Florence city guide

Slide 1: Flashbooking free pocket guide of... FLORENCE booking has never been so quick The artistic and cultural heritage of Florence is among the greatest in the world. UNESCO estimates that 60% of the world’s most important artworks are in Italy, with over half of them located in Florence. Positioned at the very centre of the Renaissance, home to some of the greatest artists and thinkers who ever lived (Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Vasari…) it seems that Florence could never lose her reputation of city of culture! Its academies, libraries and museums are renown; its religious monuments, churches, civil architecture and buildings are exceptional. A visit to Florence is a must for any art lover! ROME AT A GLANCE… - TRANSPORTS - CLASSICS YOU CAN’T MISS! - SHOPPING AND MARKETS EAT AND DRINK - INTERNET CAFE’ - EVENTS - OUTSIDE TRIPS - USEFUL INFORMATION - HOTELS AND HOSTELS

Slide 2: Flashbooking - Your free pocket guide of Florence 2 » FLORENCE AT 1. Duomo: This zone maintains life until the era of the city council. of numerous cultural institutions, its Medieval atmosphere, with its This large and sunny square is including Gabinetto G.P. Visseux. FIRST GLANCE… hive of narrow streets and ancient dominated by the imposing Palazzo alleyways. The Santa Maria del Vecchio, which forms the back drop 3. S. Maria Novella and Museo Florence is the capital city of both Fiore or Duomo, with its baptistery to the Signoria open arched gallery, Marino Marini. This richly varied the Florence Province and the designed by Ghiberti and its bell- one of the most important Medieval area around the train station offers region of Tuscany. Surrounded by tower designed by Giotto, dominates buildings in Italy. The Ponte Vecchio the sublime and the sleazy, mixing the wine-growing hills of Chianti, it is this area. The Orsanmichele, one of houses numerous antique and lovely churches with the usual near- situated 50 metres above sea level modern jewellery shops. The Piazza the–station grit. Its most civilized and stands on both banks of the della Repubblica, one of the liveliest pleasures are near the fine Museum river Arno. To the north and north- zones of Florence, is situated a short Marino Marini (Piazza S. Pancrazio east the city stretches along the distance away. This zone is renown ph.+39 055 219 432, close Tue, foothills of the Careggi, Fiesole and for its cafes and shopping area Sat & Sun in summer, Tue & Sun in Settignano hills, to the south along which includes via Vigna Nuova winter) with its excellent sculptures the Arcetri and Bellosguardo Hills. and via de Tornabuoni, both highly by Marino Marini (1901-80) and in Florence dates back to the Pre- elegant, lined with refined shops and the piazza Santa Maria Novella Roman age, has a regular urban important buildings from the 15th and the church of the same name layout and spans the river with to the 18th century. The Palazzo which holds Trinità by Masaccio numerous, architecturally splendid Strozzi is an example of the zone’s and Giotto’s recently restored bridges. fine buildings, built in Florentine Crocifisso. Renaissance style, it is the seat 4. S. Croce district: the magnificent Gothic Santa Croce Basilica, in the the finest examples of 13th century Santa Croce Square, is a collection architecture in the city, is located in of monastic buildings grouped Via Calzaiuoli. The Bargello Gallery is situated in via del Proconsolo. The gallery houses a collection of Florentine Renaissance sculptures, with works from Michelangelo, Donatello and Cellini. All the tourist attractions are grouped together in six zones, all of which 2. Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo can be easily visited on foot and Vecchio, Piazzale and the Uffizi represent the Florence historical Museum, Ponte Vecchio. The and geographical fulcrum. Piazza della Signoria was both the centre of political power and city around cloisters, forming what is Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in Florence www.flashbooking.com

