Florence

Florence - the capital of Tuscany, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and "Cultural Capital of Europe". "Venus" by Botticelli, "David" by Michelangelo and countless Renaissance palaces - this is a business card of Florence. After visiting it, you dive into a whirlpool of art and artifacts. This city is like a great theatrical scenery, which built many centuries ago, but did not bother to parse. In a small area of the city is located so many unique works of art, as nowhere else in the world. Here it is impossible to walk a single step, so as not to pierce eye once a monument to antiquity. In 59 BC Gaius Julius Caesar founded a colony of Florentia from crossing the river Arno. In the Middle Ages the town was in the shadow of their more fortunate brothers - Luke and Pisa. But in 1125 Florence began taking the surrounding areas, and its first victims turned out to Fiesole. This was not limited to: in 1406 fell Pisa, and in 1555 - Siena. Florence became the capital of the Duchy of Tuscany. Leading position in Tuscany, Florence has won in the XIII - XIV centuries, when the power in the city came to Cosimo de 'Medici the Elder of the tribe. Under him and his grandson Lorenzo the Magnificent in Florence has become the largest cultural center of Europe. This is where the creation of the first masterpieces of Renaissance art. Rhode Medici was extinguished in 1737, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was then one of the possessions of the Austrian Habsburgs. After the unification of Italy (1860) Florence five years (1865-1870.) Was the capital of the country. Thanks Francesco Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio and Dante Alighieri, Florence, also called "the cradle of the Italian language", since it is Florentine dialect became the literary model of the Italian language. At present, Naples, along with Milan and Rome - is one of the main centers of the world fashion: here are "headquarters" of such prominent companies as Gucci and Ferragamo. The most elegant fashion stores, located between Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti, in the Via Guicciardini, Via de 'Tuornabuoni and Via Strozzi, will win you the richness and variety of goods. Florence has always been considered the city collectors and lovers of antiquity. There are many antique and book shops, where you bound to find something interesting, whether old or impressive interior object, yellowed by time, folio. Lovers of antiques will find furniture and luxurious accessories in Borgo Onissanti and in neighborhoods around the Via Vigna Nuova case. Florence is also famous for its jewelers: the most expensive and exquisite jewelry stores located in the famous "Old Bridge» - Ponte Vecchio . Plush leather products and footwear to be found in stores located between Ponte Vecchio and Via Por 'Santa Maria in Via de' Kaltsayoli and at the end of Via Roma. On Sundays, small rynochki work here, where it is pleasant to wander in search of some amusing little things - in the collection. Beautiful evening Florence: street musicians, the bodies of cathedrals, violin, small chapels and luxurious restaurants with Florentine cuisine.