Every tourist destination has it’s attractions. However, because every tourist is different, these attractions have greater or lesser value. In this series Gary’s gives his reasons for traveling to a particular place. Hopefully some of his thoughts will entice you to consider adding this particular place to your itinerary. The entire series is being categorized under the heading, “Spotlights.” You may find more about these locations in the archives of this website, under headings such as, “Great Places,” “Things to Do in,” “Best of,” “Top 10” and “Places of a Lifetime.” In addition, there may be “Walking Tours” of these places available for purchase on the website for the low price of $1.49 each.

Florence Italy is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, a historical blossoming of Art which ushered the world out of the Dark Ages. Florence is a wonderful destination for travelers because it was the home of many Renaissance artists. All serious tourists must visit Florence for the following reasons:

1. Michelangelo’s David, considered the world’s greatest sculpture can be found in three separate locations in the city. The original is displayed in the Accademia, a small Art museum in the city center.

The David

2. The Uffizi Gallery, one of the world’s greatest Art museums can also be found in Florence. Many great Italian artists are represented, including Botticelli.

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus

3. Florence’s Duomo, the Church of Santa Maria in Fiore, is absolutely stunning with its pink, green, and white marble, and its famous Brunelleschi dome.

Duomo, Florence

4. Florence also contains other iconic structures which are recognizable around the globe.

Ponte Vecchio