Santa Croce is located in the lowest part of the city, near the Arno River. Once a marshy land, today it is a busy area with travelers swarming over to have a glimpse of art and architecture in Santa Croce. There are markets, beautiful gardens, handicrafts shops and some interesting restaurants that make Santa Croce a quarter for connoisseurs. When you are in Santa Croce, you have a lot to admire. Let’s have a quick look of each:

The Church of Santa Croce
Basilica of Santa Croce is considered as the largest Franciscan church in Florence, Italy. It is also considered as a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. Legend has it that the Basilica of Santa Croce was founded by St. Francis and consecrated by Pope Eugene IV in 1442. The construction of the basilica was begun in 1295 by an architect Arnolfo di Cambio and was completed in about 1442, probably funded by some wealthy families of the city. The church contains tombs of many notable personalities of Florence like Galilei, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Ghberti, Leon Battista Alberti, Gioacchino Rossini, Vittorio Alfieri and Leonardo Bruni.

Piazza Ghiberti
Located at a short distance from the church of Saint Ambroigo, it is dedicated to the Florentine sculptor, Lorenzo Ghiberti, master of Florentine realism. A pavilion was erected in the centre of the square that houses fruits and vegetable shops and act as a storehouse for the residents of Santa Croce.

Piazza Sant'Ambrogio
A square that has an irregular shape has about six streets converging onto it. There is a church in the square that is dedicated to Saint Ambrose. The square is filled with vendors and shops selling antiques, mobiles, newspapers, tripe and various other things.

Piazza de' Ciompi
The square has a stable market structure where you can find shops selling books, old lampshades, jewelry and prints. On the last Sunday of every month the market is full of activites. The square has been improved on Via Pietrapiana by the Loggia for fishmongers. It was designed by Giogio Vasari. It is composed of 18 Doric columns and is decorated with round and small terracotta plaques representing variety of fish.

Via Giovanni da Verrazzano
Giovanni da Verrazzano, the great navigator was born here. His house was a short distance from the Holy Family. The Holy Family was painted by Giovanni da San Giovanni. The painting portrayed Saint Joseph, Virgin Maria and Child Jesus.

Via delle Pinzochere
It was named after the Gate of Pinochere as it was situated to the north of the church
and frequented every morning by the Pinzochere at daybreak to keep the church neat and clean. Embedded on the wall of the first house is a small Madonna that has been made in the modern days. There is a building belonging to the XVI century designed by Giuliano da Sangallo. There is a stone bench running along the façade of the building for visitors to have a small stop.

Borgo Allegri
Situated at the heart of Santa Croce, it was known as Borgo by Florentines. There is a pleasant little garden. There is also a richly supplied bookstore for book lovers.

Via de' Macci
The name of the narrow and long street dates back to the 13th century. The Macci family built a hospital for curing the poor. They also built a convent for ‘separated unhappy women.’ The street corners still bear the old names and the new names. Inhabitants have also embedded stone plaques to indicate the level of water during the flood in 1966.

Via de' Malcontenti
It was through this that the criminals condemned to death walked to the gallows, the only stop on the way being the Battuti neri Chapel. The members of the confraternity wore a black hood and it was their duty to assist the criminals with their prayers. There is a hospital along this road by the guild of dyers for helping their members and orphans.

Via del Fico
The houses along this narrow street are painted yellow. It starts from Via da Verrazzano and ends at Via delle Pinzochere. At one end there is a tabernacle and the other end there is an inscription on the wall that is dated January 22, 1714.

Via delle Casine
The Via delle Casine presents an overview like that of the renaissance period with not much restorations. Tiny tabernacles adorn the small streets that represented religion.

Via delle Conce
Tanners lived and worked in this area. There is a beautiful tabernacle inaugurated in 1704. There is a garden enclosed with high walls, statues, fountains and caves that take the visitors to a glorious past.

Via Andrea del Verrochio,
8r Florence
Phone: 39-055-2341100

The Cibreo restaurant is located close to the city’s outdoor market Sant' Ambrogio. Walk in when your stomach craves for some innovative Tuscan delights. You will find that the Tuscan dishes are at their finest here when it comes to tradition and quality. The dishes are inspired by daily dishes and simplicity. It was a dream-come-true for Fabio Picchi when he realized his dream, his gastronomic passion, when he opened the Cibreo restaurant.