Slide 3: Flashbooking - Your free pocket guide of Florence 3 today a museum of paintings and Gem Factory and the Archaeology (50 miles) is busier and more running from Santa Maria Novella religious sculptures. The basilica Museum. reliable (ph: +39 050 849 111 or Central Station to the centre, calling houses tombs and cenotaphs 849 300 for flight information; www. at Piazza Beccaria, Piazza della by Galileo and Michelangelo, 6. the district of Oltrarno with pisa-airport.com). A bus connection Repubblica, Piazza Ferucci and the crucifixions by Donatello and the Pitti Place, Santo Spirito, the (Terravision; www.terravision.it) Oltrarno. Bus number 62 goes to Cimabue, the Pazzi Chapel by Boboli Gardens and the Santa takes to the Florence S. M. Novella the airport; 12 and 13 run to Piazza Brunelleschi and the Bardi Chapel, Maria del Carmine Church. It is a Train Station (ph: +39 055 235 2061) Michelangelo; number 7 to Fiesole. with Giotto frescoes. quiet zone of low buildings, antique and back again. A return ticket is TAXIS shops and work-shops. The area about €13,50. Here’s the numbers: +39 055 4390; 5. San Lorenzo and San Marco, is dominated by the Palazzo Pitti +39 055 4798 The Medici zone winds it way along and the intricately shaped hedges BYCICLES via de Martelli, one of the city’s of the Boboli Gardens. The zone It is possible to travel around the main streets, which starts at the is the site of Via Maggio and the city by bike/scooters, a service passage between the Duomo and Piazza di Santo Spirito, both lined offered by Florence by Bike (ph: the Baptistery. The north zone is +39 055 488 992), which organizes the site of the San Lorenzo Basilica, guided theme tours. Another reliable which houses the mortal remains of company for scooters or moped is some of the most illustrious Medici Alinari (ph: +39 055 280 500). family members. The Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the family’s main Premising that Florence’s historical » CLASSICS YOU residence, is situated a short centre is best explored on foot, distance away. The roads situated here provided some info about CAN’T MISS! around Piazza San Lorenzo, are transports. bustling with a large and colourful by aristocratic buildings. The Santa BUS The Uffizi Gallery (www.uffizi. market, which includes the central Maria del Carmine, situated in the For outlying sights, bus tickets firenze.it; ph: +39 055 238 8651; market, a two-storey building selling Piazza del Carmine, is famous for (€1) are sold at special booths and +39 055 294 883 to book tickets fresh food. The zone, which at the its frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel, tabacchi. Tickets can be also bought in advance; bus n.23 or B) with its time of the Medici, housed the painted by Masolino and Masaccio. from ATAF (www.ataf.net; ph: 800 Granduke’s stables, is now the San 424 500) in the station, automatic Marco district, with its Convent. » TRANSPORTS vending machines and authorized This district has a young feel, owing distributors. They are valid for 1 hour to the large presence of students Getting there: by plane after stamping on board. There are from the University, Conservatory Airport Amerigo Vespucci is about 3 various options to save on the price, and the Academy of Fine Arts. The miles west from central Florence but 3-24 hours, 2-3-7 day travel cards block of buildings that begin on not many airlines fly there (ph:+39 and monthly or yearly bus passes. the corner of via Ricasoli, is the 055 315 874; www.aeroporto. Eco-friendly small electric buses A, site of the Academy’s Gallery, the firenze.it). The Pisa’s Galileo Airport B, C and D cover the central zones Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in Florence www.flashbooking.com

Slide 4: Flashbooking - Your free pocket guide of Florence 4 della Francesca, Botticelli (‘The birth and Central Italy regions, follow on Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral of Venus’ and ‘Primavera’), Leonardo and include the works of Tiziano, Square) (‘Annunciation’), Verrocchio and with an entire room dedicated to (Opening hours: Mon-Wed and Perugino. Rooms number 16 to 24 his work “Venere di Urbino”, Palma Fri 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am- are the oldest rooms in the gallery, il Vecchio, Parmigianino, El Greco 4.30pm, Sat 10am-4.45pm (1st in particular room number 18, the and Tintoretto. Rooms 41 to 45 octagonal Tribune, which