church is the most notorious one.

From the beautiful frescoes and paintings to the unusual leather school, the edifice impresses its tourists and pilgrims with an interesting blend between religion and art.It is probably one of the few churches where you have to pay an entry fee, but I can assure you that it is worthwhile.

Beautifully decorated, the courtyard is another area that fully deserves your attention. All things considered, Basilica di Santa Croce is definitely one of the places that perfectly describe the essence of Florence.

In this regard, I made a selection of pictures which I’m sure will help you understand what I’m talking about.

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When I think about this lovely city there are a lot of beautiful places that come to my mind, but one of them is, in my opinion, the most interesting one. I am talking about the Medici Chapels, a place which perfectly paints the history of Florence.

The Medici Chapels consist of three structures, the Crypt, the New Sacristy (Sagrestia Nuova) and the Chapel of the Princes (Cappella dei Principi). Built as extensions of Basilica di San Lorenzo, these structures are dedicated to the Medici family who played an important role in the history of Florence.

Considered an art treasure, these chapels host a multitude of valuable art objects and sculptures and also the tombs of some important members of the Medici family. This will be the perfect opportunity to plunge into their opulent world and also to admire some of the most beautiful works of art signed by Michelangelo.

Taking into account all these interesting aspects, you should definitely add the Medici Chapels to your trip list in case you are planning a trip to Florence. If I haven’t convinced you yet, I will let the following pictures speak for themselves.

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Considered one of the most artistic and cultural cities in the world, Florence is annually visited by a huge number of tourists who are eager to plunge into the interesting vibe of this city.

Florence abounds in beautiful tourist attractions and some of them are real masterpieces when it comes to architecture.This is one of the reasons you’ll need at least a couple of days if you want to fully enjoy the most representative ones.

What you choose to visit during your stay in Florence is definitely a matter of taste, but in my opinion there are a few places which fully deserve anyone’s attention. The following six places I’m going to talk about are also my favorite ones.

1.The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Basilica Santa Maria del Fiore) is the iconic image of Florence. Situated in Piazza del Duomo, this Gothic cathedral is considered a Renaissance masterpiece. Also called the Duomo, the cathedral has an imposing appearance thanks to its size. Another aspect that contributes to its imposing appearance is Brunelleschi’s Dome, which seems to guard the skyline of Florence.

The construction process lasted almost two centuries, but the final result was definitely worth the effort. The impressive cathedral covered by a decorative mixture of pink, white and green marble, literally dominates the old center of Florence. The interior looks pretty grim because of the shades of grey and of the mosaic pavements and it creates an interesting contrast with the exterior.

2.Giotto’s Campanile (Campanile di Giotto) is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. This 85 meter tall tower is considered a marvelous example of Florentine Gothic architecture. Even if a lot of artists had a significant contribution to the construction process, the tower was named after its first designer, the Italian artist Giotto.

The Campanile displays a beautiful exterior which is similar to the façade of the cathedral and which is decorated with beautiful bas relief carvings and statues. You will have the chance to admire the same shades of white, grey and green marble, which were used for the exterior of the cathedral. An interesting detail is the fact that the tower has seven different bells and each of them has its own name.

In case you want to admire some lovely panoramic views, you should know that you can climb on top of Giotto’s Campanile.

3.Situated in Piazza del Duomo, the Baptistery of Saint John (Battistero di San Giovanni) is one of the most ancient churches in Florence. It was named after St. John the Baptist, the patron of Florence.

Built on the ruins of a Roman house, the Baptistery is considered one of the oldest buildings in the city. The structure has an octagonal shape and it’s a perfect example of the Florentine Romanesque style. The design of the Baptistery is perfectly completed by three beautiful bronze doors. The most famous ones are called the Gates of Paradise and they were dubbed by Michelangelo.

4.Built as an extension of Basilica di San Lorenzo, the Medici Chapels are in my opinion the most interesting monument in Florence. The chapels are divided into three different areas dedicated to the Medici family, the most famous and powerful Italian family who had a huge influence in the history of Florence.

The crypt, the Chapel of the Princes and the New Sacristy host a variety of valuable art objects and sculptures and also the tombs of some important members of the Medici family. A very interesting detail is the fact that here you will have the opportunity to admire some of the most beautiful works of art signed by Michelangelo.

5.The Basilica of the Holy Cross (Basilica di Santa Croce) is the main Franciscan church in Florence. Situated in the square with the same name, this lovely church is the burial place of a lot of famous Italian artists, such as Michelangelo, Rossini, Galileo and Machiavelli. This is why it’s also known as “The Temple of the Italian Glories”.

Embellished with a beautiful marble exterior and sixteen chapels, The Basilica of the Holy Cross is actually the largest Franciscan church in the world. Among its most famous chapels are the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels where you can admire some of Giotto’s beautiful frescoes and the interesting Maggiore Chapel which tells the story of the holy cross.

