The Cheapest three things to do in Italy.

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by: flowellenmigratoria
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Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 Time: 5:35 PM
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Florence Dome
The Firenze Duomo was fashioned under the careful eye of Arnolfo Cambio at the end of the thirteenth Century and is, without any shadow of doubt, one of the city's most distinctive visitor attractions. On the death of Cambio in the early 14th century progress on the cathedral came to a halt. It wasn't until some 30 years after that the Italian master Giotto agreed to continue working on the Duomo, he only managed to complete the bell-tower before his death in 1337. It was another 27 years when the old cathedral was pulled down and a new one started. This some one-hundred years after the initial plans were drawn up.

Filippo Brunelleschi was commissioned to design the great dome (the Cupola) of the cathedral which was in fact made up of of two dome's, one dome can be seen in all its glory from the outside and another which can be explored from the interior of the cathedral. On the inner dome frescoes by Paolo Uccello the cupola. It was not until 1436, some 136 years after the project was started that the cathedral was finally completed.

Giotto's Bell-Tower Florence.
Giotto's Campanile is an free-standing belfry that is positioned in the Piazza del Duomo of Firenze,Toscana. It is placed right next to the Tuscany's famous Cupola and is one of the most striking examples of Florentine Gothic Architecture from the noted craftsman Giotto. It is eighty-four point seven metres high and is supported by four buttresses on each corner.

Giotto never saw the Bell Tower completed, he laboured hard on the project from 1334 until his death in 1337, only seing the 1st floor finished. The fine stone used in the bell tower comes from Carrara (white), Prato (green) and Siena (red).

The panorama of Piazzale Michelanglo
Piazzale Michelangelo provides the most spectacular view for tourists coming to Florence. It has it all, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio and the hills of Fiesole as its backdrop. The main square is approximately 100 metres square, with the main portion assigned for scooters and buses that park up allowing tourers to take in this incredible view. In the summer months the Square has a scattering of market stands and dealers that sell an mixture of handbags and mementos.

If it's a clear sunny day in Florence you have to go to Piazzale Michelangelo because there's nothing quite like it, and it will leave a long-lasting impression. There's also a coffee shop in the Piazza from which you can take in the view while enjoying a Coffee Cappuccino or cocktail.

It goes without saying that wherever tourism is popular during the evening you need to be especially open-eyed against pickpockets. You'll also find a greater number of market stalls springing up as well as local creative people selling their wares. The sunset view is one for lovers, perched out on the steps gazing down over the town, but it's really on a clear sunny day or towards the hours of sunset that the Piazza really glows.

About the Author

You can read more about Tuscany Holidays on our dedicated resource pages.

D. Akeba is a travel blogger for Tuscany Villas, a website all about living the Tuscan life.