Itinerary

 

 

 

Duration: two nights, three days.

 

 

Recommended way of transport: by foot and by car

 

 

Recommended itinerary: Florence, Gargonza.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAY 1 – FLORENCE

We'll take a walk along those streets and visit those monuments that tell us a story about Dante Alighieri. We'll dedicate the whole first day to the Great Poet.

Basilica of Santa Croce they say that, when the French poet Stendhal saw the church, he was so awestruck by its beauty that he fainted. Hence the "Stendhal syndrome". Not surprisingly, this church is one of the city's masterpieces: inside, there are frescoes, marble sculptures and beautiful stained glass windows, as well as the tombs of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Galileo Galilei and Niccolò Machiavelli. Inside the church, it is also possible to see a beautiful funerary monument dedicated to Dante. To the left of the façade of Basilica of Santa Croce, on the square of the same name, there is a statue commemorating the Great Poet. The statue, in white Carrara marble, was made by Enrico Pazzi in 1865, 600 years after Dante's birth. In 2011, on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the Italian Unification, this statue was restored. Upon leaving the church, we'll follow in the steps of the writer of the Divine Comedy and reach the Badia Fiorentina, the Benedictine abbey that stands in front of the National Museum of Bargello. It was here that, according to the Vita Nuova, Dante as a child first met Beatrice Portinari, the love of his life. In addition to the works of Vasari and Filippino Lippi, the church is worth a visit to see the evocative Cloister of the Oranges, a peaceful oasis just a few steps away from the Piazza del Duomo. We'll then visit the National Museum of Bargello, with masterpieces by Donatello, Verrocchio and Michelangelo. In a fresco of the Cappella del Podestà, on the foreground, there is also a portrait of the Poet (a possible author of this painting is his contemporary and fellow citizen Giotto). The House of Dante Museum (Via Santa Margherita 1, Tue-Sun 10 am-5 pm, Tel. 055-219416) is just a few steps away. The original building, belonging to the Alighieri family, was destroyed, but it was rebuilt around the beginning of the 20th century, according to the style of the time in Florence. For those who want to get to know Dante better, this place certainly deserves a lingering visit. In front of the Museum, you can see the Torre della Castagna (Chestnut Tower), the old meeting place of the Priori, an important position that even Dante served in 1300.

Let's not forget to stop by the Church of Santa Margherita De' Cerchi, also known as Dante's Church. Here, Dante Alighieri married Gemma Donati, and, within these ancient walls, the Donati family are buried, as well as the Portinari, Beatrice's family. Inside the church, there is an English 19th century painting by H. G. Holiday depicting the meeting between Dante and Beatrice along the Arno river. The poet makes an appearance even in Santa Maria Novella, one of the most important churches in the city: in the Strozzi Chapel, painted by Nando di Cione, he is one of the Elect in the Last Judgement. Let's go over to the Piazza del Duomo, in the heart of the city. Its current layout is the product of a series of interventions made in the 19th century, intended to make monuments more uniform. Those who walk into the Piazza del Duomo are awestruck by its beauty and the grandeur of the works there, made with red, white and dark green marble. Here is the most important religious complex of the city: the Baptistry of Saint John, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) with the Brunelleschi dome and Giotto's Bell Tower. The Baptistry of Saint John was called by Dante "my beautiful Saint John" (Non mi parean men ampi né maggiori/ che que' che son nel mio bel San Giovanni,/fatti per loco de' battezzatori. Inferno, Canto XIX), and it was here that the poet was baptised. Also worth a visit are the small streets that go around the Duomo, which have never lost their medieval atmosphere: Via della Canonica, Via delle Oche and Via Sant’Elisabetta (where you can see the only, ancient, circular tower in Florence, the Torre della Pagliazza). We'll finish our Dante tour with another symbol of Florence: Piazza della Signoria. As the poet tells us, it was here that the Uberti family resided, a Ghibelline family, their houses demolished after the Guelph faction won. This location was chosen to house the beating heart of the city, sealed with the construction of the 14th century Palazzo della Signoria, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio. Following that, the Loggia della Signoria, also called Loggia dei Lanzi, was built. Both the Loggia and the Piazza are today essentially sculpture galleries: here you can see the Marzocco, Judith and Holophernes by Donatello, Michelangelo's David, Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus, which are among the most important ones.

 

Fancy a bite to eat? You can eat at one of the classic trattorias in the centre, where you can savour traditional ingredients and relax in typical, welcoming and refined atmosphere.

 

DAY 2 – FLORENCE

We'll spend this day enjoying the city's landmarks, which are a must. Among these are surely the Uffizi, one of the most important Italian museums, and one of the greatest and most renowned in the world. The exhibition displays works from the 12th to the 18th centuries, with the best collection of Renaissance works in the world. Within, are some of the greatest masterpieces of the world, created by artists such as Cimabue, Caravaggio, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Mantegna, Tiziano, Parmigianino, Dürer, Rubens, Rembrandt, Canaletto. The collection of the works by Sandro Botticelli is unparalleled. Let's not forget a stroll along the Ponte Vecchio, perhaps just in time for the sunset. Above the goldsmiths that line the sides of the bridge, is the famous Vasari Corridor that Giorgio Vasari built in 1565 on behalf of the Medici. This passageway allowed them to cross from Palazzo Vecchio to Pitti Palace in complete safety, without having to set foot on the streets of Florence. From there, we'll reach Pitti Palace, in front of the magnificent Boboli Gardens, one of the marvels of Italian gardens. This Palace, formerly a residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, is today an impressive complex that houses galleries and museums.

Must-sees: San Lorenzo Church, with the Medici tombs sculpted by Michelangelo.

 

And for shopping? For luxury shopping, there is nothing better than a stroll along Via Tornabuoni: since 1300, this road has been home to grand residential palaces belonging to the great Florence families, like the Antinori or the Strozzi. Today, these buildings are home to designer fashion boutiques and master jewellers. Nearby, is the Via della Vigna Nuova, where you can go for luxury shopping, and Via del Parione, where you can purchase one-of-a-kind furniture or apparel. Near the Duomo, along Via Roma, there are also many other luxury boutiques. For those who enjoy more thrifty shopping, we recommend a walk along Via dei Calzaiuoli, Via dei Cerretani and Via dei Banchi.

 

Would you like to see a panoramic view of Florence? For those who enjoy a good climb, we recommend going up the steps of the Brunelleschi Dome or Giotto's Bell Tower, from where you can enjoy an unforgettable view of Florence. Or, during the summer, you can go up the San Niccolò Tower (the only surviving tower open to visitors from the medieval city wall of Florence, now lost), in Piazza Poggi. Finally, for those who don't want to work up a sweat: a stroll to Piazzale Michelangelo, which you can reach by bus (no. 12) to find a balcony with a panoramic view of the city.

 

DAY 3 – GARGONZA

On our final day, we recommend a trip to an enchanted place, Gargonza, about an hour away by car from Florence: a small medieval village completely surrounded by the dreamlike greenery of the Val di Chiana. Dante stayed here in 1303 and attended the meeting between the Ghibellines and the White Guelphs who had been chased out of Florence, with the vain hope that a new attack on the Black Guelphs--the new rulers of the city and supporters of Papal rule--would have a positive outcome. Currently, the castle belongs to Roberto Guicciardini Corsi Salvati and it is an elegant residence, with a pool and a restaurant offering typical local cuisine, nestled in the beauty and peace of Tuscan greenery, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.