Cradle of the Renaissance, romantic, enchanting and utterly irresistible, Florence is a place to feast on world-class art and gourmet Tuscan cuisine.
Florence is considered to be the artistic, historical, and cultural capital of not only Tuscany, but of all Italy. Its physical elegance coexists beautifully with the il dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing) lifestyle of the Florentines and it reveals the city in a strong, yet gentle way that makes us want to delve deep into its art, culture, and history.
The Renaissance, or rebirth, was the time between the medieval period and the beginning of the modern age. In other words, the time after the Middle Ages spanning the 14th to 16th centuries that saw a revival of the art and intellectual pursuits of Ancient Greek and Roman times.
The Tuscan city of Florence with many of its most celebrated creative minds from that inspiring period still famous today is believed to be the birthplace of the Renaissance.
The secret behind this cultural awakening can be traced to the city’s social conditions of the early 1300s. In Florence, this was a time of prosperity that saw the urban population growth and innovations abound. It was the perfect climate for an artistic community to thrive, meeting the demand from society for art and literature.
Instead of the restrictive approach to religious artwork that was customary in the Middle Ages, artists in the Renaissance explored more natural ways of depicting the human form in both religious and secular ways. The human form was portrayed more realistically, with incredible attention to perspective and human anatomy that is still breathtaking when you see it in person today.
As you stroll through the streets and backstreets of central Florence, you’ll enjoy seeing the contrast between examples of architecture from medieval and Renaissance times. Sites you can expect to see include the beautiful Piazza Della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, the Dome, and Giotto bell tower.
Naturally, you wouldn’t have an accurate picture of the Florentine Renaissance without learning about the personalities that pushed the limits and were notorious for their exploits, such as the powerful Medici family.
This wealthy Florentine clan used their financial leverage not only as patrons of the artists, but to build prestige and establish their power. They not only ruled the city for over a century, but the Medicis also commissioned some of the greatest minds of the Renaissance. So powerful were they that more than one generation of Medici children was tutored by none other than Galileo. He even named the four largest moons of the planet Jupiter for four of the Medici offspring.