houses house the works of artists from the classic statues and paintings from 16th and 17th century including 15th century Florence. The other Rubens, Van Dyck and Justus rooms contain paintings from the Sustermans. The Vasarian Corridor, 14th and 15th century from different accessible from the gallery’s third schools, together with sculptures corridor, was built in 1565 by Vasari including Luca Signorelli, Perugino, to link the Uffizi to the Pitti Palazzo Albert Durer, Brueghel il Vecchio, by means of the Ponte Vecchio. Lucas Cranach il Giovane, Giovanni This zone houses works from Italian Bellini and Andrea Mantegna. The and foreign artists from the 17th and first room along the third corridor is the 18th century, together with the entrance under the portico of the dedicated to the Florentine painting beginning of the portrait gallery, Palazzo degli Uffizi 6, is one of the of the late Renaissance period with works dating back to the 15th most important art galleries in Italy including Michelangelo, Raffaello, century. and the oldest museum in modern Andrea del Sarto, Pontormo, Rosso Opening hours: Tues-Sun 8.15am Europe. Fiorentino and Bronzino. The rooms -6.35pm (last entry 6pm). It houses Italian works of art from all dedicated to the Venetian school Admission: €9.50 (plus €3 to reserve periods, from Medieval to Modern. and works from the Emiliano-Ferrara in advance); concessions available. At the moment, 2,000 individual Sat each month 10am-3.30pm), works are exhibited. The ground Sun 1.30pm-4.45pm (last entry 40 floor houses the “Ciclo di Uomini” minutes before closing. Admission: by Andrea del Castagno (1450) Free. Ph: +39 055 230 2885. and the “Annunciazione” fresco by Bus 14 or 23). Described by the Sandro Botticeli (1481). The first architect Alberti as ‘large enough large section comprises works from to shelter all the people of Tuscany Tuscan Medieval painters from the in its shadow’, the Brunelleschi’s 12th century to the 14th century gravity-defying dome dominates including Duccio di Buoninsegna, the Florence skyline and defines Cimabue, Giotto, Ambrogio and the city. (Cupola-Dome; opening Pietro Lorenzetti, Masaccio, hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-7pm, Sat Masolino, Beato Angelico, Piero 8.30am-5.40pm; first Sat each Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in Florence www.flashbooking.com

Slide 5: Flashbooking - Your free pocket guide of Florence 5 month 8.30am-4pm; last entry 40 Admission: €6.50; €9.50 in summer; Uffizi. Room, with the original moulds used minutes before closing; admission: concessions available). during the competition to design the €6; concessions available). The On Via Ricasoli 60, corner of Piazza Bargello National Gallery Baptistery doors, Michelangelo’s cathedral, built under the proviso Annunziata, a never ending queue (Via del Proconsolo 4; ph: +39 and Cellini’s masterpieces. that it be the largest house of lets you know you’re close to the 055 238 8606; www.polomuseale. worship in Christendom, a feat Galleria dell’Accademia, home to firenze.it/bargello; Bus 14; open: Ponte Vecchio eventually claimed by St Peter’s Tue-Fri 8.15am-1.50pm; last entry (Between Via de ‘Guicciardini and Cathedral in Rome, took 150 years 1.20pm; open on the 2° and 4° Mon Via Por Santa Maria; Bus B; open to complete. For a spectacular view of each month and on the 1°, 3° and 24/7; on special request: Corridoio over the city you can choose to 5° Sun of each month. Admission: Vasariano, part of Uffizi Museum). climb either the 463 steps to reach €4; concessions available). Erected This is the only bridge to survive the the dome’s top or the 414 of the between 1255 and 1345, formerly Nazi bombing of Florence during Giotto’s straight-backed Campanile the city’s jail and torture chamber, World War II. Nowadays, the famous (Bell Tower: open daily 8.30am- the museum opened to the public bridge (1345) has been home to 7.30pm; last entry 40 minutes before in 1865 with contributions from Florence’s gold and silversmiths closing; admission: €6; concessions the Uffizi, the Mint and the State since the Granduke Ferdinando I available). The adjacent Baptistery Archives. It is today one of the most de Medici, in XVI century, converted (Piazza di San Giovanni:opening hours: Mon-Sat 1200-6.30pm and Michelangelo’s magnificent nude, Sun and holidays 8.30am-1.30pm. David. Carved from a massive Closed Easter Sun, 8 Sept.) lump of marble in 1502, when the completes the trio. This provided the artist was just 29 years old, with its inspiration for both the Campanile exaggerated size and musculature and Duomo façades. Originally is a symbol of the new-born Medici believed to be a pagan temple, Republic. Other Michelangelo’s the octagonal building is the oldest work are there. in Florence where on its doors 10 bronze bas-reliefs tell a story from Close by is the Museo di S. Marco the Old Testament, with astonishing (Piazza S. Marco 3; ph: +39 055 238 realism and compassion. 8608; bus C, 1, 6, 10; open Tue-Fri 8.15am-1.50 pm; Sat 8.15 am- Galleria dell’Accademia 6.50pm; tickets:4€) that occupies (Accademia Gallery) the ex-convent of San Marco where important in the world, especially for it from a motley crew of butchers, ( w w w. p o l o m u s e a l e . f i r e n z e . Fra Angelico once lived as a monk. Florentine Renaissance sculptures, accustomed to throwing their bloody it/accademia; ph: +39 055 238 His ethereal paintings and frescos French Medieval ivories and a leftovers into the River Arno into 8612; Bus 1, 17 or C; opening in the monks’ cells are a strong collection of bronze mannerists. a room for a more genteel trade. hours: Tue-Sun 8.15am-6.50pm; attraction here as well as at the Visitors should see the Donatello Famous are the Florentine wedding Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in Florence www.flashbooking.com

Slide 6: Flashbooking - Your free pocket guide of Florence 6 rings. High above the shops, a 284 170; open daily from 7.30 pm- on every corner. Bars serve café, secret passageway known as the 1am) a cheery and modern bistro cappuccinos, hot chocolates, Corrodoio Vasariano links the Uffizi where cannelloni, beef, selection of tea, light snacks, aperitifs and Gallery to the Pitti Palace. Built by salads, pasta, cheese and excellent are completely different from the Vasari, it was intended to shield wines are served at average prices classic American bars. We do not the powerful Medici family from the of €30. recommend any in particular but Florentine riffraff, as they journeyed For Florence’s best bargain meal 2 remarkable ones! So if you wish from one palace to the other. In visit Salumeria, Vini, Trattoria (via to start the day with a good coffee summer street performers literally Ghibellina 27; Ph+39 055 679 390, downtown, we suggest the ancient occupy the passage. closed on Sat and Sun). renown café: the Gilli. Since 1733 Opened in 1895, the Rose Garden For a restaurant overlooking the on its tables it has been serving not (1865) is a public park located Arno, we suggest the Antico Ristoro only the black beverage but also all in Oltrarno district right behind di Cambi, run by the Cambi family. kinds of treats, chocolate pralines, Piazzale Michelangelo (Viale G. A very traditional Tuscan trattoria, desserts and light meals. It’s a wine person. with warm welcome and ambience. Le Volpi e L’Uva, Piazza de’Rossi The ribollita (the hearty tuscan 1, to sample some of the best vegetable soup) and the fiorentina wines the region has to offer. The T-bone steak are out of this world. owners, Riccardo and Emilio, (Close on Sunday, Via S. Onofrio can advise a plate of salami and 1r; ph: +39 055 217134; av. prices cheese to accompany your choice 25€; wine 8€). of wine. Rex, Via Fiesolana 25r, is Situated Oltrarno, the cheap trattoria a sound bet for chic company, good la Casalinga is usually packed up. mixers and tasty tapas, while for Situated between Pitti Palace and S. great snacks in the city centre, try Poggi). A terraced acre where 350 M. Del Carmine, serves ribollita and Cantinetta del Verrazzono, Via dei types of ancient roses are carefully other typical dishes at fair prices. Tavolini 18-20r. cultivated and from where you can (Via del Michelozzo 9r; ph: +39 055 South of the river there is tiny Vini, get an enchanted view of Florence. 