The lily was chosen to be the symbol of Florence in the second half of the XII century. Florentia had to be represented by a flower and the flowers mainly used in heraldic bearings were roses and lilies. The Florentine lily on the gonfalon was originally white on a red background; it was changed to red on a white background by the Guelfi in 1266, as a sign of victory over the Ghibellini. The botanic name of the lily of Florence is Irish Florentina, the iris can be seen in the city's coat of arms because it is a flower that grows abundantly in the fields around the city.
Mythology tells that the lily was born from drop of milk that feels from Giunone' s breast while she was feeding Ercole. The lily therefore signifies purity and chastity. The Florentines were so struck by the abundance and beauty of the flowers that they became attached to the iris (see photo) and associated it to their city life; the iris became the emblem of Florence due to its botanical name, Iris Florentia.
Whether it was red on white background or white on a red background, according to the current political movement, it was always the only valid symbol of the city and under it is sign Florence won liberty and honour. The iris however has story. The Egyptians cultivated various varieties of it on the banks of the river Nile and the Greeks admired the beautiful and many-coloured plants between the rocks and stones of the temple. The Greeks in their fantasy saw in these many coloured petals, Iride the messenger of gods, sliding down the rainbow from Olympus.
Florence is famous all over the world for its unique beauties (in the photo "Giudizio Universale" by Vasari, Cupola del Brunelleschi). For many years it has been the cradle of culture and art: many of the most famous artists of the Renaissance were born there and thanks to them thousands of tourists choose Florence for their holidays.
Florence signifies abundance or wealth ; during the middle-age, tanks to the Medici family, became an important economic, cultural and artistic city (see photo of Micehlangelo's David).
To visit the principal beauties in Florence you need at least 4 days: churches (Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, Cathedral..), monuments (David by Michelangelo) , museums artistic and scientific (Uffizi, Palazzo Pitti, Prehistoric museum, Museum of history and science….), palaces (Dante's house, Palazzo Vecchio), villas and gardens( Boboli garden, Villa Medicea…),the bridges (Ponte Vecchio, Bridge of Vittoria..), the squares (Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella…), houses of Giotto, Dante , Machiavelli, Buonarroti, Petrarca, Boccaccio…) …etc..
Who hasn't heard of a "bistecca alla fiorentina"? who has hasn't heard of the "ribollita", of the "pappa al pomodoro", "cacciucco", "panforte"...... Many typical specialities are cooked in Florence and particularly in Tuscany.
Tuscany is famous for being the region where you can enjoy eating better than in any part of Italy. In this section you will find a wide list of Restaurants. Tipical Tuscany Food, Traditional food, Fish Specialities, Typical International Food.... the c hoice is yours.
Florence offers a wide choice of places of amusement in which you can pass enjoyable evenings. There are over a hundred of them in the city and as you walk around the centre you may suddenly find a tavern, a pub or small discoteche in front of you.
You can decide to pass quiet evenings in pubs with particular atmospheres, or in pubs where there is more movement some have bands, others are real disco-pubs there is a wide choice of places if you like dancing.
Latin-american Discos, House Discos, commercial music discos are often frequented by tourists from abroad. In Florence you find many cinemas well distributed in all the city. At night the artistic beauties of Florence are lit up and the city is animated by young peope from all over the world. Spring and summer are the seasons in which Florence has the highest afflux of tourists and every kind of entertaiment is guaranteed. Even in winter Florence is animated but the places of amusement are obviously under cover rather than outside, as in the summer.
Shops in Florence
In the section shops di Firenze-Online you will find a big selection of the most important and well known shops in Florence, all divided categorically. For each activity you will have the possibility of getting into contact with the owners for any type of information.
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Florence became the city of art that all the world knows thanks to the great artists who built big monuments, churches, and sculptures during the years. Nearly all the famous artists of the Renaissance came from Tuscany and Florence became the centre of the Arts, artists like Donatello, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Giotto, Galileo, Dante, Botticelli and Masaccio are only a few of those who have left signs in the monuments or Florentine works of the xv century. A plunge in the past to admire the beauties of the present....
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