Florence By Area

The dominant building in this part of Florence is the magnificent Duomo, the first place most people will visit when they arrive in the city. Traffic is now banned in the Piazza del Duomo, which makes it easier to appreciate the immensity of this great building. It is, in fact, so large that a comprehensive view is impossible from such close quarters. As you wander the streets to the south you will continually catch glimpses of its multi-coloured marble cladding.

The area's other major church, Santa Croce, containing the tombs and monuments of many great Florentines, sits at the centre of the traditional artisans' quarter. These streets have few prestigious palaces, but there is a lively and attractive sense of community. It is here that you will find characterful neighbourhood shops and restoration workshops where specialists continue to repair the many books and works of art damaged in the 1966 floods.

Much of Florence was rebuilt during the Renaissance, but the eastern part of the city retains a distinctly medieval feel. With a confusing maze of tiny alleyways and hidden lanes. One of the oldest streets is the Borgo degli Albizi. Now lined with Renaissance palaces, it follows the line of ancient Roman road to Rome .