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The Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence

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10January2012

The Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence

Among the best tourist attractions in Florence is the Ponte Vecchio, or old bridge, which happens to be the oldest bridge crossing the Arno River. The bridge survived the World War II and it was reconstructed in 1345 after a flood and shops were added. Initially, the shops on both sides of the bridge were favored by butchers and tanners but later the shops were used to sell gold and silver and the place still holds fame as a top selling point for jewelry as well as tourist souvenirs.

The Ponte Vecchio spans the Arno River from Via Por Santa Maria to Via Guicciardini and is a hot spot for photography in Florence as the bridge offers spectacular views. However, a word of caution here for the tourists would be to be mindful of their belongings and money as the area is a prime target of pickpockets. Be mindful of your belongings when browsing the baubles.

The bridge being a prime location in Florence is beaming with quality hotels like Hotel Continentale, Hotel Hermitage, Hotel Lungarno, Gallery Hotel Art and many more. Pick out the one which suits your needs as well as your pocket.

Parks and gardens in Florence

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24December2011

Florence is a green city which offers many spots for people to step in and relax in the lap of nature, take a stroll around or enjoy with outdoor activities. Florence has parks ranging from large ones like the Cascine, to tiny ‘pocket parks’ in the neighbourhoods. Here is a list of some of the best known parks of Florence;

Boboli Gardens and Bardini Gardens
Boboli gardens stand at Piazza Pitti and is closed every first and fourth Monday of the month. The Entrance fee is €6 which includes admission to the Bardini Gardens. Bardini Gardens are a favourite of the locals as it features a sweeping baroque stairway, hidden statues, fountains, grottoes, a small amphitheatre and breathtaking views shaded by oak and cypress trees.

Le Cascine
Standing near Porta al Prato, alongside the Arno, on the west side of Florence, Le Cascine was once a private hunting reserve for the Medici dukes. A bike path meanders through the entire park, with plenty of space for rollerblading as well. A bit of advice here would be to avoid the park after dark or on Tuesdays and Sundays when it gets crowded with people.

Giardino Comunale di Borgo Allegri
The park stands at Borgo Allegri 18, in the Santa Croce neighbourhood, nestled between two residential, historic buildings of Borgo Allegri. There are lots of shady trees, and people of all age group flock here. This is also a hot spot for those who love picnicking.

Giardino Alessandro Chelazzi
The park stands near the Piazza dei Ciompi, lies in the heart of the Ciompi antiques area. So, you can first have a look at the antiques in the surrounding area and then can rest in one of the many benches in the shade. The park allows pets inside.

Piazzale Michelangelo
When you go up to the Piazzale Michelangelo from the Torre di San Niccolò, you find on the way scattered along the curving road benches half-hidden among the trees and a magnificent view of the skyline of Florence. The dazzling view of the Duomo, the diverse trademark bell towers of Florence, and the Arno with its graceful bridges is breathtaking.

Japanese Rose Garden
This is one of the most panoramic gardens in Florence offering a breathtaking view of the Florence and the hills. This is a terraced garden with over 1,000 varieties of roses. The Japanese Rose Garden can be reached by following the curving road up to the Piazzale Michelangelo from the Torre di San Niccolò.

Places to visit in Florence

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28November2011

Florence – the name itself suggests serenity as well as knowledge. The beginning of the renaissance took place here and may be this is the reason why this place is so important. If you are a frequent traveler out to see the world, this is one place that must be included in your list at all costs. Here are a few of the top attractions of Florence.

Il Duomo: This is the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and is one of the most famous places here. Built in 1296, this Duomo is Gothic in its design and has a capacity of 20,000 people. The giant dome is one of the masterpieces of the architect Brunelleschi. Green, pink, and white marble has been used to make its exterior.

The Baptistery of John Baptist: This is one of the oldest buildings of Florence and was built in the 11th century. Its original doors made of bronze now reside in the Duomo Museum. However their replacements are also a sight worth seeing. Mosaics cover the interior while the exterior comprises of green and white marble. It also features a marble pavement of Zodiac.

