Discover Florence – KATERINA & VITTORIO

DISCOVER

SIGHTS

CATHEDRAL SQUARE

This is the heart of the city, where the main buildings are located. The square is dominated by the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo). The dome created by the famous Brunelleschi is the symbol of Florence. Nearby there are the baptistery with the bronze “Gates of Paradise” and the Giotto bell tower, covered by marble of various colours and shades with a beautiful view of the city.

PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORA

Piazza della Signoria has been the political center of Florence since the Middle ages. Here you can find such famous buildings as the Palazzo Vecchio, where the city authorities worked, the Gucci Museum and the Uffizi art gallery. To the right of the façade of The Palazzo Vecchio is the Loggia Lanzi – a real open-air museum.

UFFIZI GALERY

The Uffizi Gallery, which building was built by the architect Giorgio Vasari, contains a collection of paintings and sculptures created by Italian and foreign masters. The most important and well- known masterpieces of the collection are works of Italian Renaissance masters, but the German, Flemish, Dutch and French paintings also deserve attention.

GALLERIA DELL’ACADEMIA

PALAZZO PITTI

The Pitti Palace served as the residence of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. It was the largest and most luxurious of the Florentine palaces of that time. Inside there is a whole complex of museums with various collections. In the Palatine gallery, you can see the masterpieces of Raphael, Titian and other great masters.

PONTE VECCHIO

The Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge over the Arno river in Florence and one of the main symbols of the city. In 1565, the architect Vasari built a covered corridor about one km in length on the Eastern side of the bridge, which connected the new residence of the Medici Dukes with the former one. Since 1593, the Grand Duke Ferdinando I made a law, according to which only jewelers have the right to be traded on the bridge.

BASILICA OF SANTA CROCE

The Basilica of Santa Croce, which was built in 1294 by Arnolfo di Cambio, is the largest Church of the Franciscans in the world. Its impressive Gothic architecture, wonderful frescoes and paintings in the altars, beautiful stained glass windows and numerous sculptures make the Church one of the most important monuments of Florentine art, since the XIII century.

BOBOLI GARDENS

Behind the building of the Palazzo Pitti stretches the monumental Boboli gardens, created by the will of the Medici. This is one of the most extensive and elegant Italian-style gardens and another Florentine open-air Museum: the gardens are decorated with sculptures from various eras, from antiquity to the XVII century.

GUCCI MUSEUM

The Gucci Museum was opened in September 2011 in the Palazzo di Mercantia in Piazza della Signoria. The opening was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Florentine brand, which has become a symbol of good taste, style and quality all over the world. The Museum area is 1715 m2, and the exposition occupies three floors. It is completely devoted to the history of the famous fashion house from Florence.

SHOPPING

HIGH FASHION

On Via Tornabuoni, Via della Vigna Nuova, or Via dei Calzaiuoli streets, you can find such boutiques as Gucci, Pucci, Ferragamo, Disney Store, Furla, Carpisa and many others.

GINORI 1735

The oldest porcelain manufacturer still operating in Italy. Founded in 1735 in Doccia near Florence by the Marquese Carlo Ginori, and now is under the artistic direction of Alessandro Michele.

JEWELLERY

Jewellery making is a traditional Florentine craft. Jewellery stores are located on the Ponte Vecchio (Old bridge), where local craftsmen have come to sell their products. The prices there are quite high, but the jewellery is of a very good quality, handmade (so most of them are exclusive). Luxury jewellery brands such as Cartier, Rolex, Damiani and Tiffany are located in Tornabuoni street.

OPEN MARKETS

Open markets are very popular in Florence. The most famous is Mercato in the San Lorenzo area. It sells food products, most of which are locally produced – meat, cheeses, olives, bread. Sellers of leather goods, clothing, and ceramics are located on the territory around Mercato Centrale. Another similar place in Florence is Mercato Nuovo, near the Ponte Vecchio bridge.

OUTLETS

Outlets are located mainly outside the city. Most of them are multi-brand, but there are also mono-brand ones. The Mall is the most popular outlet in the city. There is a large selection of luxury brands: Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Dior, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCartney, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, etc. It can not be called large, but it is very convenient and popular among tourists.

BARBIERINO OUTLET

Barbierino Designer outlet one of the most popular outlet in the city. There is a large selection of also italian luxury brands: Patrizia Pepe, Pinko, Trussardi, Flavio Castellani, Coccinelle, Fossil, Bloomarine, Monnalisa, Karl Lagerfeld, Dolce&Gabbana, Baldinini, Furla, Ralph Loren, Luisa Spagnoli, Liu•Jo, Michael Kors.

SHOPPING CENTERS

La Rinascente — you can find such brands as Armani, Burberry, Escada, Gerard Darelle, Glenfield, Guess, Lacoste, Moschino, Missoni, Velvet, etc.

Coin is an Italian chain with more affordable brands of clothing and shoes, cosmetics, perfumes and accessories.

PINEIDER 1774

Emblematic stationary, writing accessories and blue leather goods. Pineider was founded in 1775 in Florence by Francesco Pineider, and today is run by the Rovagnati family (a leading producer of cured meats). The company has boasted some illustrious customers down the years, including the Vatican, the Mondadori family and Liz Taylor. You can stock up on the company’s.

AQUAZURRA

An ultra-feminine shoe brand, is based in the beautiful Palazzo Corsini on the banks of the Arno in Florence. It was founded in 2011 by Edgardo Osorio, a cosmopolitan talent of Colombian origin. Striking the perfect balance between modern design and impeccable craftsmanship, AQUAZZURA’s elegant, timeless styles for women of all ages are crafted with attention to detail and a focus on wearability.

AQUAFLOR

A house of perfumery. The story of Aquaflor begins a long time ago, when its founders, profound lovers of arts and craftsmanship, started imagining a house of perfumery inspired by ideals of beauty and uniqueness, where in antique cabinets and between old fashioned bottles one could discover precious and unique perfumes.

BISCOTTIFICIO ANTONIO MATTEI

Since 1858, Antonio Mattei has been producing Italian biscotti and confections in the historic bakery and shop located on Via Ricasoli, in the heart of the old city of Prato, Tuscany. He was the first to develop the recipe for almond biscotti, commonly known as “Cantucci” or “Cantuccini.” His original recipe was awarded numerious prizes, and is still kept as a secret of the Pandolfini family, who inherited the old bakery in 1904, and are now in their fourth generation of running it.

LA VIA DEL TE

OFFICINA PROFUMO-FARMACEUTICA
DI SANTA MARIA NOVELLA

The Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella plants its roots back to 1221, the year of Santa Maria Novella conventum foundation: friars had come over Florence to start the conventual activity, planting and growing their garden. This would have later become the deepest root of the apothecarian legacy that made the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella getting, century after century, to its today’s shape.

PRINCIPE DI FIRENZE

The first Principe shop was started in 1930 downtown Florence, in Piazza Strozzi, by Sergio Doni who pursued the family tradition by making bespoke clothing, in particular, men’s shirts and ties. After eighty years, Principe goes on welcoming a sophisticated and international clientele and offering men’s made-to-measure suits, shirts, ties, belts, underwear, socks and nightwear, in addition to a wide range of women’s and children’s clothing and accessories.

RESTAURANTS

GUCCI OSTERIA DA MASSIMO BOTTURA

Antico Ristoro di Cambi

Cantinetta Antinori

ENOTECA PINCHIORRI

Buca Lapi

Buca Mario

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