World Heritage Photos

Historic Centre of Florence: Florence is the symbol of the Ranaissance. Florence is located about 50 km from San Gimignano and 70 km from Siena. Siena was the major rival of Florence in the 13th century. The Medici family ruled Florence from 1434 to 1737. Then Florence was under the rule of Austria until it became part of Italy in 1861. Florence was one of the most important cities in Europe in the 14th to the 16th centuries, the Renaissance period. Artistic masterpieces can be found in the historic centre of Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Some of the most outstanding monuments in the historic centre of Florence: The 13th century Cathedral of Florence Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence Cathedral. The dome of the cathedral was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, at that time the largest dome in the world. The freestanding bell tower of the cathedral was designed by Giotto. The Basilica Santa Croce is the burial place of some of the most famous Italians. A tomb was built for Dante in the Santa Croce, but the tomb is empty. Dante was exiled from Florence and moved to Ravenna, after his death in 1321, he is buried in Ravenna. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest and famous museums of art in the Western World, it houses priceless works of art, among them masterpieces of Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Donatello, Giotto. Dante was born in Florence, his birth house still exists. Michelangelo lived in Florence, Casa Buonarroti houses some early works of Michelangelo. The Ponte Vecchio is one of the icons of Florence and one of the most famous bridges in the world. The Historic Centre of Florence gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1982.

www.werelderfgoedfotos.nl   © Copyright   World Heritage Photos

➔

➔

1. 

   The Ponte Vecchio is the oldest and most famous bridge in Florence. The bridge spans the river Arno. The Ponte Vecchio is lined on both sides with shops of jewellers and goldsmiths. In 1565, Giorgio Vasari built the Vasari Corridor, a secret passageway that joins the Uffizi Gallery to the Pitti Palace, the corridor passes the Ponte Vecchio on the top of the shops. The Historic Centre of Florence was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982.

2. 

   Historic Centre of Florence: The dome of Florence Cathedral was the largest dome in the world until the 19th century, it is still the largest brick and mortar dome in the world. The dome was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The frescoes inside the dome were created by Giorgio Vasari. After the death of Vasari in 1574, Federico Zuccaro completed the frescoes in 1579. Brunelleschi is buried in the crypt of Florence Cathedral.

3. 

   Historic Centre of Florence: Florence Cathedral is dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, Saint Mary of the Flower. The cathedral was built in the Gothic style. The construction started in 1296. The exterior walls of Florence Cathedral are faced with marble. The niches houses the statues of the twelve apostles, in the middle is a statue of Mary with Child. The three huge bronze doors date from 1899-1903, they are decorated with scenes of the life of the Virgin Mary.

4. 

   Historic Centre of Florence: Giotto's bell tower is part of Florence Cathedral. The bell tower is a free-standing tower. The walls of Giotto's bell tower and the walls of the Florence Cathedral are faced with green, white and pink marble. The cathedral complex includes also a baptistery, the Baptistery of Florence.

5. 

   Historic Centre of Florence: The 16th century marble mosaic floor of Florence Cathedral. The meaning of the emblem of OPA: the organization that was founded to oversee the construction of the cathedral was called Opera del Duomo, the works on the Duomo, also known as the OPA. The Historic Centre of Florence was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1982.

6. 

   Historic Centre of Florence: The Baptistery of Florence has the status of a minor basilica, it was built in the Florentine Romanesque style from 1059 to 1128. The octagonal shaped baptistery is one of the oldest buildings in Florence. The octagonal dome is embellished with mosaics in the Byzantine style. The mosaics depict the Last Judgement. The Italian philosopher, poet and writer Dante Alighieri and members of the Medici Family were baptized in this baptistery.

7. 

   Historic Centre of Florence: The Basilica di Santa Croce, the Basilica of the Holy Cross. The Neo-Gothic marble façade dates from 1857-1863, it was designed by the architect Niccolo Matas, he wanted to be buried in the church, but because he was Jewish, he is buried under the threshold of the church The Santa Croce is the burial place of some of the most famous Italians, such as Michelangelo, Niccolò Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei and Gioachino Rossini.

8. 

   Historic Centre of Florence: The Basilica of Santa Croce houses the empty tomb of the famous writer and poet Dante Alighieri because his body rests in a tomb in Ravenna. Dante was exiled from Florence and moved to Ravenna, after his death in 1321 he is buried in Ravenna. Florence came to regret the exile of Dante and made many requests for the return of his mortal remains. Ravenna refused, Dante still rests in Ravenna. See also the World Heritage Photos of Ravenna.

9. 

   Historic Centre of Florence: The tomb of Galileo Galilei in the Basilica of Santa Croce. The Santa Croce is also famous for its sixteen chapels, most of them were adorned with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils. The Santa Croce is also called the 'Temple of the Italian Glories' because it is the burial place of some of the most famous Italians.

10. 

    Historic Centre of Florence: The tomb of Machiavelli in the Basilica di Santa Croce. The Basilica di Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world. The construction of the church started in 1294. The main façade was replaced in the 19th century. The Santa Croce is a minor basilica, it is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce.

11. 

    Historic Centre of Florence: The Uffizi Gallery is an U-shaped building, the gallery was designed by Giorgio Vasari and built between 1560 and 1580. The Uffizi Gallery was ordered by Cosimo I de' Medici. The Uffizi Gallery is located close to the Palazzo Vecchio, in front of the palace stands a copy of the David of Michelangelo. The Galleria dell' Accademia in Florence houses the original statue of David, probably one of the most famous statues in the world.

12. 

    Historic Centre of Florence: A long queue in front of the Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most visited art museums in the world, it houses a large collection of paintings and artworks such as the Birth of Venus by Botticelli, Bacchus by Caravaggio, the Madonna of the Goldfinch by Raphael and he Holy Family, known as Doni Tondo, by Michelangelo.

13. 

    Historic Centre of Florence: The Battle of the Centaurs. The Casa Buonarroti houses some early works of Michelangelo, among them the Battle of the Centaurs and the Madonna of the Steps. The Michelangelo House, the Casa Buonarroti, houses also the archive of the Buonarroti family and some of the letters and drawings of Michelangelo.

14. 

    Historic Centre of Florence: Dante Alighieri was born in this house in 1265. Very little remains of the original Dante's house, the Casa di Dante, it is a reconstruction of the original birth house of Dante. Today, it houses is a museum, dedicated to the works of Dante, such as his most famous work La Divina Commedia. Dante is considered the father of the Italian language.

15. 

    The Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge of Florence, a well known symbol of the city. After being destroyed by a flood in 1117, and again in 1333, it was rebuilt in 1345. The Torre dei Mannelli is the only surviving of the four towers which were built to defend the Ponte Vecchio. The Torre dei Mannelli is located at the southeast end of the bridge. The Ponte Vecchio is probably one of the most popular attractions of the UNESCO World Heritage: Historic Centre of Florence.