Campanile, Bell Tower: This tower located in Piazza del Duomo is often called Giotto’s Campanile since its first story was designed by Giotto. With a ticket and with much sweat you can climb the tower’s 414 steps to look at spectacular view it features.

The Ponte Vecchio: Built in 1345, this is an old bridge. It is significant since it was the only bridge of Florence that belongs to the medieval times. Also, it is the first bridge to have been built across the Arno River. Shops selling gold and silver jewelry are found along this bridge and it also features a picturesque view of the river and the city.

Boboli Garden: Located in the middle of Florence behind the Pitti Palace, the Giardino di Boboli park is a must visit. Its beautiful surroundings calm your mind and fill you with serenity. It opens daily 8:15 (except some Mondays in winter) while its closing times are seasonal.

The Pitti Palace: This is one of Florence’s largest palazzo. Once the seat of the Medici family, this palace today features 8 different galleries, including art, costumes, jewelry, and apartments. This is another place worth a visit.

These are just the names of a few places that may pique your interest. However, the list of places worth seeing in Florence is not this short. Once you reach your destination you will realize yourself just how magical that place is. If you want your trip to be hassle free and memorable, you should book your hotels in advance before visiting Florence.

Tomb memorial of Antipope John XXIII in Florence

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10March2011

The Tomb of Antipope John XXIII is the marble and bronze tomb memorial of   Antipope John XXIII designed by Donatello and Michelozzo for the Florence Baptistry close to the Duomo. The memorial was constructed by the executors of Cossa’s will as after his death on December 22nd and 1419. It is known as to be one of the early signs of the start of the Renaissance in Florence. Cossa is known as to be in regular and permanent cooperation with Florence that intercepted him as an approved and right religious head of bishopry as during the Western Schism. The tomb memorial as many a times has been told as the Cossa’s baptistery as connecting him with the spiritually powerful site of the Baptistry. The suggestion of papal symbolism on the tomb and the linkage between Cossa and Florence is referred as discredit to the Cossa’s successor Pope Martin V.

As in the design of the memorial it includes the three virtues in niches, Cossa’s family arms, a gilded bronze recumbent efficy laid out above an inscription-bearing sarcophagus supported on corbel brackets, and above it a Madonna and Child in a half-lunette, with a canopy over all. At the time the construction of the memorial accomplished it was the tallest building in Rome. Antipope John XXIII had an estranged relation with Florence.   Baldassare Cossa was a Neapolitan nobleman who grew up in Bologna. Pope Boniface IX raised Cossa to the Archdiocese of Bologna in 1396 and made him a cardinal in 1402. When the Council of Pisa occurred in 1409, Cossa enforced rebellion against Pope Gregory XII, who there didn’t agree to resign. Cossa was snatched away from his cardinalate, but was restored by Antipope Alexander V, who had been elected by the council. Cossa succeeded Alexander V as John XXIII in 1410. He was approved as Pope by France, England, Bohemia, Prussia, Portugal, parts of the Holy Roman Empire, and many other Northern Italian city states, involving Florence and Venice. When Ladislas of Naples won Rome in 1413, John XXIII was compelled to flee to Florence.  While at further developments he was deposed as John XXIII on May 29, 1415 and elected Pope Martin V on November 11, 1417. He submitted to Martin V on June 14, 1419 and was paid with a cardinal’s hat on June 26, only to die on December 22. However, the Cossa’s tomb as a memorial was made after a decade of his death,

Hotel Savoy, 5 star hotel in Florence

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1March2011
Hotel Savoy, 5 star hotel in Florence

Hotel Savoy, 5 star hotel in Florence

•  Overview of the Hotel: This particular hotel is located at the center and heart of Florence about certain steps away from the Duomo. At hotel you can have also the museum reservations, conference services, tour bookings and shuttle services. The Savoy Hotel even arrange as museum reservations, conference services, tour bookings, and shuttle services. There fine dining is yet provided at the Savoy’s L’Incontro Bar and Restaurant. The Savoy is the famous square of Piazza della Repubblica, close to the designer shops and boutiques. It is about 15 minute walk from the Santa Maria Novella Train Station. Hotel has about 102 hotel rooms and it is the chain of the Forte Collection.

