Tuscany Attractions

The Pisa Tower, otherwise known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, really was a labor of love, taking well over a hundred and fifty years to build. This tower is the campanile of Italy's cathedral, which means that it is a freestanding bell tower. The tower is located in what is known as the Field of Miracles (Campo dei Miracles), which is behind the actual cathedral's main building. The tower's most distinctive feature is that although it was designed to stand vertically, its poorly laid foundation causes it to lean significantly toward the southeast. The lean angle is about 5.5 degrees, meaning that the tower's top is over 4 meters from where it would be if the building were correctly vertical.

Pisa Tower architecture

The Pisa Tower is a Romanesque style of architecture, keeping with the era when it was built. It weighs a bit over 14,700 tons and has walls that are 8 feet thick at the base...

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The skyline of Florence (Firenze), Italy wouldn't be the same without the stunning Cathedral or Duomo that so personifies the grandeur and elegance of the city. The Duomo, which translates to "the Cathedral" or "Dome Cathedral", has a long and regal history dating back to the end of the 13th century.

The Duomo's Architecture
Near the end of the thirteenth century, the government that oversaw the Republic of Florence decided to replace their under-sized, rather plain Santa Reparata with a more majestic worshipping house. Architect Arnolfo di Cambio was asked to design the building, sans dome. Residents of the Florentine Republic were to help finance the construction of the cathedral, as a tax was added to all estates of the deceased. On September 8, 1296, Arnolfo di Cambio laid the first brick on the land where The Duomo now stands.

While di Cambio preferred to create structures in the popular Gothic style of the time, his basilica was a wonderful marriage of Gothic and classical styles...

Along with the distinctive Duomo, or cathedral and the famous statue of David by Michelangelo, the Ponte Vecchio has become one of the symbols of the beautiful Italian city of Florence.

The Ponte Vecchio – or Old Bridge – is the oldest bridge of several that span the River Arno, and the only one to survive World War II. It was built in 1235 by the architect Taddeo Gaddi and replaced an older wooden version of the bridge which had stood on the spot since Roman times.

The present bridge has the distinction of being Europe's oldest segmented arch bridge with the main arch spanning almost 100 feet and the two side arches spanning 88 feet. The innovative design meant that ships could navigate the river under the bridge more easily and it also made the bridge more resistant to floods.

The unique shops that line both sides of the bridge and give it its distinctive character have been there since the 12th century...

Galleria degli Uffizi (Uffizi Gallery) is among the world's most celebrated, oldest and renowned art museums. It calls the Palazzo degli Uffizi in Florence, Italy its home. The Palazzo was originally built as offices for the Florentine magistrates of Cosimo I de' Medici. Construction was begun by Giorgio Vasari in 1560. What resulted is a horse shoe-shaped structure spanning the River Arno and the Piazza Signoria.

The gallery itself was founded in 1581 and has a superb and extensive collection – starting from the sculptures and paintings created or commissioned by the Medici family. In fact, it was founded by Francesco I, the de' Medici Grand Duke. Later on, the collection was expanded by the Lorraine Grand-dukes and by the state of Italy. The Medici's last heir, Anna Maria Luisa, generously shared the family collection to the state. By 1765, the collection was officially opened for public viewing...

Undoubtedly one of the best public squares in the world, Piazza del Campo is a sloping scalloped-shape area that stands as the heart of Siena, Italy. Its elegant beauty sweeps you off your feet, as it had captured the hearts of many for several centuries now. And it still is a plaza to fall in love with.

The city of Siena is nestled at the foot of three hills. The Piazza del Campo sits right smack at the point where the three hills (the San Martino, the Castellare and the Camollia) meet, thus symbolically uniting these hills. It harks back to the 13th century and is made of marble and red brick. These bricks are arranged into a sunburst pattern which is divided into nine distinct sections, each representing the members of the Government of Nine during the Medieval times. It also has eleven narrow streets that flow into the rest of the city.

The Piazza slopes downwards to the Palazzo Pubblico, which is the Siena's city hall...

Dante's House (Casa Di Dante) in the 13th century was home to Alighieri families. This area stretched between church Piazza dei Donati and S. Martino in Florence, Italy. At the onset of 20th century, Municipal Administration asked to build a façade, now known as Dante's House, to commemorate the birth of Dante Alighieri, the famous author of Divine Comedy. This world over acknowledged masterpiece in literature was written by the writer in Terza Rima, in his vernacular language.

Today, this building marks the prestigious seat of House-museum, re-opened for visitors view on June 1, 1994. The museum has three stores particularly symbolic of three impertinent stages of Dante's life. The first floor has rich reserves of important documents on Florence during the 13th century as well as records on Dante during his youth. Some of the most sought-after records on Dante include, his public lifestyle, participation in political scenarios and military struggles, christening of San Giovanni and his election...

The "Capelle Medicee" are part of the Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze in Florence, Italy. The exterior of the chapel and the basilica are unprepossessing—the façade has never been completed. Inside, however, the beauty of both the basilica and the chapel is undeniable. The basilica is one of the largest churches in Florence, and is located at the heart of the city's largest market district.

The Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze was consecrated in the year 393, and for three hundred years was the city's cathedral, serving as the seat of the Florentine Bishop and the central church of the diocese of Florence. The basilica was also the parish church of the Medici family, one of the most powerful and influential families in Florence between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries. No less than three Popes were members of the Medici family, as well as several of Florence's rulers, and members of English and French Royalty...