Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo)
Together with St. Johns Square (Piazza S. Giovanni) situated in the centre of the town, we also find the most important religious monuments: the Baptistery, the Basilica of S. Maria del Fiore and Giotto’s bell tower.
St. John’s Baptistery (Battistero di S. Giovanni)
It represents the religious centre of the town. It was erected in a Romanesque style between the 11th and 13hth century on buildings from the roman epoch. It has an octangular layout and is enclosed in a double sequence of pillars holding a trabeation below and arches above. The cupola ceiling is hidden behind a thirteen hundred century attic, over flown by an octagon pyramid. The famous bronze doors are situated in the three portals where the original bronzing is put into evidence. The door on the south is the most ancient, and is part of Andrea Pisano’s works (1330); whilst, the door on the north was realized by Lorenzo Ghiberti (1403-24) and the door on the east, in front of the Cathedral, is defined by Michelangelo as door to Paradise and is a copy of the masterpiece of Lorenzo Ghiberti.
The Bigello Lodge (Loggia del Bigello)
It is in front of the door, south of the Baptistery, on the corner of via dei Calzaiuoli. The Lodge was erected in 1352-58 to expose the abandoned children to the civic charity.
Giotto’s of Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto)
Isolated on the left of the Cathedral, it is 84,7 meters high and is famous for its gothic slender architecture, elegant polychrome coating and rich plastic decoration.
Giotto began the construction in 1334, followed by Andrea Pisano and later by Francesco Talenti who carried out the realization of the upper levels. Two fourteen hundred century bas-reliefs embellish the podium. Walking up a staircase of 414 steps, it is possible to access the terrace and enjoy a wide panorama of the city.
Cathedral - St. Maria del Fiore’s Basilica (Duomo - Basilica di S. Maria del Fiore)
A religious monument facing the Baptistery, built with the typical gothic style of Florence. Arnolfo di Cambio began the construction in 1296. After his death the construction was resubmitted in wider portions in 1331 and later in 1357 under Francesco Talenti’s supervision. The nave’s vault was ultimated in 1378, whilst the side aisles were terminated in 1380. Between 1421 and 1468 the tribunes of the octagan terminal were built and Brunelleschi’s cupola (dome) was crowned by the culminating lantern of Verrocchio’s bronze ball and cross. Arnolfo di Cambio’s original facade was knocked down and replaced with Emilio De Fabris’ work in 1578.
Santa Reparata (4th-5th centuries)
These are the ruins of the ancient Florentine cathedral, knocked down in 1375 and re-discovered during the excavations which began in 1966. The planimetry layout of a nave and two aisles was discovered. Ruins of Romanesque house walls, glass and metals and ceramics, along with Giovanni de’ Medici’s and Filippo Brunelleschi’s gravestones are still visible today.
Cathedral’s Opera Museum (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo)
Built in 1891, it is situated at number 9 at Piazza del Duomo. A collection of important Florentine sculptures dated the fourteenth and fifthteenth century are gathered inside the cathedral, some of which, come from the Baptistery, Giotto’s Bell Tower and from the Cathedral.
Via de’ Martelli
Represents one of the most animated streets in the city of Florence. The building of an ex Jewish convent is situated on the left hand side and is currently used as a classical liceo. San Giovannino degli Scolopis’ church is situated next to the convent, its facade dates back to 1579 and is attributed to Bartolomeo Ammannati.
Palazzo Medici - Riccardi
Rapresents the prototype of a renaissance aristocratic fiorentine residence. It develops on three rustigated sloping levels. The windows are double lancet, the medicean stems are positioned between the openings and it also has a rich frame. The windows on the ground floor, near the corner, can almost certainly be attributed to Michelangelo. The construction of the building began in 1444 under Michelozzo on behalf of Cosimo il Vecchio. It was the Medici family residence up until the grand duke Cosimo the 1st. It was later passed onto the Riccardi and afterwards to the Lorena family. When Florence was declared as the capital city, the palace became the residence of the Minister of the Home Affairs. It is currently the residence of the Prefecture.
St. Lorenzo Square (Piazza S. Lorenzo)
San Lorenzo’s church faces the square, behind which, are located the cupola (dome) of the Principi’s chapel, the fifthteen and sixteenth century gentilizi palaces and the marble monument of captain Giovanni delle Bande Bere, realized by Baccio Bandinelli (1540).
St. Lorenzo
The basilica represents a masterpiece of religious architecture from the initial Florentine renaissance period, apart from being indissoluble linked to the memory of the Medici family. It was carried out by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1442-46 and finalized by Antonio Manetti in 1461. The basilica stands where the ancient cathedral, consecrated by St.Ambrogio in 393 and restored in a Romanesque style in the 11th century stood.
Old Sacristy (Sagrestia Vecchia)
Designed by Brunelleschi (1421-26) as a cube, surmounted by a hemispherical dome on pendentives. Donatello carried out the decorations of the medallions, in the cupola’s pendentives, lunettes and in the cherubs’ frieze. The layout of the bronze doors located on both sides of the small chapel and the two overlapping relieves in terracotta, can attributed to Donatello’s studio.
Laurenziana Medicea Library (Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana)
The library founded by Cosimo the Old, can be reached by passing through a chiostro in Brunelleschi’s style. It is inside a building attributed to Michelangelo and holds the most important collection of italian manuscripts. Exhibitions of antique and miniature manuscripts and relics considered precious are kept here.
Cappelle Medicee
It can be accessed from number 6 at piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini. It is the complex of the mausoleum chapel of the Principi and of the Michelangiolesca New Sacristy (Sagrestia Nuova) located in the apse of St. Lorenzo’s basilica. Passing through a vast crypt and onto the Principi’s chapel, octagan cupola construction, erected by Matteo Nigetti on behalf of Ferdinando the 1st de’ Medici. The grand dukes of Tuscany’s monumental sarcophagus can be seen inside.
New Sacristy (Sagrestia Nuova)
It is Lorenzo the Magnificent family’s funeral chapel. It was designed and initiated by Michelangelo in 1521-24, whilst Giorgio Vasari and Bartolomeo Ammannati took care in terminating the work. It has a square layout covered by a radiant coffer cupola (dome) with an architectural framework, known as the pietra serena, against the light stucco walls.
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Cathedral Square 