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| The Arno River divides Florence in two. South of the river is Oltrarno, a mostly residential area with a large student and artist community. A couple of the city's major sites, including the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens are located in the Oltrarno, as well as the belvedere at Piazzelle Michelangelo. |
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North of the Arno is the historic center of Florence.
Most of the Renaissance architectural splendors that
bring people here by the thousands are located along
these winding streets and piazzi. For many people
who arrive here by public transport, a central
reference point is the train station and the adjacent
church of Santa Maria Novella. Straight east of the
station is the Duomo, the cathedral whose red dome
rises above the entire city. From the square in front of
the cathedral, Via de Calzaiuoli leads south to the
Piazza della Signoria, the artistic and political center
of the city. On one side of the square is the Palazzo
Vecchio, the historic city hall; on the south side of the
square rise the twin wings of the Uffizi one of the
world's great art museums. The Uffizi fronts onto the
Arno, with a view onto the Ponte Vecchio and its
odd box-like shops; across the river lies the Oltrarno.
For many people, Florence is just the jumping-off point for exploring the Tuscan hills, with their terraced farms and vineyards, and well-preserved medieval towns. Most of these hill towns are easily reached by public transport, so even if you hadn't planned an excursion into the countryside, a trip to one of the outlying towns is easily arranged and makes an excellent antidote to the crowds and historic overkill of Florence. Some travelers spend an entire vacation visiting the small towns of Tuscany and enjoying country inns famous for their cuisine. How many towns you visit most likely will be decided by your means of transportation as much as the length of your vacation. Without a car, it is best to select a village or two to visit by bus or on a tour from one of the Tuscan cities—Florence and Siena are both centrally located for such excursions. With a car, you can add the smaller towns like Prato, Pistoia, and Lucca on your way from Pisa to Florence. From Florence to Siena, be sure to stop off at San Gimignano and Volterra; or take the slow road through the Chianti region. For those more interested in wine and the countryside than the medieval art, SS 222 through the heart of Chianti country is a good choice. Here the hills become steeper and wilder and the world-famous wine business of the Chianti Classico flourishes. The road takes you through the Greve valley and into the tiny medieval village of Castellina in Chianti, passing wine sales and tasting rooms. | |
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