Italian lessons at the Florence school are usually held in the
mornings, which leave the afternoons free for social or cultural
activities, trips, workshops, excursions, or free time to relax
or explore on your own. The school also offers fun and interesting
activities and excursions which allow you to experience more
of the enchanting Italian culture, make new friends among your
international classmates, and practice your language skills
in real-life situations. Below are a few examples of the excursions
offered.
Galleria
degli Uffizi (Uffizi Gallery)
One of the greatest museums in Italy, the Uffizi
Gallery houses masterpieces by Cimabue, Giotto,
Masaccio, Beato Angelico, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli,
Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Goya
and many others.
The huge
collection is really too big to master in one trip,
but visitors should ensure they take a peek at rooms
7-18, which include some of the city's biggest draws:
Botticelli's mythological masterpieces, "The
Birth of Venus" and "Primavera" (Spring)
and Leonardo Da Vinci's "Annunciation."
Piazza
del Duomo (Cathedral Square)
The renowned cathedral of Florence, Basilica di
Santa Maria del Fiore (known as the Duomo), with
its distinctive dome structure, is one of the most
famous images of Florence. Inside its beautiful
stained-glass windows, the Duomo contains many important
pieces of art.
Galleria
dell'Accademia
Over time this museum has become quite famous, mostly
due to its acquisition of many extraordinary pieces,
including its most famous, Michelangelo's David.
The well-known statue was carved from one block
of marble in 1502 when the artist was just 29 years
old.
Ponte
Vecchio
Even the dogs of war could not bring themselves
to destroy the Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge to
survive the Nazi bombing of Florence during World
War II. These days the famous 14th-century bridge
is virtually paved with gold—as it is home
to Florence's gold and silversmiths and many jewelers—and
is a prime shopping venue for the city's affluent
tourists.
Santa
Croce
The elegant Franciscan church of Santa Croce has
tended to overwhelm the visitor and is held responsible
for the little-known disease, Stendhal's Condition.
When the French writer Stendhal visited the church,
he suffered a fainting fit brought on by its beauty
and apparently it continues to afflict up to 12
visitors a year.
Lord Byron
reported himself "drunk with beauty" at
the sight of the church, which is attributed to
Arnolfo di Cambio, the architect responsible for
the Duomo.
Santa
Maria Novella
The zebra-striped facade of the Santa Maria Novella,
completed by Leon Battista Alberti in 1470, is the
starting point of many visitors' tours of Florence.
Situated near the city's train station, to which
it lends its name, the graceful scrolls, Gothic
arches, and classical pediments combine to form
one of Florence's most dramatic sites.
Museo
di San Marco
This museum introduces visitors a perfectly preserved
15th-century Dominican monastery, the construction
of which was based on Brunelleschi's balanced innovations.
The museum owes its renown primarily to the paintings
of Fra Angelico, one of the great artists of the
Renaissance, who frescoed extensive parts of the
complex.
Also on
view is a section devoted to fragments of sculpture
and architecture from buildings of the city center
that were demolished in the 19th century.
Pisa
This famous city is home to one of the Wonders of
the World, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Stop by a
nearby café and ponder this historical feat
of architecture. Started in 1173 and continued (with
two long interruptions) for about two hundred years,
the tower is as unique and legendary a building
as you’ll see just about anywhere.
Fiesole
Visitors in search of Tuscany's "cool uplands"
should head for the lush olive groves and valleys
of Fiesole. Situated eight kilometers from Florence
and formerly an Etruscan settlement founded in the
7th century BC, Fiesole grew in importance under
the Romans who left behind a 3000-seat amphitheatre
that is still used for outdoor concerts in the summer.
The Archaeological
Park also features Roman baths, a Roman temple,
and an Etruscan temple, set against Etruscan city
walls.
Siena
One day is not long enough to appreciate all that
the tiny walled city of Siena has to offer. Must-sees
include the humbug-striped Cathedral and the majestic
Palazzo Pubblico (town hall) topped by the soaring
Torre del Mangia. Named after the medieval bell-ringer,
the tower should be climbed for the chance to see
magnificent views of the city and rolling Tuscan
hills.
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