The restaurant is beautifully maintained and surprises us with its old-fashioned charm and its authentic local cuisine that has been the secret behind being the favorite of both the rich and the famous. A wonderfully friendly staff will assist you as much times as you want them to. The dining rooms are wainscoted; dimly lit and caters to both English and Italian speaking customers. The menu is designed by Picchi himself. With a bit of revamp, the traditional fare has a list of menus that include starters, main courses and yummy desserts. Dishes like cervello d'agnello al cartoccio and zampa di vitella alla parmigiana reveal Picchi’s Tuscan origin and over for lush, assertive food. There is an exciting wine list too.

Other Details

All major credit cards are accepted here. The restaurant remains closed on Sundays and Mondays. The yearly closing is from 26th July to 4th September. Some of the suggested menus are Antipasti - Broad bean and Pecorino salad, for Starters – Herb Polenta and Spinach Pie.

The Farmacia di Santa Maria is undoubtedly one of the oldest and finest pharmacies in the world. It was established in the 13th century by the Dominican Fathers. It was founded officially in 1612 after some suggestions that came from Granduca di Toscana. They have an exclusive range of luxury products in the market today. The production of these goods is restricted to Florence but has a wide market through sales points in Milano, Roma, Forte dei Marmi, Rimini, Lucca, Paris and London.

The Dominican monks began cultivating herbs for the preparations for medications, creams and balms for their little hospital. With time, their reputation grew; their formulae became more effective and famous that its fame spread across the world. In the mid 19th century, the Stefani family took over and from then on, four generations of the family has been managing the Officina Farmacia. It is situated at a short distance from the famous squire. With Eugenio Alphandery as the director, the production is strictly controlled and limited. Only products with highest quality are used following the foot steps and traditions of the monks. Every product from the Santa Maria Novella has a unique history and its own story to tell. It hosts products ranging from frescoes, ancient furnishing, ancient implements used by pharmacists, and their products, the magical aroma of the wide range of scents and potpourri of natural herbs and flowers, will captivate anyone who enters the Santa Maria Novella.

Some of the products created here have made history and are still in great demand. Eau de cologne is one such to have a special history. Other famous products are the Aceto dei Sette Ladri (aromatic vinegar) very handy in case of fainting spells, Acqua Antisterica (Acqua di Santa Maria Novella) has a sedative and antispasmodic effect and Acqua di Rose, a refreshing tonic for red eyes. Alkermes is a famous liqueur that held the sales record in the 19th century. Elixir de China and Liquore Mediceo were named in honor of royal families. Other products include hair care products, for skin treatments, oils and creams for the body, soaps and bubble baths. Hand-molded soaps aged for about sixty days are still produced here. Other favorites include the perfumed powders made from the ground rhizome of iris.

In order to preserve the ancient formulae they have been catalogued and used with other products to enrich their up-to-date qualities. The Officiana’s activities are integrated by continuos osmosis that began in 1990 and spans various artistic fields like concerts, theatre, art exhibitions, scientific conferences and presentations held in a very impressive room donated by the Accioaioli family in recognition of the efforts by the friars.

Do not miss to see the wide range of products produced by ancient secret recipes preserved over time. Visit all these rooms of the Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella in groups once you have fixed an appointment.

The Gallery gains the name because it was housed in the palace of the reigning family. It was opened to public in 1828 by the House of Lorraine.

The Pitti Palace was acquired by Duke Cosimo I in 1549. It became the residence of the Medici family after the building was enlarged and completed by Ammanati. The vast structures present today dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The luxurious decorations found in the interiors of the palace were by Pietro da Cortona.

The Pitti Gallery is situated on the first floor. It contains about 500 masterpieces all from the Medici collections that are displayed in a typical layout of a private collection. The combination of lavish interiors and rich picture frames is an amazing sight for any art lover. The Gallery also does not follow any chronological order or schools of painting. A beautifully built stairs by Ammannati takes you up to the gallery. The rooms had been the apartments of the Grand Duke. The rooms with their partial frescoed style have an imposing decorative cycle of classical myth that refers indirectly to the life of the Prince.

Another significant collection is that of Titan and Raphael. These were received by the will of Vittoria della Rdowne. She was the last daughter of the Duke of Ol urbino and Ferdinando II de' Medici’s wife. The gallery has a display of European paintings of the 17th century and famous works like that of Rubens, Van Dyck, Murillo, Caravaggio, Frans pourbus, Bronzino, Filippo Lippi, fra Bartolomeo and Piero del Pollaiolo. Other important rooms are the Music room that is decorated in a neo-classical style, a room entirely dedicated to Flemish painting – the Putti room, the stove room with a masterpiece on the four ages of man painted by Pietro da Cortona and commissioned by Medici.