Other interesting places which should be visited here are the beautiful courtyard of the church and the leather school.

6.My favorite place in Florence is Ponte Vecchio, a lovely medieval stone bridge built over the Arno River. Also named the Old Bridge, it is considered the oldest bridge in Florence. I was really impressed by the fact that there were a lot of small shops on both sides of the bridge. These shops are sheltered by some colored old buildings which have lovely tiny windows and wooden shutters.

Originally built as a defense system, Ponte Vecchio is now an authentic symbol of Florence, one of the most romantic places in the city and also a very important shopping area.

A very interesting attraction on this bridge is the Vasari corridor, a private covered passage which lies above the shops and connects the two sides of the bridge. This corridor was built for the safety and the comfort of the Medici family.

As I have already confessed, these are my favorite places, but Florence has a lot more to offer. In order to discover what I’m talking about, you should definitely plan a trip to this lovely Italian city.

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Situated is the west of Italy, the capital of Tuscany is considered the birthplace or the cradle of the Renaissance. It is that type of city which abounds in monuments, churches, art galleries and palaces and this is one of the reasons it was considered one of the wealthiest cities of that time.

Even if it seems to be a simple city at first sight, when you reach downtown you get the feeling that you are in the middle of an open air museum. Everywhere you look you find something to admire. From its imposing palaces and cathedrals to its stylish old buildings, Florence exhales a deep cultural and artistic vibe.

There are a lot of beautiful tourist attractions that can be visited in Florence and in case you want to enjoy all of them you should know that you’ll need at least a couple of weeks. Regardless of the time you have at your disposal, you cannot leave Florence without visiting some representative places.

The iconic image of Florence is definitely the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, a Renaissance masterpiece which charms its tourists with its imposing appearance. Also called the Duomo, this cathedral seems to dominate Piazza del Duomo together with Giotto’s Campanile (Campanile di Giotto) and the Baptistery of Saint John (Battistero di San Giovanni).

Not far from here you will find Piazza della Signoria, another lovely square which hosts Palazzo Vecchio, one of the most famous palaces in Florence. Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti are actually the most representative buildings in the history of Florence.

If you are an art lover you cannot miss the Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi) and the Gallery of the Academy (Galleria dell’Accademia), two of the finest art museums in the world.

As you probably know, the Medici family was considered the most powerful family in Florence thanks to the great impact they had in the history of the city. Basilica di San Lorenzo which hosts the Medici Chapels (Cappelle Medicee) is definitely a place that should be on your list.

Situated in the square with the same name, Basilica di Santa Maria Novella is a church which definitely deserves your attention.

Last but not least, Basilica di Santa Croce is another symbol of Florence which displays its beauty in the lovely Piazza Santa Croce.

Besides all these beautiful palaces, cathedrals and buildings, Florence has a lot more to offer. This city has an important significance when it comes to fashion and it’s considered one of the most famous fashion capitals in the world. Shopping is a perfect way to relax and Florence has a lot to offer in this regard.

If you are not a shopping fan, another option to rest after visiting all those interesting tourist attractions would be walking along the lovely Arno river which cuts the old part of the city in two halves. This will be an incredible opportunity to admire some beautiful landscapes and take some amazing pictures in front of the famous Ponte Vecchio or the lovely Ponte Santa Trinita.

As you can see, Florence is a captivating city from many points of view and it will be a pity not to visit it if you ever reach this part of Italy.

Pictures speak louder than words and this is why I have selected the most representative ones hopping to impress you. Take a look and let yourself impressed by the lovely Florence!

1.Piazza del Duomo with the lovely Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

2.The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

3.The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

4.Giotto’s Campanile

5.Giotto’s Campanile

6.The Baptistery of Saint John

7.Basilica di San Lorenzo

8.The Medici Chapels

9.The Medici Chapels

10.Basilica di Santa Croce

11.Basilica di Santa Croce

12.Basilica di Santa Croce

13.Ponte Vecchio

14.Ponte Vecchio

15.Lovely view seen from the edge of Arno River

16.Lovely view seen from the edge of Arno River

17.Lovely view seen from the edge of Arno River

18.Lovely view seen from the edge of Arno River

19.The lovely Ponte Vecchio seen from Ponte Santa Trinita

20.Lovely view seen from the edge of Arno River

21.Ponte Santa Trinita

22.Ponte Santa Trinita

23.Palazzo Vecchio & Galleria degli Uffizi

24.Palazzo Pitti

25.Lovely buildings in Florence

26.Lovely buildings in Florence

27.Lovely buildings in Florence

28.Florence by night

29.Florence by night

30.Florence by night

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