Best view of Florence
by surferob
In any city, I try to find a high spot to climb for an inspired view of town. I like such views in a general way, plus I find it helps me to orient myself, which is important to me when I'm traveling. In Florence, one obvious choice is to climb the several hundred steps to the top of the Duomo. We were going to do that but ran out of time. Plus, that isn't free, you pay 5 bucks or something like that. Instead, I recommend you take a stroll across the river and to the east a bit to Piazzale Michelangelo. You climb a hillside using old stone steps and before you know it you're on top of the hill enjoying a magnificent view of the whole area. The view really is all inclusive: you see the Arno river wrapping around the city, all the bridges of Florence including Ponte Vecchio, the old part of town is laid out right before you including the Duomo of course, the hillsides surrounding the valley that Florence was built in, plus the outskirts of town which go on for some distance in each direction, helping explain how a city that feels so small can boast of a population of over half a million. Pick a sunny day.
Explore the 3 sets of doors in the Baptistery
by Sharrie
Explore the 3 sets of doors in the Baptistery:
1) South Doors by Andrea Pisano with STORIES OF THE LIFE OF THE BAPTIST & ALLEGORIES OF THE VIRTUES.
2) North Doors by Ghiberti with STORIES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENTS, EVANGELISTS & DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH.
3) East Doors (GATES OF PARADISE), Ghiberti's masterpiece with STORIES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENTS, commissioned by the Arte dei Mercanti in 1425.
Gates of Paradise are divided into 10 panels:
L1. Creation of Adam & Eve
L2. Noah & his family offering sacrifice after having left the ark
L3. Birth of Esau & Jacob. Sale of the birthright of the 1st born.
L4. Moses receives the Tables of the Law.
L5. Battle against the Philistines. David kills Goliath.
R1. Sacrifice of Cain & Abel. Cain kills Abel. God reproves Cain.
R2. The Angels appear to Abraham.
R3. Joseph sold to the merchants.
R4. The people of Israel in the River Jordan. The Fall of Jericho.
R5. Solomon receives the Queen of Sheba.
Walk like an Etruscan
by Callavetta
Arguably the closest hilltown to Florence can be reached in 20 minutes on the #7 bus. Fiesole was founded by an Etruscan Colony in the 6th Century BC. Today one can visit the Teatro Romano which houses the ancient Etruscan City wall as well as Roman and Etruscan baths. The site has a museum with Etruscan vases and Roman ruins.
Open daily from Easter thru October 9:30 am to 7:00 pm. Open Wednesdays in winter.
Admission 6,60 euro
After strolling through the town and visiting the ruins, stop and enjoy a glass of wine at the bar overlooking the City of Florence. If you have the time you will be rewarded with a wonderful sunset.
Tabasco heats up
by jglsongs about Tabasco
A popular and always crowded gay club in the heart of the center of Florence. It's hard to find and not marked on the outside (a commonality for gay clubs in Italy), but it's a blast inside. Very casual place, very friendly - good music to say the least. The building is very old - the crowd isn't.
Great Food, Even Better Atmosphere
by JC-USA about Trattoria 4 Leoni
Really good Tuscan food, in a romantic setting with even better atmosphere and service. The price is fair, and it is located in one of the nicer shopping areas of Florence. The waiters speak pretty good English, and are friendly and helpful with the menu as well. If you want to take the wife out to a real nice place for dinner, this is a good place to go. Bistecca - Tuscan Steak is basically what they called it. They offer most anything Tuscan there, and each of the things we tried was really great. We highly recommend this restaurant.
Ponte Vecchio, Firenze (Florence), Italy
Dante's house
Worried (rather than fierce) angel.
Piazza della Signoria
