http://www.florence-traveller.com www.Florence-Traveller.com - Itineraries en Mon, 12 May 2008 11:25:57 +0200 http://www.florence-traveller.com/en/i/santa-croce-heart-of-florence http://www.florence-traveller.com/en/i/santa-croce-heart-of-florence Itineraries Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100 <p><img src="http://files.caprionline.it/article/3303_Santa_Croce_il_cuore_fio/image/01_i.jpg"></p> <p>The <strong>Santa Croce district</strong> is the expression of <strong>Florence</strong>'s political and economic power; an area of the city populated by immense Palazzi, imposing tower houses and, of course, the great Gothic Basilica of Santa Croce. Construction of the <strong>Basilica of Santa Croce</strong>, built beyond the perimeter walls of the old medieval city, was initiated in the 13th century by <strong>Arnolfo di Cambio</strong>, although building work was not completed until 1385. The principal chapels, adorned with <strong>frescoes painted by Giotto</strong>, are a perfect example of Franciscan simplicity. The church is home to a great number of important sculptures, including <strong>Donatello's Annunciation of 1435</strong> and the <strong>funeral monuments dedicated to Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galilei</strong> and other illustrious personages. To the right of the Basilica lies the <strong>Pazzi Chapel</strong>, a charming renaissance edifice <strong>designed by Brunelleschi</strong>, and the <strong>Museum of Santa Croce</strong>, in which to admire a number of artistic masterpieces, including the <strong>wooden crucifix painted by Cimabue...</strong></p> http://www.florence-traveller.com/en/i/san-giovanni-and-the-magic-of-florence http://www.florence-traveller.com/en/i/san-giovanni-and-the-magic-of-florence Itineraries Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100 <p><img src="http://files.caprionline.it/article/3287_San_Giovanni_l_incanto_d/image/01_i.jpg"></p> <p><strong>Florence</strong> conserves, with its incredible number of historic buildings and monuments, the splendour of a city which deliberately cancelled the traces of its Roman past. In <strong>Piazza San Giovanni</strong> we find the symbol of the city: the <strong>Cathedral of S.Maria del Fiore</strong>, the third largest cathedral in the world after that of S. Pietro in Rome and London's St Paul's. </p> <p><strong>Florence Cathedral</strong> was designed by <strong>Arnolfo di Cambio</strong>, on the site of the 5th century church of Santa Reparata. <strong>In 1431 Brunelleschi</strong> commenced the construction of the cathedral's <strong>immense dome</strong>. Inside there is a fabulous marble pavement dating back to the 16th century, <strong>frescoes by Paolo Uccello and Andrea Castagno</strong> and a spectacular stained <strong>glass window designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti</strong> in the year 1400. The 85 meter high <strong>bell tower</strong>, faced with polychrome Tuscan marble, was <strong>designed by Giotto in 1334</strong> and completed by Andrea Pisano in 1359.</p> <p>Near to the Cathedral lies the <strong>Baptistery</strong>: the oldest building in Florence, the doors of which were...</p>