Florence has its historical origins as a Roman colony at the confluence of the Arno and the Mugnone Rivers in Tuscany. It is best known as the cradle of the Italian Renaissance. Dante was born in Florence and, after fleeing the city under sentence of death as the result of a political intrigue, wrote his great work the Divine Comedy, an epic poem about a journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and Michelangleo, three of the most famous artists of the Renaissance, got their start in Florence, under the patronage of Florence’s long term leader, banking magnate Lorenzo de' Medici “Il Magnifico.”

Today, Florence is a prime travel destination for anyone interested in history and art and is filled with attractions dating back from the city’s Renaissance past.

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Galley contains one of the most extensive collections of renaissance art in the world. The collection includes works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Titian, da Vinci and Caravaggio. The gallery used to be a palace, but was opened to the public by the Medici family in the 16th Century. It is therefore considered one of the oldest museums in the world.

A highlight of any visit to the Uffizi is the famous painting by Botticelli, The Birth of Venus. It was one of the most famous works from the renaissance done of a secular subject.

Galleria dell'Accademia

The most famous piece in the Accademia is the gigantic statue of David, carved by Michelangelo. It was moved to its current location in the 19th Century from the Piazza della Siagnora, where it had stood for almost four hundred years. There are also other works at the Accademia by Michelangelo.