Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The 1966 Floods
On 4 November,
floodwater from
the Arno rose to
6 m (19.5 ft) above
street level. Many
art treasures were
ruined; some are
still in restoration.
WHERE TO SEE
MODERN FLORENCE
The shops of Via de'
Tornabuoni and Via della
Vigna Nuova
(see p105)
sell the best in Florentine
fashion. Exhibitions of
photographs at the Museo
Alinari
(p104)
illustrate
the city as it has developed
during the 20th century.
Cimabue's ruined
Crucifixion
(p72)
, in the museum of
Santa Croce, is displayed as a
reminder of the 1966 floods.
A scanned image
lets restorers trace
existing outlines
and reconstruct
damaged areas.
Fashion
Many Florentine
designers have
become
household
names. These
include Pucci, who
invented the
“Palazzo Pyjamas”,
Gucci, Ferragamo
(see p284)
and,
more recently,
rising stars like
Daelli and Coveri.
Railway station
(1935)
The Functionalist station is one
of the city centre's few notable
modern buildings
(see p113)
.
Commands for operating
the computer program
Tourism
Florence and
Tuscany have
long been popular
destinations for
tourists
(see p55)
.
Florence now receives
some 5 million
visitors each year.
San Giovanni Battista
(1964)
Giovanni Michelucci's modern
church stands near Amerigo
Vespucci airport.
1987
The
Sorpasso:
Italian economy
outstrips that
of France and
the UK
2010
Line 1 of the
tram system opens,
linking Santa Maria
Novella station with
the Scandicci district
1999
Italy
joins the
single European
currency
1966
Floods in Florence
1950
1960
1990
2000
2010
2020
2005
After a 26-year
reign Pope John Paul
II dies on 2 April.
He is succeeded by
Pope Benedict XVI
on 19 April
1957-65
Italian
industrial boom
1993
The
Uffizi
damaged in
a terrorist
explosion
Bomb damage at
the Uffizi
