If you go nowhere else extravagant in Florence but these three sights, you can relax and enjoy the views.
1. Piazza della Signoria
I can’t not mention this gorgeous meeting place. My heart really resides in this piazza. Nothing makes my heart race more than making the walk down Via dei Calzaiuoli, looking up at the end, and seeing the Palazzo Vecchio always standing tall. Every time I am absorbed in this piazza like a sponge. I always know every thing will be turn out fine because of the strength that resides here.
The masterpieces in this piazza can exude a feeling of excitement. The replica of the David stands on the left side entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. (The original David is located in the Accademia Gallery).
The Neptune fountain was established to mark the marriage of Francesco de’ Medici to Johanna of Austria in 1565. Although it wasn’t well liked by the Florentines back then, today tourists enjoy the fountain for photo ops or even in the summer heat when a breeze carries a sprinkle over exhausted tourists’ faces.
Bringing your attention to the Loggia dei Lanzi located right of the Palazzo Vecchio, there are two sculptures very important to mention. Perseus and Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini is the bronze statue that shows a very gruesome picture of Perseus holding Medusa’s head in one hand and a sword in the other. And if you look behind the statue and what you will see if Cellini’s face pictured in the back of Perseus’s head. A very moving and practically lifelike portrayal of this scene.
To the right of the Cellini’s masterpiece, is Giambologna’s Rape of a Sabine. He captured the perfect example of the figura serpentinata, where three figures are linked in a twisted, serpent-like composition. Giambologna, a Flemish sculptor, studied numerous works of Michelangelo before creating his own approach to Renaissance art. Also in this piazza are many cafes, restaurants and pubs to rest, enjoy the beautiful view that is the heart of Florence.
Top Florence Hotel near Piazza della Signoria : Bed & Breakfast La Casa del Garbo
2. Brancacci Chapel (Cappella Brancacci)
From 1981-1991 there has been an army of restorers who have devoted themselves to the detailed work essential to renovate these partly destroyed paintings. They are a narrative journey derived from the human condition and emotions. The realism of each fresco is a poignant reaction to each set of eyes that look it’s way.
Masolino da Panicale began this piece of work in 1424 for the cloth merchant Felice Brancacci. Although today, Masaccio is the name you most often hear referring to the chapel after Masolino left the city in 1425 and gave the masterpiece to him to finish. In 1428, Masaccio passed away at the age of 26 mysteriously, so Filippino Lippi regained control of finishing the chapel. Between 1481 and 1485, Lippi, son of Filippo Lippi, depicted scenes of the life of the apostle Peter to end the masterpiece. The most famous fresco is the comparison of Masolino and Masaccio’s work shown in the The Fall and the Expulsion from Paradise.
Masolino used a more graceful approach when depicting Adam and Eve standing in front of the tree of knowledge and the serpent. It speaks confidence, assertiveness on Eve’s behalf and an unconvincing look of Adam saying “maybe you shouldn’t eat that apple.” Masaccio’s gesture is a much more animated approach showing Adam and Eve being shunned from Paradise. They are shown grief-stricken and slumped over with inner pain exuding from their facial expressions. The figures are shown so life-like as if you can hear their cries of sorrow and turmoil. The Brancacci Chapel is found in Santa Maria del Carmine church, in Piazza del Carmine on the Oltrarno.
Top Florence Hotel near Brancacci Chapel : Hotel Relais Il Cestello
3. Santa Croce
Santa Croce is and always will be my favorite grandstand of a church. Even if you must pay to enter this grand jewel of Florence, I find that it is worth it every time.
The construction of Santa Croce began in 1294 by Arnolfo di Cambio, but wasn’t finished until 1385. The façade remained bare for five centuries until the 1850s, architect Niccolò Maras created an addition to Florence full of brightness and warmth. As you are welcomed into the Gothic style architecture, aligning the flanks of the church are tombs of the most famous Florentines. Such as Dante, Machiavelli, Michelangelo, Galileo, and many others have their own tombs. Donatello produced a tabernacle that is found next the tomb of Leonardo Bruni.
The Annunciation depicts the angel on bent knees announcing the upcoming birth of her son to the Virgin Mary. There is a sense of poetic harmony in this piece. I can feel the happiness and faith in this Donatello classic. Giotto comes alive in Santa Croce as well. Giotto painted the frescoes in the Cappelle(Chapels) Peruzzi and Bardi. In the Peruzzi Chapel, he creates a fresco showing St. John’s Ascension into heaven. He took into consideration how the viewer would see this fresco from the side of the chapel. The perspective of his rise to paradise is moving as the angels have to grab St. John up through the roof where his body lies. In the Bardi Chapel, Giotto was asked to perform the same task as he did in the Upper Basilica in Assisi-telling the life of St. Francis. The most famous of the pictures of the cycle of his life shows his body being surrounded by Franciscan monks. Some kneeling in prayer, others outraged at his death. This fresco represents the sympathy and grief of all who mourned his death. Without a word, the sorrow and sadness melts over the viewer.
Today, Piazza Santa Croce holds many annual events, for example Calcio Storico (the historic football match).
Top Florence Hotel near Piazza Santa Croce : Hotel Dante
That is it. The 3 must-sees in Florence if you only have a day or even an hour in the city that makes you gasp at every work of art around each corner. I hope you enjoy your visit to Florence with your eyes open for cultural enlightenment.
Photo of David’s shadow in Piazza dell Signoria, Florence, Italy by Amalfitano
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