City Breaks

Florence Episode 11 The Palazzo Vecchio

Find out why Duke Cosimo di Medici moved his family into the Palazzo Vecchio, the building which was originally his office, and how he and his Spanish wife Eleonora di Toledo made it both a symbol of the power of the Medici family and a comfortable home for themselves and their numerous children.  Hear too how Machiavelli worked from here and about some of the unfortunates who were imprisoned in the Torre di Arnolfo, the high crenellated tower which rises above the Palazzo and can be seen from all over Florence.

Florence Episode 10 Piazza della Signoria

First, find out about some of the historical events which took place in the Piazza della Signoria across the centuries, then hear about the main works of art to be found there.  The final section tells the story of the 15th century mad monk Girolamo Savonarola, whose fiery preaching persuaded the citizens of Florence to burn most of their precious possessions in a grand 'bonfire of the vanities' here on the square.

 

Florence Episode 09 Around San Lorenzo

Staying near San Lorenzo church, first a visit to the Laurentian Library, with its Michelangelo staircase and reading room, plus a magnificent collection of ancient books and manuscripts.  Next, we take in the nearby Medici Chapel, where over 50 family members are buried, some of them in the splendidly over-decorated mausoleuim on the upper floor.  And to finish, a biography of perhaps the best-known Medici of them all, Lorenzo il Magnifico.

Florence Episode 08 San Lorenzo

A description of the San Lorenzo district in medieval times, plus a visit to the Medici family church, famous for its artwork, especially the two pulpits by Donatello, who is buried here alongside his friend and sponsor, Cosimo di Medici.  Biographies of both men conclude the episode. 

Florence Episode 07 Palazzo Medici-Riccardi

The first Palazzo the Medici built themselves is plain outside, but fabulous inside - find out why and hear about some of the artwork inside.  And hear the history of the first few generations of this amazing family who ruled Florence for two centuries.

Florence Episode 06 Santa Maria Novella

A brief history of Santa Maria Novella - including the exotic visitors who came to the Council of Florence and the arrival of Eleanor of Toledo - and then a description of the church as a thriving artistic community in medieval days, one which nurtured such talents as Cimabue, Giotto and Fra Lippi.

A tour of Santa Croce involves visiting some of Italy's most famous tombs (think Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo ...), remembering the devasting floods of 1966 and seeing the symbol of the city's recovery from flood damage in the shape of Cimabue's rescued-from-the-waters crucifix.

Florence Episode 04 Dante. 

The story of Dante's life in Florence, plus some of his writing and tips on where to look for him in the city today.

Florence Episode 03  Around the duomo.  

A brief history of three buildings closely connected to the duomo, namely the baptistery, Giotto's  bell tower and the Cathedral Museum, along with pointers to the works of art to look out for in each.

Florence Episode 02 Inside the duomo

Stories from inside Florence's cathedral: all about the painting 'Dante's Divine Comedy', how Brunelleschi designed the dome and why a murder was committed in front of the altar in 1478.