Google Map To Florence, Italy.

Google Map To The Basilica di Santa Croce
And The Palazzo Vecchio Courtyard, 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!

Traffic Is Banned in The City Square of Florence.	People Wander At Leisure And... Admire The Shops and Buildings."
The City Has A Timeless Beauty We Walk In The Footsteps Of The Great Artisans	Even With All The Tourists, We Wander In Relative Peace And Quiet.
An Alcove Of The Square Held Delightful Sculptures...and Tourists	You See The Strength And Feel The Might and Power
"The False David Statue! The Queue Was Long To See The Real Sculpture.	Hercules Statue The Muscle Structure Is Perfect... Their Faces Depict Strong Emotion!
The Sculptures Are So Realistic!	"The Palazzo Vecchio" And Its Courtyard!
Picture Michangelo Seated Here!	Did Dante Walk Here?!
The Ceiling Of The Palace!	Delicate Colors, Distinct Patterns!
We're On Our Way Out Toward Some "Modern Art"	Not Many Visitors Interesting Concept! Hmmmm!
Okay...Hmmmm... I'm Ready To Be On My Way	"Goodbye, Firenze!!!"