HOTEL ATHENAEUM

A city that has maintained its charm and the splendor of the past unchanged. So is Florence, the capital of Tuscany. An enchanting city that never ceases to surprise, with its masterpieces of art, the colorful marble churches and architectures that recall the splendor and the role played by the development of Renaissance culture and art. Florence - View. Florence's pulsating heart is Piazza del Duomo, with the monumental complex of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore - topped by the majestic Brunelleschi dome -, the Baptistery of St. John - a magnificent example of Florentine Romanesque - the Giotto's Bell Tower - a masterpiece of Gothic Florentine architecture. At the back of the Duomo is the Museum of the Opera of Santa Maria del Fiore, where you can admire a valuable collection of works from the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Campanile.Piazza della Signoria is the historical pole of civil life it houses the 14th-century Loggia dei Lanzi, the Fountain of Neptune and the Palazzo della Signoria or Palazzo Vecchio, one of the monuments-symbols of the city, in front of which are some famous statues including a copy of the famous David of Michelangelo. the majestic Uffizi Gallery, home to one of the most important museums in the world, including works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vi nci and many other great artists. Architectural element of particular importance of the Gallery is the Vasari Corridor designed by Vasari in the mid-sixteenth century connecting the structure with Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti.Tra Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria arise architectural treasures such as the Church of Orsanmichele and the thirteenth-century Palazzo of the Bargello, today the National Museum, one of the most important in the world for the sculpture of the XV-XVI century. Do not miss the sixteenth-century Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, also called Loggia del Porcellino for the characteristic bronze statue, actually depicting a wild boar, considered a lucky charm, and the magnificent Palazzo Strozzi, late 15th-early sixteenth century with a magnificent inner courtyard Of particular interest is the medieval quarter of Santa Croce, dominated by the homonymous Basilica, famous for the frescoes of Giotto and to guard the tombs of many illustrious Italians, including Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Also worthy of a visit are the extraordinary monumental complex of San Lorenzo and the convent of Santa Maria Novella, with a church that houses famous frescoes and precious works of art and the Museum, including the famous Green Cloister and the Chapel of the Spaniards. ancient and suggestive Ponte Vecchio, scattered with historic goldsmith shops, you reach the district of Oltrarno, where you will find the scenic square dominated by Palazzo Pitti, the imposing and magnificent palace that was the residence of the Medici and Lorena with the wonderful park, the Boboli Garden, a splendid example of an Italian garden.

Still in the Oltrarno, not to miss the panoramic Piazzale Michelangelo, a place favored by tourists for the wonderful view over Florence and the surrounding hills, and the Church of San Miniato al Monte, one of the best examples of Florentine Romanesque.