Before we start. Why this is more
than just a regular walking tour? This walking tour includes: names of Florence attractions, a map appears
from time to time for better orientation, drones and additional footage
for a unique experience, 3D planning route
at the beginning of each route you take, turn on Closed Captions
if you want to know more about each attraction full-screen drone shots of the city
at the end of the video, check the description for Google Maps
with the planning routes, streets, and attractions we cover, you can use it
when you visit Florence. We use high-quality camera equipment
including a surround microphone for the real feel of the environment. Enjoy! Let's start our tour by visiting Mercato Centrale
and San Lorenzo Market. Both markets offer various
authentic Italian and Florentine food, souvenirs, clothing, and other products. The outdoor part of the San Lorenzo Market
surrounding the Mercato Centrale building contains hundreds of stalls
running along several streets. Mercato centrale is the indoor part
of the market open in 2014. It is set in a beautiful iron
and glass architecture from 1874. Explore several floors that offer everything
from local specialties to pizzerias. Florence is known for its leather production
since ancient times. At San Lorenzo Market, you will find leather bags, belts,
wallets, jackets, and other leather products. To get a better deal,
you can even try bargaining. Piazza di San Lorenzo has been home
to the city's cathedral for 300 years. This oldest church in Florence
was consecrated in the year 393. It is one of many buildings belonging
to the San Lorenzo complex. Visit Medici Chapel
with an underground crypt where you will find the tomb
of Cosimo di Medici and artist Donatello. Don't skip Laurentian Medici Library, showcasing the work of Michelangelo
and a collection of Italian manuscripts. Galleria dell Accademia is home
to Michelangelo's statue of David. The Gallery holds a collection
of musical instruments, religious paintings from different centuries,
and other works of art from notable artists. You can learn how Michelangelo
created this statue of David and how his other sculptures
complement it in the Hall of the Prisoners. Other works you can explore are Botticelli's
paintings and 13th-century gothic paintings. Hospital of Innocents is a children's orphanage
built in the 14th century. It's an example of early Italian Renaissance architecture
and is considered an architectural wonder and is Europe's oldest foundling hospital. Piazza del Duomo houses the city's cathedral,
the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, completed in 1436, known as Duomo. It features a beautiful marble exterior and
an impressive and the largest masonry dome in the world. Giotto's Bell Tower (Giotto's Campanile)
offers a panoramic view of the city. Below the cathedral
is the Crypt of Santa Reparata, housing the remains
of the former cathedral of the city. Across the cathedral
is the Baptistery of St. John with a Byzantine mosaic
depicting the Last Judgement. Piazza della Repubblica is a square
located in the city's center. It used to be filled with markets but
was reinvented when the city became Italy's capital, changing its 18th-century style
to the urban space that it is today. If you have kids,
let them ride a historic carousel. Caffè Glubbe Rosse
is a famous cafe in the square that was the meeting place
of some famous literary artists. Mercato del Porcellino is located in a 16th-century
loggia, initially a covered luxury goods market, now mainly selling
leather products and souvenirs. Don't skip the famous Fontana del Porcellino
(Il Porcellino means "piglet" in Italian). One of the most prominent squares in Florence,
Piazza della Signoria, is located at what was considered
the political heart of Florence. The square was the site of many historical events and
houses several prominent buildings and sculptures. Fontana del Nettuno is a fountain with the statue
of Duke Cosimo I at its center. It was made to celebrate
the maritime ambitions of the Medici. Loggia dei Lanzi is an open-air gallery that features
culptures like the Rape of the Sabine Women and Perseus
with the Head of Medusa. Palazzo della Signoria or Palazzo Vecchio,
the traditional seat of the government, is a significant symbol of civil power. During its long history, the palace was also
known by several different names, like Palazzo del Popolo, Palazzo Ducale,
and Palazzo dei Priori. Uffizi Gallery is one of the most important
and most visited museums in Italy and one of the most visited
art museums in the world. The Gallery is open to the public
since the 16th century. What started out as a place for legal and administrative
offices now houses a vast collection of works of art. Before the museum, the works of art came
from private collections of the Medici and were only shown
to select guests. Uffizi is known for its collection
of sculptures and paintings ranging from the Middle Ages to the present,
like The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli and other notable artists such as Leonardo,
Filippo Lippi, and Michelangelo. On the top of Ponte Vecchio
runs the Vasari Corridor, a secret passageway connecting
town hall to the Palazzo Pitti. The corridor was built by the Medici Family,
the famous family who ruled Florence and supported many of the artists
who were active in the city. Did you know that the corridor is featured
in Dan Brown's Inferno? Ponte Vecchio, a bridge featuring an entire
medieval street, stretches over the Arno river, and it's the oldest
stone bridge in Europe, built in 1333. At first, the bridge was used by farmers,
butchers, and tanners, who occupied
the shops along the bridge. Today you will mainly find
jewelers and souvenir sellers. Ponte Vecchio is a romantic spot
for both locals and tourists. Ponte Santa Trinita is a Renaissance bridge
from the 16th century, destroyed many times
during its long history. It is the world's
oldest elliptic arch bridge. House of Dante, now a museum,
is made as a memorial to the life and works
of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri. The Bardini Garden is a lovely, terraced garden
offering a beautiful view of Florence. Some parts of the garden
date back to the 13th century. The Baroque staircase and statues
were added in the 19th century. In the 16th century, fortifications
became necessary for the defense of the city. One of the most beautiful ones
is the Fortress of Belvedere. It has a panoramic view of the city
and was used as a symbol of power by the Medici family. The city walls of Florence
have been rebuilt several times. Some believe it was four
and some six different times. Only a few parts of the wall
remain intact today, and some of those that survived
are the gates to the city. The San Niccolò Gate is the only gate that maintained
its original height from when it was built in 1324. Much of these structures
hold a lot of history, as they are sites of historical events. Piazzale Michelangelo is a square that offers
a fantastic panoramic view of Florence. Piazza Santo Spirito, built in the 13th century,
is a venue of various markets. This square is a popular place
and especially lively during the evening. Basilica di Santo Spirito
was the last masterpiece of a celebrated architect
Filippo Brunelleschi in 1444. The church was finished in the late 15th century
after his death. Palazzo Pitti is a vast palace that was bought
by the Medici Family in the 16th century. The palace serves many purposes, amongst others, Napoleon used it
as a power base in the 18th century. The Boboli Gardens were owned by the Medici family
and heralded as an example of "green architecture." Boboli's structural design had
a significant influence on other courts. The gardens contain statues,
caves, and greenery. They house an outdoor museum where you can see
the collection of sculptures, fountains, and caves. The gardens are a part
of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites and have around
one million visitors per year. Fountain of Neptune is a bronze
Mannerist statue of Neptune using his trident (the "fork") for Florentines. The Upper Botanical Garden (Botanica Superiore) was a botanical garden
from the time of Boboli Gardens' enlargement. Although the area dates back
to the 17th century, the layout we know today
is from the mid-19th century. The Isolotto was constructed in 1618. This island holds Fontana dell' Oceano, originally from 1576 but now replaced by a copy
in its centerpiece. Grotta del Buontalenti is linked with
the construction of the aqueduct in 1551 to supply water first to the Boboli Gardens
and then to Palazzo Vecchio.