218624; av price 20€) Via dei Cimatori 38, a simple wine Open only from May 1st till June counter (one of the last in the city) 15th every year. » WINE BAR founded in 1875. Just stand on the bar and restaurant too. (Piazza della Repubblica; www.gilli.it; ph: +39 pavement with the other customers » RESTAURANTS For a good glass of wine or a nice and enjoy the wine. 055 213 896). Just in front of it the dinner try GustaVino (Via della ‘competitor’: the Giubbe Rosse Cafè An international place where OCndotta, 37/R; ph: +39 055 2399 where you can have brunch from students, journalists and actors 806; www.gustavino.it): very nice » CAFÉ 9€ or a complete menu from 18€ ( usually meet is at Acqua al 2 (Via modern atmosphere and affordable Piazza della Repubblica 13/14; ph: Italian cities have bars literally +39 055 212 280). Vigna Vecchia,40; ph: +39 055 prices at an average of 30€ per Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in Florence www.flashbooking.com

Slide 7: Flashbooking - Your free pocket guide of Florence 7 Remember: in Italy, a coffee is frescoed chapel, this old fashioned in Palazzo Corsini (Sep -Oct). around Piazza della Signoria, home way too cheaper (up to 1€) at the chemist was founded by monks For other fine Florentine antique of more sedate venues. counter that at an outside table! in 17th cent; lotions, potions, and shops go to Via Maggio and Borgo Live Music: good sounds at Be So watch out especially on tourist herbal remedies abound in elegant Ognissanti. Bop, Via dei Servi 76, a cocktail cities! In this way you can enjoy a packaging. The city centre is rich bar specialising in live jazz and good coffee-break in stylish places in all sorts of shops, from used » INTERNET POINT rock music. Or you can try The without spending a fortune! book shops to fashion stores as Jazz Club, Via Nuova dei Caccini Rinascente, Zara (for quality budget Internet point (Borgo degli Albizi 66; 3, which serves up live music every » SHOPPING AND clothings) or major fashion houses ph:+39 055 24 0780; €3/hour) Friday and Saturday. The Chiodo all between Via Tornabuoni and Via Fisso club, Via Dante Alighieri 16r, MARKETS della Vigna Nuova. If you can’t make Internet Train: (€4/hour or €3/hour offers a varied repertoire and is for students) with 12 point sin the city: Via dell’Oriuolo, 40, ph: +39 popular with the locals It is possible to make excellent Clubs: One of the most popular purchases in the narrow lanes and 055 2345 322; Via del Parione 11b, ph:+39 055 264 5563; Borgo S. discos in town with the young crowd streets of Florence which since is Tenax (Via Pratese, Peretola Middle ages has been a renown city Jacopo, ph: +39 055 265 7935) district). It also stages live concerts. for its high-quality leather produce, Yab Yum (Via Sassetti 5r) is goldsmiths and marble paper. » NIGHTLIFE extremely trendy playing everything Particularly around Santa Croce from hip-hop on Mondays to disco and Oltrarno you can easily find Florence’s nightlife is fuelled not on Thursdays while Dolce Zucchero little authentic workshops. For good only by tourists but also by foreign (Via Pandolfini 36) is a small club it and want that griffe on your clothes, students who come to study that quickly fills up with dancers but you can: 1) wait the January and July Italian and History of Art. As with if you feel like samba and latin vibes, sales; or visit some ‘StockHouse’, any university city, bars and clubs head for Maracana a lively Brazilian as One Price (ph:+39 055 284 experience peaks and troughs themed spot (Via Faenza 4). 674; Borgo Ognissanti, 74) where of popularity. As usual to find out where the action is we suggest you fashion clothes could be a way lot buy Firenze Spettacolo (website: » SURROUNDINGS cheaper and almost affordable! For second-hand and flea markets www.firenzespettacolo.it) – the city’s go to Piazza dei Ciompi (last Sun. definitive entertainment publication. of the month), S. Lorenzo Market On-line information for clubs and live quality hand-made paper: Il Papiro (northwest of the Duomo), the music events can be found at www. (Piazza del Duomo, 24r; ph: +39 colourful Central Market for food vivifirenze.it. The most bohemian 055 281 628). (Square of Mercato Centrale) area is the Oltrarno, south of the Visit the Officina Profumo bursting with olives, hams, river, where bright young things Farmaceutica Shop (Via Scala, 16; cheeses and fresh vegetables or can play until the small hours. ph: +39 055 16276 ): housed in a the International Antique Show Elsewhere, nightlife is concentrated Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in Florence www.flashbooking.com

