After his conversion to Christianity (313 a.C.), the emperor Costantino ordered to build a church in place of the ancient roman temple: the Cathedral. During the Middle Ages, with the growing progress of Florence as a political power, the Cathedral square was embellished by adding Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance monuments.
The Cathedral and the surrounding buildings represent the main places of interests of the city.
To visit in the Cathedral Square and in the surrounding buildings :
Baptistry - The Baptistry is one of the oldest buildings in Florence Scholars think that in the V century a Romanesque baptistry was built on the ruines of a Roman temple. The exterior presents green and white marble decorations, typical of Florentine Romanesque buildings. Particularly valuable are its three bronze doors, formed by a series of panels representing the history of Mankind and its Redemption. The south door is the most ancient. The sculptor Andrea Pisano terminated it in 1336 .. Baptistry
Giotto`s Campanile - Giotto`s Campanile is 84.7m high. Those who ascend its 414 steps enjoy a magnificent view of Florence .. Giotto designed the Campanile. The works for its building began in 1334 and Giotto did not see his masterpiece finished because he died three years later. Andrea Pisano and Francesco Buontalenti supervised the works until the campanile was completed .. The bas-reliefs by Donatello and other Florentine sculptors at the base of the Campinile represent the Creation .. Giotto`s Campanile
Bigallo Loggia - The Bigallo loggia was built in the 14th century on demand of the fraternal order of Santa Maria della Misericordia. It was realized in order to help old people, sicks and orphans. The last ones, while waiting for their foster parents, were lodged on the upper floor of the Loggia. Moving sick people to the hospital and burying deads in times of plague were two of the main tasks of the fraternal order. Today inside the Bigallo loggia we find a museum collecting many important .. Bigallo Loggia
Piazza della Repubblica - Piazza della Repubblica was built immediately after the Unity of Italy, when Florence became the capital of the new kingdom. Piazza della Repubblica was part of a town-plannig scheme including the demolition of some ancient buildings in the city center, as the Mercato Vecchio and the Jewish ghetto. At the time, the Florentine ... Piazza della Repubblica
Palazzo Nonfinito - Palazzo Nonfinito is situated in Via del Proconsolo 12. As its name implies, it is unfinished. Bernardo Buontalenti designed it in 1593 for the Strozzi family. Buontalenti built only the courtyard and the first floor but was not able to complete this large building. At present Palazzo Nonfinito houses the Museo Nazionale di Antropologia ed Etnologia (National Museum of Mankind). Although it is not one of the most important tourist .. Palazzo Nonfinito
Dante’s House - Dante’s House, built in the last century, is a reconstruction of the original poet’s home. It’s a museum, recently renewed, dedicated to the works, the biography and the time of Dante. A video shows historical examples derived by the poet’s masterpiece, “Divina Commedia”, realized by different artists .. Dante’s House
