Florence is a marvel which never fails to excite, every corner has a gem to explore, the museums are stunning but you can experience museum worthy statues on the streets and piazzas. The buildings, churches, fountains and monuments all tell a story and one is awestruck with their artistic beauty.
The history of Florence is remarkable and the impact of the Medici is everywhere to be seen, their family crest adorns buildings, churches and palaces. The Vasari corridor, the Pitti palace, the tombs, the opulent amount of artworks, frescos, statues, jewelry, religious artefacts and printed works that they commissioned are all testament to their vast wealth, influence, love of arts, philosophy, architecture and religion.
The last Medici heir, Anna Maria Luisa willed all the personal property of the Medici to the Tuscan state providing nothing was to be removed from Florence. Three centuries of art, treasures and religious artefacts collected by the Medici form a large inventory in all the museums of Florence. Palaces, country houses and buildings owned by them were also transferred to the state.
The Duomo is break taking every time I see it, the sheer expanse, attention to detail, Brunelleschi's architectural ingenious or arrogance and its elaborate exterior are a sight to be seen.
Walking the streets is a joy, reminiscing of how little has changed since the renaissance times when Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Verrocchio, Donatello, Ghirlandaio, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, Machiavelli, Galileo..... walked these same streets and alleyways.
We recently were fortunate to meet Michele a professional tour guide. We thoroughly enjoyed learning about "his Firenze", he has kindly agreed to contribute to this blog. I am sure his knowledge, enthusiasm and humour will inspire you to visit Florence. Taking a tour with him is informative, interesting and entertaining his knowledge of the famous and infamous sites, art, architecture history and where to eat and drink in modern Florence are invaluable.
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