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Fabulous Florence
A Flourishing City in Italy By Michele St. Martin
It is said that more than 50 percent of the world's great art is found in Italy, and fully half of Italy's great art is found in Florence, according to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This exquisite art, as well as a general appreciation for all that is beautiful, permeates Florence and infuses the way Florentines live their lives. It is impossible to conceive of this city without the art that defines it. Florence is truly the "City of the Renaissance" and is home to the masterpieces of Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael and many others.
Because this is an old, if not ancient, city, its architecture is of varied styles, including Etruscan, Medieval, Renaissance, Roman, Romanesque and Gothic. However, true Florentine architecture – the buildings designed by local architects – is very distinct, with beginnings dating back to the 11th century. And even today, this enduring style reigns supreme – the train station at Santa Maria Novella, which is considered the best modern building in Florence, was built by a local architect in the 1930s.
The garden's design is very proportional and balanced, geometric and disciplined, with long avenues and minor paths on right angles. Boboli Gardens were originally created in the mid-1500s featuring multi-levels, three grottoes and a number of statues in a variety of styles. Although the gardens are still considered formal, recent modifications have introduced an element of informality to some areas of the garden.
