00:00Welcome to Florence, a renaissance gem in this amazing city.
00:06Welcome to Florence, the most beautiful renaissance city.
00:10You know what? This really isn't working. Can we start over again?
00:14Starting over early in the morning. That is so much better.
00:20Florence is an incredible city, but it can get very, very crowded.
00:23So if you don't plan your visit right, you might not enjoy it.
00:27I'm going to show you how to have a great time here and avoid the crowds as much as possible.
00:33We'll learn about the city's renaissance history, check out some of my favorite places,
00:38try some local Tuscan cuisine, and even have a moment alone with someone very special.
00:44Personally, I love Florence.
00:47I spent a lot of time here in my 20s when I was studying,
00:50and I'm really excited to show you around today.
00:53We begin at the Duomo, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral,
00:58the heart of Florence's historic center.
01:01It's also free to enter, by the way.
01:06So impressive.
01:09If you don't mind waiting in line, you can also go up to the top for a great view.
01:17The best way to get around the center is to walk.
01:20I really recommend you get off the busy streets and explore some of the little side streets.
01:25Honestly, you never know what you're going to find.
01:27Like, look, we just walked down the street and here is the house of poet Dante Alighieri.
01:32I mean, that's incredible, right?
01:37Speaking of famous names, you can't come to Florence without learning about the Medici.
01:42The Medici family ruled Florence from the 15th to 18th centuries,
01:47and they filled the city with their architectural and artistic commissions.
01:52The Medici are closely associated with the Italian Renaissance,
01:56the cultural and political rebirth after the Middle Ages
01:59that was marked by a rediscovery of classical philosophy, architecture, literature, and art.
02:05I meet up with tour guide Fulvio De Bonis in Piazza della Signoria,
02:10one of the most famous squares in Italy.
02:13Welcome to the center of the political Florentine power.
02:17Yeah.
02:18You're standing right in the middle.
02:20Isn't it amazing?
02:21Power center, Renaissance power.
02:24Correct, correct.
02:25I feel it.
02:27Fulvio tells me that the banking industry and wool trade made the city wealthy.
02:32The wealthiest of the 1400s.
02:35That's why this was the place where the Renaissance started.
02:41Next, we head to Piazza della Repubblica.
02:44The name of Florence, Florenzia, is from Flora, the goddess of abundancy, of fertility.
02:51And you still see the statue of Flora, this beautiful lady,
02:59up above the ancient column, the granite column.
03:04And now the city's famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchio.
03:07Let's start from the name.
03:08Why Old Bridge?
03:10Because it was the only bridge that was not knocked down,
03:14destroyed, during the Second World War.
03:17These days, the bridge is full of jewelry shops,
03:20but I learned it was once an area of butchers and tanners
03:24until the Medici, not liking the smell,
03:26decreed it should be dedicated to goldsmiths.
03:29Thank you so much.
03:30It was amazing.
03:31You're more than welcome.
03:32Yeah.
03:33It's time to talk about museums.
03:35So, we're here at the Uffizi,
03:37one of the most famous art museums in the world
03:40with works by Renaissance masters
03:42like Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo.
03:45And I'm going to give you a tip.
03:47Go to the official Uffizi website,
03:49book a ticket for a specific day and a specific time,
03:53then you'll be able to skip the ticket line
03:55and just go straight to the security line.
03:57But now, a visit to the Galleria dell'Accademia,
04:00home to the Statue of David,
04:02carved by Italian Renaissance artist, Michelangelo.
04:05To accommodate more visitors,
04:07the museum recently extended opening hours
04:09and spread out its vast collection,
04:11director Cecilia Holberg tells me.
04:13Buongiorno.
04:14Grazie mille.
04:15Thank you so much for having me.
04:17The 17-foot-tall David is the collection's highlight.
04:21It's the statue of David,
04:24The 17-foot-tall David is the collection's highlight.
04:28Michelangelo shows this shepherd,
04:31this young shepherd, in an incredible way.
04:34He's not aggressive, but he is strong.
04:37He is naked, showing his innocence.
04:40This symbol of Florence
04:42is one of the most famous sculptures in the world.
04:45And now I have a moment alone with him.
04:48I think I'm in love.
04:50Dinner at Trattoria Enzo e Piero,
04:54which specializes in Tuscan cuisine.
04:56Joining me are some friends who live in Florence.
04:59And in Italy, you have to look each other in the eyes
05:02when you raise a glass.
05:04Florence's most famous dish
05:06is Bistecca alla Fiorentina,
05:08loin steak served rare.
05:10The famous Bistecca Fiorentina.
05:12Definitely to be shared.
05:16Well, we really saw a lot today.
05:18Although there's so much more that Florence has to offer.
05:21I hope you're ready to have a good visit to the city.
05:24And honestly, my job here is done.
05:26So, arrivederci.
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