Florence, Italy

We visited Florence about four times during our trip since it was only about a thirty minute train ride from our hotel. Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and this city became an artistic haven for so many famous Renaissance artists and architects.

Looking at the dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore from the bell tower.

The Basilica of Santa Croce. It is also called the "Pantheon of Italian Glories" since so many important figures of the Renaissance are buried in the church.

Michelangelo's Tomb

Memorial to Dante. Florence exiled Dante for political reasons, so he died in Ravenna. I'm sure now they are really wishing that they hadn't exiled him. Ooops!

Galileo's Tomb.

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. It is the fourth largest church in Europe and of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture. Work began on the church in 1296, but it was not completed until 140 years later. In 1478, the Pazzi plot occured when a rival family conspired to kill the Medici family as the worshipped here on Easter Sunday. Giuliano di Piero de' Medici was killed and Lorenzo the Magnificent barely escaped with his life. A few decades later, it was the spot where Savanorola preached against the "decadence" of the Renaissance and held his "burning of the vanities."

The Baptistery

The Baptistery and town square as viewed from the tower. It was here that Savanorola was later executed by an angry mob.

A view from the corner.

Inside the church...

It really is quite massive and breathtaking. And best of all for a poor college kid - free!

The Arno River that runs through Florence

The Ponte Vecchio is Florence's famous bridge that is filled with high-end jewelry shops. It was the only bridge of Florence that was spared when the Allies bombed the city in WWII. All other bridges were destroyed, but this was saved because of its beauty and historical value.