Slide 8: Flashbooking - Your free pocket guide of Florence 8 The walk which should be south of Florence,a stunning area Historic Florentine Football game it; each Nov. from Piazzale undertaken by first-time visitors to dotted with wine-growing estates in medieval dress, as part of Michelangelo to Piazza S. Croce). Florence is, above-all, that which spread out around ancient castles. celebrations for the city’s patron, St. International Antique Festival (odd- leads to Fiesole. These picturesque Public transports also leads to Jhon in Piazza S. Croce. Fashion numbered years; Sept-Oct). hills can be reached by bus n.7, surrounding areas as Siena, Arezzo shows and firework display in Piazza International Craft Fair (April- which leaves from the central Pisa and Lucca. They all are an Michelangelo (24th June). beginning of May) train station. The area provides hours’ journey, though you’ll need Rificolona Festival (Festival of Florence Carnival (Apr-May at the best views over the city and to devote a couple of days to Siena Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci) has fine buildings of artistic and if you wish to explore it properly. Diladdarno: three weeks celebration, archaeological interest including including music, exhibitions and the Duomo, the Roman Theatre and » EVENTS street festivals (April; Oltrarno) the S.Francesco church, positioned high on a hill, in a position that has Florence’s May Musical Festival: won the admiration of poets and major music festival with orchestra, writers. Every second Sunday in the chorus and Corps of Ballet (www. month sees the main square host maggiofiorentino.com; May-early to a characteristic antique market. Jul; Teatro Comunale) Lanterns), a torchlight procession The Estate Fiesolana festival with Festa del Grillo (Festival of the dating back to the days of religious concerts, dances and plays takes Cricket): bizarre ancient ritual in pilgrimage to celebrate the Virgin’s place in the Roman theatre during which live crickets in hand-woven nativity, with children carrying the summer (www.estatefiesolana. cages are given to loved ones lanterns throughout the city it; Jun- Sep). (Ascension day: Apr/May at Parco (Sep.7th) Wine lovers with a car should explore delle Cascine) Florence Marathon, annual city the beautiful Chianti region just marathon ( www.firenzemarathon. Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart): colourful procession of ox and cart, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display when the cart (lit by a mechanical dove) explodes at 11am on Easter Sunday (May/Apr), through central Florence to piazza Duomo. Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in Florence www.flashbooking.com

Slide 9: Flashbooking - Your free pocket guide of Florence 9 » USEFUL INFORMATION Hospital S. M. Nuova (est of the Duomo) Ambulance 118 Ph:+39 055 27581 Fire 115 United Hospitals of Careggi Police 112 Viale Morgagni, 85 Area Code: +39 (Italy), 055 Ph: +39 0554277111 (Florence) Currency: Euro Embassies Main Tourist Office (APT) UK: +39 055 284 133 Via Cavour,1 Germany: +39 055 294 722 www.firenzeturismo.it USA:+39 055 239 8276 Mon- Sat 8.30am-6.30 pm South Africa: +39 055 281 863 www.flashbooking.com Ph: +39 055 290 832 In Rome Canada: +39 06 445 591* Flashbooking staff Main Post Office Australia: +39 06 852 721* wishes you a pleasant stay! Via Pellicceria Ireland: +39 06 697 9121* Mon- Fri. 8.15am- 6pm Spain: +39 06 684 04 01* Sat: 8.15- 12 New Zealand: +39 06 441 7171* France: +39 06 68 60 11* Medical Assistance for Tourists Mon-Fri 10-7pm; Sat: 9-2pm Flashbooking is a hostels and budget hotels booker that gives all independent travellers the unique opportunity to book their bed-nights online and worldwide with an immediate confirmed reservation. Come visit: www.flashboking.com and get: newsletter, travel © Trenet srl guides, useful links, info on social project we sustain, events and more. Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in Florence www.flashbooking.com