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The castle began life in AD 139 as the Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum. Since then it has been a bridgehead in the Emperor Aurelian's city wall, a medieval citadel and prison, and a palce of safety for popes during times of war or political unrest.

Piazza della Repubblica

This pivotal square housed the city's main food market until the 1860s, when redevelopment tidied up the area, and added the triumphal arch that now stands in today's cafe-filled square.

Piazza della Signoria

The piazza's statues commemorate the city's major historical events, though its most famous episode is celebrated by a simple pavement plaque near the loggia: the execution of the religious leader Girolamo Savonarola who was burnt at the stake.


The Loggia dei Lanzi designed by Orcagna, is named after the Lancers, the bodyguards of Cosimo I who were billeted here.

Fontana di Nettuno

Ammannati's fountain of the Roman sea god surrounded by water nymphs commemorates Tuscan naval victories.

David

This copy of the famous Michelangelo statue symbolizes triumph over tyranny.


Ponte Vecchio, the oldest surviving bridge in the city, was built in 1345, the last in a succession of bridges and fords on the site that dated back to Roman times, designed by Giotto's pupil Taddeo Gaddi.

sun sets over the Arno and distant Tuscan hills.

Piazzale Michelangelo
Of all the great Florentine viewpoints- such as the Duomo and Campanile- none offers such a magnificent panorama of the city as Piazzale Michelangelo.

Duomo from hotel room.

Venice
You can walk to most places in Venice itself, and take a ride on a waterbus to any of the islands.

Santa Maria della Salute

The Zecca, designed by Sansovino and started in 1537, was the city mint until 1870, and gave its name to the zecchino or Venetian ducat.