text and photos by Nina Sarmiento

  You think of Florence and you think of Dante, Michaelangelo, the Renaissance. Going to Florence is like going back in the 16th century, a time when the world's greatest artists lived and created their masterpiece.
 
  Going to Florence means having a lovely afternoon roaming in the piazza, eating gelato while marveling at Donatello's Judith and Holofernes, Michaelangelo's David and the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore – just some of Florence's many attractions.
 
If you can only spend a weekend in Italy's artistic haven, then do it by viewing some of the beautiful things to see in Florence:
 
Galleria degli Uffizi :
 
  The world's most visited museum, receiving over one million tourist each year. The Uffizi is home to nearly 2,000 painting. Some of the paintings that you may want to see include Gentile de Fabriano's Adoration of the Magi ; Fra' Filippo Lippi's Madonna and Child ; Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus; Leonardo Da Vinci's Annunciation ; Michaelangelo's Doni Tondo ;

Raphaels' Madonna of the Goldfinch and many many more. You need a whole day just to go through all of the artworks here.

Please come early (the museum opens at 8 a.m.) as the queues can be very long. I advise that you reserve a ticket online to save time.
 
Piazza Della Signoria:
 
Go to Florence's most famous square. It's a busy piazza just in front of Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's town hall. Most tourists gather in the piazza just to look at some of Italy's impressive marble sculptures including Giambologna's The Rape of the Sabine Women and the Fountain of Neptune by Bartolomeo Ammannati.
 
Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore:
 
One of the biggest cathedrals in Italy and the tallest building in the city of Florence. The dome was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi – one of the foremost architects and engineers of the Italian Renaissance. Brunelleschi built it by setting up stones and bricks of varrying size and densities. This resulting to a dome that seem to rise heavenward without any visible means of support. Climb up its 400 steps (this is good cardio, believe me!) and you will be rewarded by a panoramic view of the city.

Campanile:
 
  The belltower adjacent to the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore was designed by architect and painter Giotto di Bondone. It also offers a spectacular view of the city. Decorated in white, green, and pink Tuscan marble and its facade is in neo-gothic style.
 
Battistero di San Giovanni 
  Dedicated to Florence's patron saint, St. John the Baptist, this minor basilica is just across Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city, built in the 10th century and was noted as baptismal place of some famous Renaissance figures including poet Dante Alighieri and members of the Medici political dynasty. The octagonal shape is said to symbolize eternity and it's famous for its bronze doors designed by scupltor Lorenzo Ghiberti. Michaelangelo dubbed them the "Doors of Paradise."

Galleria Dell'Accademia:
 
  Florence's most famous sculpture (and tourist attraction), Michaelangelo's David (the original sculpture) is housed in this gallery. The gallery was built in 1784 so that students in the adjoining Accademia delle Belle Arti (Fine Arts Academy) could study some of the world's greatest art works. Apart from David, the gallery also contains the plaster copy of the Rape of the Sabine, Botticelli's Madonna of the Sea and paintings by Giovanni da Milano.
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You may also want to read:
 
1. Going Solo: Best Way To Travel in Europe – If this is your first time to travel solo in Europe,there are some things that you need to do before you pack your bags.
 
2. Quickie: 48 Hours in…Rome – Can't get enough of pasta, gelato and paintings? Then stay longer in Italy and go on a Roman holiday!