Florence

Florence is a beautiful city located on the banks of the Arno River in the Tuscany region of northern Italy. The capital of Florence province, its gothic and renaissance architecture is a glorious monument to its artistic past. Most tourists marvel at the striking beauty of the city's red-tiled rooftops and climb hillsides to get a birds-eye view. Other handsome buildings have to be admired close-up as they are hidden by apartments and the city's shops.

Shopping in all of Italy is a pleasure. Florence in particularly has well-crafted furniture, unique silverware, beautifully stitched leather bags and valuable alabaster sculptures filling the hundreds upon hundreds of shops. The city also manufactures sought after jewelry, pottery and brand-name motorcycles.

Buildings and structures worth exploring in Florence include Giotto's 14th century bell tower and the cathedral of Florence, a ornate building decorated with red, green and white marble. The building has gone through several stages of construction. It was begun in 1296, covered with a dome in the mid-1400's and dressed in a marble cloak in the 19th century.

As expected most of the museums in the city display historic works of art created by the many talented and beloved painters Italy has spawned. The Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts, holds works of Michelangelo.

Landscape surrounding the city is groves of olive trees and vineyards and gardens, and true to its name ( Florence means flowers), bright-colored blossoms bloom spring, summer and fall.