The Modern Arts gallery holds about 2000 works lending a complete view of the Tuscan art between the 18th and 20th centuries. The collection includes the neoclassical sculpture head of Napoleon by Antonio Canova, works by Tuscan Macchiaiolo painters and those by Italian futurist, Gino Serverini. The paintings are displayed in luxuriously decorated rooms where the Medici, Savoy and Lorrine families entertained, dined, slept and received guests at some point of history.

An exhibition is being held in the gallery from 15th December to the 23rd of April which displays paintings, furnishings, sculpture and jewels from the collection of Anna Maria Luisa de'Medici, Electress Palatine. It is a tribute to the greatest art collectors belonging to the Baroque Era.

Is Florence your next destination? Are you looking forward to explore the city and experience the sounds, sights, smell and taste in your own way? Then you have to do yourself a favor. Indulge in a crash course on Florence so that you will be able to visit each and every landmark and not repent later on for missing out a certain one that you might have just passed by without realizing that it was an important location. All you have to do is load yourselves with oodles of information regarding Florence and all important places that you plan to visit. Read through some exclusive guides on Florence and have a better idea so that you can chalk out a programme based on the time you have to spend in Florence.

Some of the guides that will be of help to you:

The Doring Kindersley Travel Guides Series

If you love lots of color and detailed maps on every local spot, then these are for you. Imbibe the rich cultural heritage and essence of Florence, and discover the artistic treasures abundant in the birth place of Renaissance. Also get to know where all the locals go to relax, entertain, take a scenic walk, for spas, sports, shop, and dine in the city or countryside. You will also find photos and birds-eye-view maps of important sites so that you will not miss any landmark. As the winner of ‘Best guide Books’ and Silver Award for ‘Top Guidebook’ these will surely assist you in your travel adventure.

The Michelin Guides

Though a bit old fashioned, they contain a lot of textual information that will maximize your travel experience. Make your own travel programme with the maps and guides in the Michelin guides. Get practical information on what to see and where to eat at prices you can afford. Also get to know more on the history and culture of the places that you are looking to visit. Have a smooth ravel experience with the Road Atlas, maps and model itineraries, ratings of popular sites etc. The Michelin guides will be your true companion all along your travel.

The Blue Guides

The Blue Guides cover a wide range of destinations with a special focus on history, art and architecture. They cover all important tourist attractions including museums, galleries, walks around the town and other historical sites. They even advice you on the routes to be taken by public transport or a car. The format of the books is easy to use with detailed maps, plans and index. Their highlight is the loads of information on the historical background and on the Tuscan countryside. Read as much as you can and be fully armed before you set forth for your trip.

The City of Florence

This book by R.W.B. Lewis is a good read for those who wish to explore Florence. Readers can enjoy a first-hand traveling experience and get a stunning portrayal of the city today with its rich history and culture. According to the author he calls the book – a partial biography of Florence. Take it along and see how it makes the difference.

Companion Guide to Florence

For a traveler seeking more and more information on where, what and how of Florence, this book by Borsook is handy. It has detailed information on each and every thing that you might see in Florence. As a key to the city and its tourist spots, it will also tell you about who painted what frescoe, what to shop for, achievements, names and images of the city’s glory. The maps in the book reveal every corner and will direct your way to them. Have a thoroughly planned trip with this guide at your aid.

Romola

The novel ‘Romola’ by George Eliot is set in Florence towards the end of the 15th century. The characters are historical and help to create a picturesque complexion of Florence in those days. Florence at that time was a fascinating place with lavish lifestyles, politically and historically significant people caught up in the turmoil the world experiences. Even if you are new to Florence and have already read the book, it will be able to give you an insight into the historical settings of the city.

The Birth of Venus

Published in 2003, The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant gives a detailed account of Savonarola’s four year ruling in Florence, after Lorenzo de' Medici’s death. The period marked by spiritual fervor and religious fanatism ended when Savonarola was put to death by the Florentines. During Lorenzo’s period, the city flourished in its forms of art, philosophy and even literature. While reading through, the readers will be able to visualize the everyday life of the Florentines and all the other follies that existed in the society then. The locations and events will help the travelers to relate to the happenings in the book and also identify the great landmarks mentioned in the book.