Firenze is today’s capital of Tuscany, a city of art and joie de vivre.

In the heart of the city is the Piazza San Giovanni with its Duomo, Campanile and Battistero. After the cathedrals of Rome, Milan and London, that of Santa Maria Del Fiore is the fourth largest in the Christian world.

Over the northern gate is a relief that is a masterpiece of Early Renaissance relief work. The 3-sided cathedral was designed to symbolise a Latin crucifix. The main body of the cathedral is 153 metres long and 23 metres tall but in comparison with its huge dimensions, its interior is somewhat bare. In the adjoining Cathedral Museum there is a fascinating collection of pulpits that were designed for special occasions by the most prominent artists of the day.

The Firenze Academy has altered the face of European culture and at the beginning of the 15th century the young Cosimo De Medici became a follower of PLATON`S doctrine and philosophy. 463 steps within the Academy’s two-tiered dome lead to a superb view that extends over the length and breadth of the old city.

With its impressive 107 metre high dome, the Battistero is a stunning building and its Laterna, that was completed in 1572, is a masterpiece created by Brunellechi.

The Piazza San Giovanni exudes a powerful ambience and even today it is still possible to feel the remarkable artistry of its historic past.