MUSEUMS and CHURCHES in FIRENZE

The Accademia Gallery : Originally an art school opened by the Grand-Duke Pietro Leopoldo in 1784 with the purpose to unite all the Florentine drawing schools into one Academy. In 1873 Michelangelo's David was exhibited there for the first time in a specially constructed tribune.Today the Accademia gallery is considered one of the finest museums in Firenze.

The Baptistery : The "Battistero di San Giovanni" is an octagonal building with a very large dome.The date of its foundation is uncertain, 4th-5th century circa. The external revestment of the Baptistery is a masterpiece of white Carrara and green Prato marble. The Baptistry is famous for its three sets of guilded bronze doors at its three entrances.

Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore): The Cathedral or Duomo di Firenze, as we see it today, is the result of over six centuries of history. Its basic architectural project was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio at the end of the 13th century. The cupola, the largest and highest of its times, was created by Filippo Brunelleschi who began working on it in 1420 and completed it, up to the base of the lantern (mounted in 1461), in 1436.The exterior of the Duomo presents a decorative pattern of white Carrara, green Pisa and red Siena marble which repeat the facings of the Baptistery and the Belltower and give uniformity to the style of the square.

The National Museum of the Bargello: The "Museo Nazionale del Bargello" has its setting in the "Palazzo del Popolo", the oldest seat of the government surviving in the city, which was built in 1255.The museum is famous for its collection of sculptures which include works by Donatello and the Della Robbia family, Michelangelo, Cellini and Giambologna. The collection of maiolica, arms and small bronze sculptures is also very important.

Orsanmichele: A tall rectangular church inside of which is a masterpiece of all decorative arts, the Tabernacle by Andrea Orcagna, in flamboyant Gothic style.

Piazza della Signoria : It has been the political centre of the city since the Middle Ages.However, it can also be considered an open-air museum. Beside Palazzo Vecchio with the great sculptures lined up in front of its facade (among them the copy of Michelangelo's David); the square of the Uffizi that stretches out on the south side, towards the Arno; the Loggia dei Lanzi, with Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus holding up the head of the Medusa; the Fountain of Neptune by Ammannati and the equestrian statue of Cosimo I de' Medici by Giambologna.

Palazzo Vecchio: Also known as Palazzo della Signoria, it was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio (1299-1302) and it was the tallest building in Firenze until the 15th century. It is still the Town Hall of Firenze, but many of the rooms on the upper floors are open to the public.

Uffizi Gallery: The Galleria degli Uffizi was begun in 1560 and completed in 1574. Vasari was commissioned by Cosimo I to erect a building to serve as government offices.The Galleria houses, the most important collection of paintings in Italy and one of the greatest art collections in the world.

Pitti Palace: Its construction began in 1457 on a design by Brunelleschi. In 1549 it became the official seat of the Medici dynasty.The palace contains the apartments used for four centudies by the grand-dukes and rulers of Firenze and Tuscany and the work of art acquired by them. It also houses important museums: the Galleria Palatina, the Museo degli Argenti and the Galleria d'Arte Moderna.

San Lorenzo: It is the oldest church in the city. It was first consacrated in 393 then rebuilt along Romanesque lines in the XI century. The present building dates to 1423 and was designed and built by Brunelleschi.It became the Medici's family church. It contains noumerous works of art.

San Marco: The convent of san Marco was founded in 1299, it was restored in 1437 by Michelozzo, it was later remodeled on a design by Giambologna; the simple facade was redone between 1777 and 1780. It contains the museums of San Marco and houses noumerous works of art.

San Miniato al Monte: One of the finest examples of pure Florentine Romanesque architecture, it was first started in 1018 and completed in the XIII century. The facade was carried out in white Carrara and green Prato marble, 12th-13th centuries. The facade of San Miniato inspired Alberti's completion of the facade of Santa Maria Novella in the 15th century and the covering of the facades of the Duomo and Santa Croce in the 19th century.

Santa Croce: The Basilica of Santa Croce was built between 1295 and 1443 on the site of an earlier and smaller Franciscan oratory. For 500 years it has been the custom to bury or erect monuments to important citizens of Firenze in this church; it is the burial place of Ghiberti, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo.

Santa Felicita: The oldest church in Florence after San Lorenzo, it houses important paintings by Pontormo, including one of the masterpieces of 16th century Florentine paintings,the Deposition.

Santa Maria del Carmine: It is famous for its frescos by Masaccio in the Cappella Brancacci which influenced the Florentine Renaissance artists.

Santo Spirito: The church of Santo Spirito founded in 1250 and received its present form in the 15th century when it was built after a model by Brunelleschi who had conceived of it as a twin church of San Lorenzo. Its facade was never finished and is still only a rough plastered wall with an undefined silhouette at the top.The dome was designed by Brunelleschi, while the bell tower is by Baccio d'Agnolo in 1503. The interior is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture. Behind the high altar is a Crucifix that may be an early work by Michelangelo. The church houses various important examples of pictorial art including Filippino Lippi's famous Madonna and Child with Saints.