"PALAZZO VECCHIO" - PALAZZO VECCHIO (old palace) is the most important civil building in the city of Florence. The construction, to plans by Arnolfo di Cambio, was begun in 1299. Initially it was the seat of the Priors of Art and of the Signoria. Temporarily it was housed by the Grand Ducal family under Cosimo I de' Medici before their transfer to Palazzo Pitti. It was in this period (1550-65) that Vasari transformed it, sumptuously redecorating the newly reconstructed interiors for the palace's rôle both as the seat of government and official residence of the ruling family. The entire palace is a museum, especially the so-called "Monumental Quarters". It is worth seeing the "Salone dei Cinquecento, the study of Francesco I de' Medici, the room of the Elements and the Hall of the Lilies. The Loggia dei Lanzi overlooks the big square Piazza della Signoria in front of the palace; there are several important statues, including "Perseus"by Cellini and "the Rape of the Sabine Women" by Giambologna.

THE "PITTI PALACE" - The ACCADEMY GALLERY ("Galleria dell'Accademia") is one of the best known museums in Florence, because it houses famous sculptures by Michelangelo, including the "David", "The four prisoners" and the "Pieta of Palestina". There are also many paintings collected by the Grand Duke Peter Leopold to help the young Florentine artists, enrolled in the Academy of Arts school which is still next door to the gallery.

THE "CATHEDRAL" - The CATHEDRAL ("Duomo") is dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore and is typical of Italian Gothic architecture. The present building was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio (1245-1302), one of the greatest architect-sculptors of his age. Finished in around 1367 it was completely covered with coloured marbles like the earlier Baptistery, earlier Baptistery, although the uncompleted facade was given its covering in the nineteenth century. Inside are several important works of art, offset by the architecture's taut Gothic forms, completely different from medieval buildings north of the Alps. Of primary importance are the two frescoes on the right-hand wall showing the equestrian monuments of the "condottieri" (generals) by Paolo Uccello (1436) and Andrea del Castagno (1456). Many of the sculptures from the Duomo are now kept in the Museum of the "Opera del Duomo" but others are still in place, such as the lunettes by Luca della Robbia above the doors of the Sacristy or the bronze door of the Mass Sacristy and the great Pietà by Michelangelo. The splendid stained glass windows should not be forgotten, mainly executed from 1434-1445 to the designs of such important artists as Donatello, Andrea del Castagno and Paolo Uccello. Also notable are the wooden inlays of the Sacristy cupboards to the designs of Brunelleschi, Antonio Del Pollaiolo and others.

THE "CUPOLA" - Filippo Brunelleschi started in 1420 with the construction of the CUPOLA. The diameter of the inner span (m. 41.50) is close to the maximum limit for any kind of masonry dome. Instead of recuperating precedent techniques, Brunelleschi invented a technique based on his knowledge of the "way of building" of the Romans which he put at the service of a new concept and new kinds of technical, cultural, aesthetic problems, involved in the realization of the cupola. Basically the construction of the dome depended on the use of a building technique capable of avoiding any dangerous discontinuity in the masonry (27,000 tons). The cupola was thus built as a self supporting growing form. The dome is surprisingly modern: in this double shell, the lighter exterior cupola protects the inner cupola from the elements, while the two work together thanks to the powerful connecting ribs. Completed in 1436, the Cupola is the most characteristic feature of the Florentine skyline, symbolising a great cultural tradition and the city's civic awareness. The Cupola's interior has been decorated by Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) and Federico Zuccari (c. 1540-1609) with a huge fresco representing the Last Judgement.

THE "CAMPANILE DI GIOTTO" - The "Cupolone" or huge dome remains, with the cathedral bell-tower, known as the "CAMPANILE DI GIOTTO", the most striking feature of any view of the city. Giotto, the famous painter and architect designed the tower, although at his death in 1337 only the lowest part was complete. Work was continued under Andrea Pisano (c. 1290-1349) and Francesco Talenti (active 1325-1369) who completed the structure repeating the decoration of marble relieved by windows.

THE "BASILICA OF SAN LORENZO" - BASILICA OF SAN LORENZO - Consecrated by St. Ambrose in 393, it is the oldest church in the city. It was then rebuilt along Romanesque lines in 1060. The present building dates to 1423and was designed and built by Brunelleschi. In rebuilding the basilica, Brunelleschi proposed his new type of church, decidedly classicizing, flooded with light fora distinct architectural clarity (and not mystically in half light as in precedence), absolutely regular and symmetrical in its corrispondences, in the continuous orchestration. Inside there are works by Rosso Fiorentino, Desiderio da Settignano, Donatello and Bronzino.The church is flanked by the splendid square-shaped Old Sacristy by Brunelleschi and the New Sacristy by Michelangelo, that houses the Medici family tombs, the so called Medici Chapels. To the left of the church is the Laurentian Library, also designed by Michelangelo, by order of the Medici family who wanted a place to conserve their fine collection of books, papyri and manuscripts. Not far from the San Lorenzo complex is the Central Market, a fine example of late 19th century steel and glass architecture.

THE "CAPPELLE MEDICEE" - The MEDICI CHAPELS form part of the monumental complex of San Lorenzo. The church of San Lorenzo was the official church of the Medici, becoming their mausoleum. The project for a family tomb was conceived in 1520 when Michelangelo began work on the New Sacristy. It was above all Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, future Pope Clement VII who wished to erect a mausoleum for certain members of his family, Lorenzo the Magnificent and his brother Giuliano, and Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino and Giuliano, Duke of Nemours. Michelangelo worked on the sculptures of the sarcophagi until 1533, but the only ones actually completed were the statues of the Dukes Lorenzo and Giuliano, the allegories of Dawn and Dusk, Night and Day and the group of Madonna and Child placed above the sarcophagus of the two "magnifici" and flanked by Saints Cosmas and Damian. As a' result of the complex history of the chapel and its elaborate symbolism, many interpretations have been made of its sculptures. The poses of the two principal figures represent the Active and Contemplative lives while the famous statues on the sarcophagi probably refer to the conditions and phases of human life. The tombs also refer to the liberation of the soul after death, a philosophical concept closely linked with Michelangelo's own spirituality.

"SAN MINIATO AL MONTE" - The SAN MINIATO AL MONTE church is one of the finest examples of Tuscan Romanesque architecture, built between the 11th and 13th centuries. The typical facade in white and green marble is decorated by fine arcading and has a 12th-century mosaic of Christ between the Madonna and St. Miniato. In the interior, the altar preserves the bones of St. Miniato. The raised presbytery is of great beauty with its pulpit and and its choir with fine inlaid wooden choir stalls. The Sacristy is frescoed by Spinello Aretino with the sixteen stories of the legend of St. Benedict. The Chapel of St. James, or "Cardinal of Portugal" is decorated with five splendid roundels by Luca della Robbia. The Chapel of the Crucifix was designed by Michelozzo and decorated by Luca della Robbia. To the right of the church is the Bishop's Palace, ancient summer residence of the bishops of Florence which then became a convent, a hospital and a Jesuit house. From its front steps you have a nice view on the ochre-colored town. The church figures prominently in Brian de Palma's thriller "Obsession" (1976, with Geneviève Bujold and Cliff Robertson).