Florence: Art, Architecture and History

When looking for a hotel in Florence, you can use your own interests as a starting point for planning your trip. The historic centre preserves entire streets, fortified palaces, loggias and fountains from the trading city’s medieval and Renaissance past. These architectural forms offer different perspectives on the city’s heritage, art collections and the history of civic power. The places below connect these perspectives with specific buildings, collections and open spaces. This can help you consider which highlights suit your trip.

Art Collections and Architecture

The Uffizi occupies the entire first and second floors of a building designed by Giorgio Vasari and constructed between 1560 and 1580. Its painting collection includes works by Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Caravaggio and other European painters. It also contains ancient statues and busts from the Medici collection, including Roman copies of lost Greek sculptures. Paintings and ancient sculpture are thus displayed side by side in the Uffizi; the collection brings together different art forms and historical connections.

At Santa Maria del Fiore, by contrast, the scale of the building and its construction history shape the experience. The church is one of the largest in the world: it is 153 metres long, 90 metres wide at the crossing and 90 metres high from the ground to the base of the lantern. Its foundation stone was laid on 8 September 1296. After the dome was completed, Pope Eugene IV consecrated the church on 25 March 1436. These dimensions and dates offer a concrete way into the architectural history of the Duomo.

Palaces and Florentine History

For more than seven centuries, the Palazzo Vecchio has symbolised the civic power of Florence. The Pitti Palace is the largest of Florence’s palaces and today houses several collections and museums: the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Palatine Gallery, the Royal and Imperial Apartments, the Gallery of Modern Art, and the Costume and Fashion Museum. The two places offer different points of focus: the Palazzo Vecchio is primarily significant as a symbol of civic power, while the Pitti Palace brings together several collections and museum spaces.

The Museo Galileo also offers a distinct perspective on the city’s history. Its collections of scientific instruments are among the most important in the world. They document the Medici dynasty’s and the Lorraine Grand Dukes’ support for scientific research. The museum also displays instruments and memorabilia belonging to Galileo Galilei. The history of art and the history of science can thus be considered as different points of focus for a trip to Florence.

One work of art and the year it was created take centre stage in the Cappella dei Magi in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi: Benozzo Gozzoli covered the chapel with frescoes in 1459. The connection between artist, work and place offers a clearly defined point of reference in art history, between the city’s major collections and buildings.

Gardens and Outdoor Routes

The Giardino di Boboli is an open-air museum featuring sculptures dating from the Roman era to the 17th century. The sculptures on display therefore span the period from antiquity to the early modern era. For a different view of Florence, head to Piazzale Michelangelo: it can be reached via Viale Galileo, Viale Michelangiolo or from Piazza Poggi by way of the monumental staircases known as the Rampe del Poggi.

Locals and tourists use Parco delle Cascine as a green space for sports, walks and relaxation. Together with the sculpture collection at the Giardino di Boboli, it adds two distinct outdoor settings to the perspective offered by museums and historic buildings: one is described as an open-air museum spanning a long period, while the other is a place for exercise and relaxation. When choosing a hotel for your trip to Florence, these different interests can help you decide what you would like to focus on culturally.

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