Tag Archives: Piazzale Michelangelo

November 28, 2012 · 10:21 am

Buon Natale: Interesting Holiday Events in Florence Italy

: Image via Wikipedia

Florence is the world’s celebrated jewel of Renaissance art and architecture. It is famous for perfect voluptuous domes and intimate restaurants with perfect steaks and wine. The Uffizi is the perfect art museum and and the Palazzo Pitti has the perfect Royal apartments. The Accademia has the perfect sculptures and the Baptistry has the perfect doors. Even the tombs are perfect at Santa Croce. The leather is perfect, the silk is perfect and the perfume made at Santa Maria Novella is perfect.

Accademia – DSC 1177 ep (Photo credit: Eric.Parker)

Via Tornabuoni is a perfect street for shopping with designer powerhouses like Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, Enrico Coveri, Roberto Cavalli and Emilio Pucci willing to sell you holiday goodies. Even the Piazzas are perfect! Florence is the perfect UNESCO site with many perfect “Vino con Vista” opportunities.

English: Loggia dei Lanzi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Florence rose to economic and cultural pre-eminence under the mighty Medici dynasty in the 15^th and 16th centuries. The churches, galleries and palaces contain the world’s largest concentration of Renaissance artand sculpture.

loggia dei lanzi florence (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Perseus holding the head of Medusa, by Benvenuto Cellini, Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence; Italie Français : Persée tenant la tête de Méduse, par Benvenuto Cellini, Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence, Italie. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Palais Pitti, Florence (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The city was built on the site of an Etruscan settlement, and has 600 years of extraordinary artistic activity. It is an incredibly compact city for walking. Walk to the Piazzale Michelangeloat sunset for a perfect glimmering moonlit cityscape. Marvel at Florence’s panoramic glory as the cloak of darkness descends over her dimly lit splendor.

“The Rape of Polyxena”, sculpture by Pio Fedi (1816-1892), in 1866 : Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence, Italy. Photo by Thermos. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Natural and man-made disasters have threatened the city’s wealth of art history and perfection. In 1966, the Arno River’s devastating flood destroyed or severely damaged Florentine treasures. In 1993, a mafia bomb exploded near the Uffizi and severely damaged the gallery. The Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge to escape Nazi bombs.

Loggia dei Lanzi. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Her glorious past is evident in the monumental grandeur and perfection of her structures: the 13th-century cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, the Church of Santa Croce, the Uffizi, Santa Maria Novella, the Galleria dell’Accademia, the Bargello and the Pitti Palace. Works of art history grace every public building. Landmark cloisters, chapels and refectories are galleries of perfect Renaissance art.

The façade of Santa Maria Novella, completed by Leon Battista Alberti in 1470. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Loggia dei Lanzi (Photo credit: **Mary**)

Stroll the Via dei Calzaiuoli, between Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria and imagine the creative genius that flourished in this city; evidenced by the works in the Loggia dei Lanzi. The Loggia was originally designed to shelter dignitaries watching civic ceremonies.

The Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna, in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This elegant, compact city, is bounded on the southern side by the glistening Arno River. Distinctive works of great masters such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, Botticelli and Michelangelo adorn every nook and cranny of this perfectly majestic city. Visit Florence during the holidays for the perfect vacation.

Perfect Holiday Events in Florence:

German Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce from December 1- 19

“Florence Noel” at the Stazione Leopoldo from December 4-12

“Fierucola di Natale” in Piazza Santo Spirito on December 19th

Christmas Party in Gambassi Terme on December 4-5

17th Annual “Sagra Antichi Sapori di Toscana” at Lastra a Signa December 3-8

“Sagra del Tartufo e Antichi Sapori del Mugello” in Borgo San Lorenzo December 8-12

Happy Holidays from Vino con Vista

Buon Natale and Happy Holidays from www.vino-con-vista.com

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Filed under Christmas in Florence Italy, ebooks, Florence Italy, IPad, Italian art, Italian Wine, Italy, Italy Travel Guides, Travel and Tourism, UNESCO, vino con vista, World Heritage Sites

Tagged as Arno, Arno River, Buon Natale: Holiday Events in Florence Italy, Florence, Florence Cathedral, Gambassi Terme, italian food, Italian wine, Italy, italy travel, Italy Travel Guide, Loggia dei Lanzi, Palazzo Pitti, Piazza della Signoria, Piazza Santa Croce, Piazzale Michelangelo, Renaissance, Renaissance art, Renaissance Florence, Santa Croce, Santa Maria del Fiore, Travel and Tourism, Tuscany, vino con vista, Who is buried at Santa Croce in Florence, World Heritage Site

August 15, 2012 · 11:04 am

Magical Florence Italy

: Image via Wikipedia

Florence, the world’s celebrated jewel of Renaissance art and architecture is famous for voluptuous domes and intimate restaurants with Vino con Vistas everywhere. She rose to economic and cultural pre-eminence under the mighty Medici dynasty in the 15^th and 16^th centuries. The churches, galleries and palaces are brimming with masterpieces.

The city was built on the site of an Etruscan settlement and has 600 years of extraordinary artistic activity. It is an incredibly compact city for walking. Walk to the Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset for a glimmering moonlit cityscape. Marvel at her panoramic glory as the cloak of darkness descends over her dimly lit splendor.

Here are some UNESCO photos of Florence, Italy: http://www.ourplaceworldheritage.com/custom.cfm?&action=site&regionid=9&site_country=ITALY&site_name=Historic Centre of Florence&siteid=292

English: flor (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Natural and man-made disasters have threatened the city’s wealth of art history. In 1966, the Arno River’s devastating flood destroyed or severely damaged Florentine treasures. In 1993, a mafia bomb exploded near the Uffizi and severely damaged the gallery. The Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge to escape Nazi bombs during World War II.

Last Judgment (detail ). Dome of Florence Cathedral. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Her glorious past is evident in the monumental grandeur of her structures. The 13^th century cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Church of Santa Croce, the Uffizi, Santa Maria Novella, the Galleria dell’Accademia, the Bargello and the Pitti Palace are incredible repositories of Renaissance art.

Front view of the Florence Cathedral (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Andrea di bonaiuto, dettaglio dal cappoellone degli spagnoli (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Florence has the largest concentration of Renaissance art and sculpture in the world. Landmark cloisters, chapels and refectories are all galleries of Renaissance art.

art of italy (Photo credit: waldopics)

To learn more about Florence read www.vino-con-vista.com Travel Guides and

Vino Con Vista Travel Guides can be purchased at these sites

now available on iPad @

Tour the Uffizi in Florence Italy

Image via Wikipedia

The Uffizi contains the highest concentration of Renaissance art in the world. The gallery is located along the Arno River in Florence Italy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Uffizi owns about 4800 works of art including paintings, sculrtures, tapestries, furniture and pottery. Go to www.googleartproject.com to see some of the magnificent works of art in the gallery. This website allows you to tour other galleries around the world. A true feast for any art-lover.

The Uffizi building contains the gallery built for Cosimo I. It was created as a U-shaped administrative center of the Grand Duchy and was originally designed by Vasari in 1560. Vasari was the court architect and master of public works for the Medici family. It was linked to the Palazzo Vecchio to allow rulers to safely cross the city via the Vasari Corridor. Later, it was linked to the Loggia dei Lanzi by Buonatalenti.

The Uffizi’s current exhibition includes sketches by Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Mantegna, Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo until June 12, 2011. To learn more about Italy read www.vino-con-vista.com Travel Guides available @ www.amazon.com with print and Kindle editions as well as a Florence and Tuscany Version available for your Apple iPad. Vino Con Vista Travel Guides can be purchased at these sites