Take a break from all the upheavals around you as you visit Florence one of Italy’s most mesmerising cities. Florence has earned the name tag of being the “Art Capital “ of the world with its art museums, cathedrals, towers, and exciting places to go shopping and enjoy scenic vistas from endearing viewpoints. The most regal place to visit on the visitor’s bucket list is the Cathedral of Duomo alias Florence Cathedral. The Cathedral is part of the Complex of Santa Maria del Fiore which also comprises the Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery and the Opera del Duomo Museum. Travel back in time to the Renaissance as you visit the Uffizi Museum which contains works of art handed over by the Medici family of Florence. Palazzo Vecchio sits on the Piazza della Signoria where you can tour the museums and visit the Roman remnants. Ponte Vecchio is popularly known as the “old bridge “a centuries-old stone bridge arched over the Arno River and the good part is it is open twenty-four hours and the perfect place to burn your holiday weight. The masterpiece built by Brunelleschi in 1457 is the Pitti Palace as the Boboli Gardens sit adjacent to the palace.
Accademia Gallery
Skip the line with the Accademia Gallery Tickets as it is known for its collection of sculptures by maestros of the Renaissance era, especially Michelangelo’s David in the Tribune Hall and a massive collection of paintings by Florentine artists from 1300 -1600. The Museo dell Academia was established in 1563 by Agnolo Bronzio and Giorgio Vasari. The tour of the museum begins at the Hall of Colossus which is named after the huge models of Dioscuri of Montevallo. Move towards the Hall of the Prisoners where you get to admire the incomplete works of Michelangelo which include four sculptures of Atlas, Bearded Slave and Young Slave. It also houses the Museum of Musical Instruments where you come across instruments by Luigi Cherubini. There are fifty instruments which belong to the Loraine and Medici families with special instruments like cellos and violins and even violas of Ferdinando de Medici.
Uffizi Gallery
The unmatched Accademia Gallery Halls Florence finds an equally competent candidate at the Uffizi Gallery. The museum is famous for its amazing collections of ancient sculptures and paintings dating from the Middle Ages to the Modern era. An ace of the collection is the painting by Sandro Botticelli called The Birth of Venus. The masterpiece depicts the goddess of love and beauty coming to land on the island of Cyprus. Gracing the Uffizi Gallery is the portrait of Eleonora di Toledo with her son Giovani a great work of art by Bronzino. Holy Family known as the Doni Tondo is a painting by Michelangelo Buonarroti for a Florentine merchant whose esteemed marriage to Maddalena Strozzi took place during this period which was crucial for Florentine art. Woman with a Veil is a well-celebrated work by Raphael that shows a woman with a veil over her hair indicating the woman is married but her identity is not known.
Cathedral Of Santa Maria del Fiore
As you book those Accademia Gallery Tickets online brace yourselves as you visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Piazza Duomo and the group of buildings which form the cathedral complex are like artistic gems which fit comfortably in a small area. The tour of the complex includes a visit to the baptistery, the cathedral, the bell tower and also the museum. The facade of the Cathedral was built around 1800 in tandem with the designs of the church of medieval Gothic style which is compatible with Giotto’s Tower as it uses Tuscan marble with minute and intricate designs and niches for statues. Brunelleschi’s Dome is a series of rings using bricks which were laid in an interlocked herringbone pattern. The smaller rings supported itself and the next was built upon it. Giotto Campanile is a Bell Tower which is 81 metres tall that stands detached from the structure of the cathedral. The construction of the bell tower began in 1334 and was continued after his demise in 1337 by Andrea Pisano who followed Giotto’s Plans. Do not forget to visit the Museo dell Opera del Duomo where you get a sneak peek at the statutes and Ghiberti’s original Baptistery doors.
San Lorenzo and Michelangelo’s Medici Tombs
After the completion of the tour at Accademia Gallery Halls of Florence visit San Lorenzo and Michelangelo’s Medici Tombs. The requirements put forth by the Medici family were to use the best talent for constructing the family church and burial chapels. Hence the work was divided between Brunelleschi for the church and Michelangelo for the chapels. But as fate would have it both artists died before completing their work. Michaelangelo’s chapel called the New Sacristy was never completed and has the tombs of Giuliano and Lorenzo de Medici. The Basilica di San Lorenzo happens to be one of the largest churches in Florence. The basilica is situated at the centre of the main market. The Cappella dei Principi is a family mausoleum which was started by Cosimo I in 1604. Here the visitors find six tombs of the Grand Dukes.
Palazzo Medici Riccardi
The hassle-free trip with Accademia Gallery Tickets becomes a little more endearing and enriching experience as you visit the Palazzo Medici Riccardi. The Palazzo happens to be a former city palace of the Medici as this is where the family actually resided. It was built in 1444 for Cosimo de Medici and remained in the hands of the Medici family for almost a century. But was sold to the Riccardi family. Many architecture experts say that Palazzo Medici Riccardi was a prototype for all Renaissance architecture which was yet to gain popularity and was designed by Michelozzo who wanted to present the new concepts and ideals of the new era. The palace has a “rusticated ‘ exterior which was quite common to the Renaissance buildings and was both “Imposing “and “Elegant “. Imposing in the sense it displayed the importance of the family and elegant or poised which was in league with the Renaissance subtlety.