Associations World Congress
About Florence
Florence (Firenze) is the regional capital of Tuscany in the centre of Italy. One of the most charming cities in Tuscany – if not all of Italy, Florence is a place to immerse yourself in history, art and architecture. Dubbed the birthplace of the Renaissance, it’s home to works by Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo at the world-famous Uffizi Gallery, plus beautiful attractions like the Ponte Vecchio and the Boboli Gardens.
Home of the Uffizi Gallery
Florence is home to one of the most famous art galleries in the world, where many Renaissance masterpieces are housed. Hundreds of thousands of people visit Florence every year just to see the famous pieces by historical artists such as Raphael, Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, Giotto and Titian, just to name a few.
Hidden secrets from its history
Given its medieval and Enlightenment history, it’s not surprising there are plenty of hidden secrets and scandals to be discovered in the city of Florence. Take a tour of the Palazzo Medici and learn about how the Medici family boosted the Renaissance period, having made their fortune in commerce and banking and producing no fewer than four popes; you can also pick up the story of how Michelangelo was discovered, and why Hitler decided not to destroy the Ponte Vecchio during World War II. Florence has amazing secrets to uncover, and the best part is that it is very well-preserved city, where you will feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.
Gorgeous architecture
Florence’s crowning glory, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, was built in 1436 by architect Filippo Brunelleschi. The Duomo is made of natural green, red and white marble, with intricately carved and designed details – but it’s the sheer size of it that’s most impressive. As if that weren’t enough, everywhere you look you will see gothic and Renaissance architecture and can marvel at how the city makes a great effort to maintain its buildings, even alongside its newer or renovated buildings. Many churches, important places of government and even other noble families’ homes are all proudly on display to admire and visit.
Food and wine
Although the whole of Italy has amazing food and wine, Tuscany, and Florence in particular, does it best. With both traditional dishes and modern chefs making classics with a twist, high-quality, minimal ingredients are important here, offering flavours that make all the difference in the food. You will be wowed by the care and passion that goes into each dish you eat here.
An art and cultural hub
Although it’s a small city, Florence is very cultured and has a bustling food, art and culture scene. There are plenty of modern-art galleries, new restaurants opening all the time with a variety of different styles and flavours, fashion events, temporary museums with rotating subject matter and new pop-up events happening frequently.