• Amenities at the Hotel: With respect to general facilities in the hotel they include as restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk, newspapers, non-smoking rooms, elevator, express check-in/check-out, heating, baggage storage, air conditioning, fitness center. For services in the hotel they involve as room service, meeting/banquet facilities, airport shuttle, babysitting/child services, laundry, breakfast in the room, ironing service, honeymoon suite, shoe shine, car rental, tours desk and ticket service.

• Hotel Rules: With respect to hotel rules they remain common as the universal areas in the hotel, however are adjudged as differ at the various rooms in the hotel. The check in time into the hotel is 14:00 -00:00 hours and the checkout time are 6:30 to 12:00 hours. Cancellation and prepayment policies there vary as according to the room type. Pets are not allowed. The hotel accepts cards as American Express, Visa, Euro, Diners Club, JCB and CartaSi.

• Hotel Room Types and Rates:

Classic Double Room: € 1485 (Per Night)

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Loggia dei Lanzi, a illustrious building close to Piazza della Signoria

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22February2011

The Loggia dei Lanzi, also termed as the Loggia della Signoria, is a building at corner of the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy, close by to the Uffizi Gallery. Architecturally, the building is made and wide open to the street while three bays wide and one bay deep. The arches of the building rest there on clustered pilasters with Corinthian capitals. The wide arches there are so much loved and preferred by the residents of Florentines, that Michelangelo even proposed that they should be continued all around the Piazza della Signoria.

The lively construction of the Loggia there shows a stark contrast to the massive architecture of the Palazzo Vecchio. This is a very effective and an open-air sculpture gallery of antique and Renaissance art. The name Loggia dei Lanzi resembles back to the reign of Grand Duke Cosimo I, when it was employed to keep his formidable landsknechts.  After the formation of the Uffizi at the rear of the Loggia, the Loggia’s roof was advanced by Bernardo Buontalenti and became a terrace from which the Medici princes could see various ceremonies and attractive activities in the piazza.

At the façade of the Loggia, below the parapet, are trefoils with allegorical pictures of the four cardinal virtues, Fortitude, Temperance, Justice and Prudence as made a depicted by the Agnolo Gaddi. Their blue enamelled background is the marvelous work of Leonardo, a monk, while the golden stars there were painted by Lorenzo de’ Bicci. The vault, formed by the semicircles, was constructed by the Florentine Antonio de’ Pucci. At the steps of the Loggia there are situated the Medici lions, two Marzoccos, marble statues of lions, heraldic symbols of Florence, that there is on the right is presented from the Roman times and the was left out by the sculpted by Flaminio Vacca in 1598. It was originally, there placed at the Villa Medici in Rome, but found its final spot in the Loggia in 1789.

There at the side of the Loggia is locate a Latin inscription as from 1750 aliasing the change of the Florentine calendar in 1749 to bring it as aggressively close to the Roman Calendar. Underneath the bay on the far left is the bronze statue of Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini[4]. It shows the mythical Greek hero holding his sword in his right hand and holding up triumphantly the Medusa’s decapitated head in his left.

At the back of the Loggia, there are about five marble female statues as of (Matidia, Marciana and Agrippina Minor, Sabines and a statue of a barbarian prisoner Thusnelda from Roman times from the era of Trajan to Hadrian. All sculptures were discovered in Rome in 1541.

Villa La Vedetta, 5 star hotels in Florence

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14February2011
Villa La Vedetta, 5 star hotels in Florence

Villa La Vedetta, 5 star hotels in Florence

•    Overview of the Hotel: The hotel is situated in close location from the and a few steps down the river and other attractive sights in Florence.  The hotel is located in a neo-renaissance villa at a peaceful and soothing part of the Florence. At the hotel you will get the exclusive facilities like Jacuzzi, a panoramic outdoor swimming pool with bar service and a terrace giving an extraordinary view of the city. One can have the delicious food at its gourmet restaurant. Hotel also provides a free shuttle service into Florence. The hotel has total 18 rooms and it is the chain of the Concerto Hotels.

