Often
called the Cradle of the Renaissance, Florence (Firenze)
was once Italy's foremost financial capital during
the Middle Ages.
Today,
it is home to some 375,000 people, along with the
millions of tourists who visit the city each year
in search of Florence's glorious past.
More
than half of all the world's most revered art
works are housed in the city's many art museums,
including the Uffizi Gallery just off the
Piazza
della Signoria, (housing works by Giotto, Leonardo
da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio
and many other Renaissance masters).
Still
medieval in its physical layout - with large open
piazzas surrounded by dark and narrow side streets
- Florence is easily traversed on foot.
Besides
world famous museums, Florence's other major tourist
attractions include the striking Duomo (cathedral)
as well as the Ponte Vecchio, the famous
medieval bridge surrounded by shops spanning the
river Arno.
Airports
: Galileo Galilei International Airport, Amerigo
Vespucci Airport
Train
station: Stazione Santa Maria Novella
Bus:
ATAF and LI-NEA make up the city's public bus system.
Tickets and bus passes can be purchased at any tobacconist
displaying an orange A.T.A.F. sticker on the window.
For travel outside of town, SITA Buses have regional
routes to Pisa,
Sienna and most other towns & cities throughout
Tuscany.
Taxi
: Official metered taxis are usually found at taxi
stands in most neighborhoods throughout the city.
