Florence and Pisa 2015

Florence is the capital of Tuscany and one of Europe’s most influential historic cities. It was a major commercial and banking center in the Middle Ages and became the birthplace of the Renaissance. The city’s wealth, particularly that of the Medici family, supported artists, architects, scholars, and engineers whose work transformed European art and culture. Florence holds an exceptional concentration of Renaissance art. The Uffizi contains major works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and Caravaggio, while the Galleria dell’Accademia is home to Michelangelo’s David. Beyond famous masterpieces, the city is filled with frescoed churches, artisan workshops, elegant piazzas, and historic palaces. The city is also known for Tuscan cuisine and traditional crafts. Although Florence is heavily visited, it remains a living university city with active neighborhoods beyond the main tourist areas. Early mornings and evenings, particularly along the Arno or from viewpoints such as Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte, offer a quieter perspective on the city’s architecture, hills, and distinctive Renaissance skyline. We visited Florence in the summer of 2015 and stayed for three nights, but it was nowhere near enough time to experience everything the city has to offer. We would love to return. We drove to Livorno, where we rented a villa near the beach and stayed for seven days. It was a wonderful base for exploring the Tuscan coast while enjoying time by the sea. During our stay, we took a trip to nearby Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, the cathedral, and the beautiful Piazza dei Miracoli.