Firenze, capital of Tuscany
and of Firenze province, central Italy, on the Arno River, at the
foot of the Apennines . Florence, the jewel of the Italian Renaissance,
is one of the world's great historic cities. It is a commercial,
industrial , and tourist center and a rail junction. Tourism is
the main industry, which is supported by the manufacture of glassware,
precious metal ware, leatherwork, ceramics, clothing, shoes, and
art reproductions. The University of Florence is an international
cultural center, and the National Library is in the city. Only
one bridge , the Ponte Echo (14th cent.), survived World War II,
and now several modern bridges span the Arnos river.
Points of Interest
It is impossible to mention here
al the city's monuments most of which date the 13 th to 15 th century.
The Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Close by are located
the slim campanile designed by Giotto and the baptistery with famous
bronze doors by Andrea Pissano and Lorenzo Giberti. The large Franciscan
church of Santa Croce is the Florentine Pantheon and has frescoes
by Giotto, a crucifix by Donatello, and fine works by the Della
Robia family, Rosselino and others. The church of Santa Maria Novella
(1278-1350) has frescoes by Masaccio, Orcagna, and Ghirlandaio.The
church of Santa Maria Del Carmine . In the church of San Lorenzo
you can find the tombs of Michelangelo and the Medici family, also
samples of Donatello's work, the Laurentian Library where 10000 manuscripts
are exhibited. On a hill overlooking the city is the Romanesque
basilica of San Miniato al Monte . On the Piazza de la Signoria are
the Palazzo Vechio, which has many frescoes by Vasari and sculptures
by Micheangelo, the Loggia Dei Lanzi (14 th century), where the Perseus
of Cellini and Ammanati's fountain of Neptune can be seen.
