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Central Italy
Home » Italy » Italy Cities & Regions » Central ItalyPosted by Your Guide on May 4, 2006 5:41 PM
Florence (Firenze)
The city of Florence is Italy’s treasure trove of Renaissance art and architecture. It is located on the banks of the Arno River, and its landscape is dominated and defined by the Duomo. The Ponte Vecchio crosses the river and leaves its strollers at the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens.
Florence is home to some of the world’s most treasured pieces of art. Michelangelo’s David stands in the Galleria dell’Accademia, while the Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi) houses Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation, as well as works by Raphael, Caravaggio, and many more Renaissance artists.
Tuscan and Umbrian Countryside
Made famous in recent years through books and movies, the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside has become the place weary city-dwellers dream of escaping to one day. The idea of buying a villa and settling into the region’s tranquil pace is a captivating thought for good reason, as this portion of Italy is truly one of the loveliest places on earth. The landscapes are full of vineyards and olive groves, with charming hill towns popping up around every curve.
Siena
Siena thrived prior to the Renaissance, and the Italian Gothic and Romanesque architecture reflects that. Most of the buildings are reddish-brown in color, which is the origin of the crayon box staple, “burnt sienna.” Siena’s Il Duomo was built in the 12th century. The interior is stunning, with works of art embedded in the flooring.
Pisa
Pisa is famous for one thing and one thing only: the celebrated leaning tower. Though modern science has the capability to stand the tower aright, history and tourism prefer it remain tilted. The Italian government has spent a great deal of money in recent years to preserve the tower in its original skewed position. In 2001 the tower was reopened, and visitors can again climb to the top and see Pisa from above.
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