Google Map To Florence, Italy.

Google Map To The Basilica di Santa Croce
And The Palazzo Vecchio Courtyard, Florence, Italy.

Galileo's Tomb. Basilica di Santa Croce. Florence, Italy.

Florence (Italian: Firenze, Latin: Florentia) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. Florence lies along the River Arno and has a rich history and is known for its importance during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, especially for its great art and architecture. In fact, Florence is known as the “cradle of Renaissance” (la culla del Rinascimento) for many of its monuments, churches and buildings. Florence was originally established by Julius Caesar in 59 BC as a settlement for his veteran soldiers. It was named Florentia, which means "the flourishing". Florence became a great center of medieval European trade and finance. It is considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and is sometimes called the Athens of the Middle Ages. It was long under the de facto rule of the powerful Medici family. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The historic center of Florence attracts millions of visitors each year and it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. As with most places in the world, the original artifacts are now in museums and copies are in the places such as what we saw in Florence. This is done to protect the originals. We were there in August of 1999. June through August are the hottest months of the year in Florence, and it was hot!

Florence Sits On Tree-Covered Hills; A Beautiful City!	It Has Huge Mansions And Quaint Homes, Large Churches And Fields.
The Hills Are Terraced Every Inch Seems In Cultivation.	The River Runs Through The City With Bridges And Covered Walkways
Florence, Italy
At the Piazza Santa Croce, The Basilica di Santa Croce Was Our First Stop.	"Basilica di Santa Croce A Renaissance Gem!
At the Piazza Santa Croce, Basilica di Santa Croce Was Our First Stop.	Some Pray Inside This Renaissance Gem; Others View Paintings And Sculpture!
"Michelangelo Lies At Rest Here!	George At Michelangelo's Tomb It is Very Dark Inside The Church
George at Dante's Memorial.	Sculptures Vary In Detail; Rugged Features As Well As Beauty!
"Tombs In The Church Are Adorned with Life-Size Statues!	If She Was The Wife Of The Man Interred Here, He Was A Fortunate Man!
This Statue Reminded Audrey Of The Statue Of Liberty!	George At Machiavelli's Memorial!
Scaffolding Was Everywhere! Hard To Tell What Famous Man Rested Here.	George At Galileo's Tomb! It Was Scaffolded For Repair!
This Complex Statue Stands Outside the Church: "A Dante Alighieri"	We Went On To the Palazzo Vecchio The Uffizi The Courtyard Was Crowded!

Galileo's Tomb	Michelangelo's Tomb
Tomb	Machiavelli's Tomb
Refectory "Great Mural" At Basilica di Santa Croce	Copies Of Gates of Paradise By Lorenzo Ghiberti At The Florence Baptistry Originals At Duomo Museum