•    Amenities at the Hotel: With respect to amenities in the hotel, it includes the general services as restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk, newspapers,      grounds, terrace, non-smoking rooms, rooms/facilities for disabled guests,         elevator, express check-in/check-out, safe, soundproofed rooms, heating,         baggage storage and gay friendly. For services in the hotel it includes as services like room service, meeting/banquet facilities, babysitting/child services, laundry, ironing service, currency exchange, shoe shine, car rental,        tour desk, fax/photocopying and ticket service.

•    Hotel Rules: There a general rules prevails at the common areas of the hotel Villa La Vedetta. However, the hotel rules get converted from hotel rooms to hotel rooms. The check in time into the hotel is 14:00 hours and the checkout point is until 12:00 hours. The cancellation and prepayment policy there too varies according to the room type. Pets are allowed on request on certain applicable charges. The hotel accepts card like American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club and JCB.

•    Hotel Room Types and Rates:

Romantic Double Room: € 374 (Per Night)
Grand Deluxe Double Room: € 474 (Per Night)
Deluxe Suite: € 674 (Per Night)
Romantic Double Room: € 349 (Per Night)
Gran Deluxe Double Room: € 381.65 (Per Night)
Deluxe Suite: € 551.65 (Per Night)

The museums and art galleries in Pitti Palace in Florence

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4February2011

Pitti Palace is the famous Florentine Royal Palace that also is an important art museum as well. The museum is consisted of about five primary art galleries and eight museums. Below are briefed some of the well known museums and galleries in Pitti Palace.

•    Palatine Gallery: Situated on the first floor of the piano nobile, it contains about a large group of over about over 500  Renaissance paintings, that once were the part of the Medicis’ and their successors’ personal arte collection.    The gallery further extends into the royal apartments and keeps the works by   Raphael, Titian, Correggio, Rubens, and Pietro da Cortona.

•    Royal Apartments: The royal apartment is a suite of about 14 rooms, that earlier was used by the Medici family, and later on used by their successors. These rooms to a greater percentage have been modified mostly in 19th century.  The room keeps the collection of Medici portraits, many of them made by the artist Giusto Sustermans. In comparison to the great salons combining the  Palatine collection, a few of these rooms are much smaller and intimate and despite grand and gilded are well suited to present day-to-day living needs and requirements.

•    Modern Art Gallery: This gallery has originated from the remodeling of the Florentine academy in 1748, when a gallery of modern art was formed into as to keep the works that were once the prize winners at the academy’s competitions. The Palazzo Pitti was being redeveloped at the larger scale at that particular time as new works of the art were being collected as to adorn as the newly decorates salons. By reaching the 19th century there were so numerous and too much was of the Grand Ducal paintings of modern art that they were even transferred to the Palazzo Croncetta that later on became the home to newly formed “Modern Art Museum”.

•    The interior of the Palazzo Vecchio: Following the Risorgimento and eviction of the Grand Ducal family from the palazzo, all the Grand Ducal modern art works was combined into under one roof at the newly titled “Modern gallery of the Academy”. The collection there remained under the patronage of Vittorio Emanuele II. However, it was not until 1922 that this gallery was further moved to the Palazzo Pitti where it was complemented by further modern works of art in the company of both the state and the municipality of Florence.

•    Silver Museum: This is also referrers to as the “The Medici Treasury”, that keeps the collection of priceless silver, cameos, and other works in semi-precious gemstones, and most of them from the collection of Lorenzo de’ Medici, involving the collection of ancient vases. Many of them had the fragile silver gilt mounts added for exhibition purposes around in the 15th century.

And other museums contains there as Palazzo Pitti, costume Gallery, Porcelain Museum and Carriages Museum.

Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, 5 star hotel in Florence

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29January2011
Helvetia & Bristol, 5 star hotel in Florence

Helvetia & Bristol, 5 star hotel in Florence

•    Overview of the Hotel: The hotel Helvetia and Bristol is located at the most stunning and loving center of Florence. Its position is about 550 yards away from the Duomo and 220 yards away from the Via de Tornabuoni that is high fashion shopping street in the city.  The hotel provides an excellent restaurant, the Hostaria Bibendum that even features into the cosmopolitan setting. There at the one can enjoy a drink, corporate lunch and the romantic dinner at the restaurant’s terrace. The hotel has about 67 Rooms.

•    Amenities at the Hotel: For services and facilities in the hotel the most prominent ones include as like restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk, non-smoking rooms, rooms/facilities for disabled guests, elevator, safe and air conditioning. In room services it includes as the following one as room service, meeting, laundry, tour desk and fax- photocopying.

•    Hotel Rules: With respect to the policies in the hotel they tend as to be common one when they lie at common areas of the hotel. The check in time into the hotel is 14:00 -00:00 hours and the Check out time there is about between 07:00-12:00 hours.  The cancellation and prepayment policies in the hotel vary according to the room type. Pets are not allowed into the hotel. The hotel accepts cards like American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club, JCB, Maestro and CartaSi.

•    Hotel Room Types and Rates:

Classic Double Room: € 277.20 (Per Night)
Superior Double Room: € 323.40 (Per Night)
Deluxe Double Room: € 382.80 (Per Night)
Junior Suite: € 442.20 (Per Night)
Classic Double Room: € 242 (Per Night)

Judith and Holofernes (Donatello), the famous statue in Palazzo Vecchio

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22January2011

The bronze sculpture Judith and Holofernes dated back to 1460 is developed by   Donatello at around the end of his career and is been represented as the Hall of Lilies (Sala dei Gigli), in the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy. One replica of the original copy is situated there at the sculpture’s original positions on the Piazza della Signoria as in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. It therefore, depicts the killing of the Assyrian general Holofernes by Judith and is noticeable as primest Renaissance sculptures as to be thought around as with four different faces and objectives.

The statue was constructed by Cosimo de’ Medici as a figurative decoration for tt tui decoration for the fountain in the garden of the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi. It is standing there along with Donatello’s David, as showing up both tyrant slayers. Even these two statues are one of the earliest freestanding Italian Renaissance statues. Judith is known as to be the symbol of liberty, virtue and victory of the weak above the strong as in a common cause. There she stands powerful and strong with high yielding swords.  The statue while at its construction was gilded and its shine while in sunlight use to let people to look at it.  In order to carry out the gilding of the statue the bronze there was cast in about 11 parts. The base of the sculpture there remains as to be a cushions, a naturalistic device for the first time was employed by Donatello for his St. Mark in the Orsanmichele.

On the granite pedestal of the statue, there it reads as like, “Kingdoms fall through luxury, cities rise through virtues. Behold the neck of pride severed by the hand of humility.” According, to the these rules the particular and dramatic and detailed statue is thus named as to be metaphor of the Medici rule, and the defenders of Florentine liberty, as related to Judith, it is a slayer of the tyrant Holofernes and therefore is the defender of the people.

This particular view is further on supported by the second inscription on the pedestal that even read as, “The salvation of the state. Piero de’ Medici son of Cosimo dedicated this statue of a woman both to liberty and to fortitude, whereby the citizens with unvanquished and constant heart might return to the republic.” In the year, 1495, the sculpture was there placed on the Piazza della Signoria, there at the main door of the Palazzo Vecchio as in memory of the expulsion of Piero di Lorenzo de’ Medici from Florence and the introduction of the Florentine republic under Girolamo Savonarola.

This time, this statue symbolized the expulsion of the tyrannical Medici. The statue was later moved to the courtyard inside the Palazzo Vecchio, and still later into the Loggia dei Lanzi. In 1919, it was then placed on the left side of the Palazzo Vecchio. It was replaced by a bronze copy in 1988 and the original, after restoration, was given a final place in the Sala dei Gigli inside the Palazzo Vecchio.