Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CITY CENTRE NORTH
This area of Florence
to build the churches of San
Lorenzo and San Marco as
well as the Medici's first
home, the Palazzo Medici
Riccardi. He is regarded as one
of the great innovators of the
Renaissance in Florence. Even
after the Medici family had
moved across the river Arno
to the Palazzo Pitti in 1550, the Grand
Dukes made their final journey back to
the north of the city to be buried in the
extravagant Cappelle Medicee in San
Lorenzo. For the tombs in the New
Sacristy, Michelangelo contributed his
magnificent allegorical sculptures,
Day
and Night
, and
Dawn and Dusk
.
is stamped with the
character of Cosimo
il Vecchio. The man who
founded the great Medici
dynasty maintained his posi-
tion of power by astute man-
agement of the city's financial
affairs, as opposed to resort-
ing to threats and violence. Cosimo was
a highly educated and sophisticated
man with a passion for building, and he
wanted the churches, palazzi and libraries
that he built to last a thousand years, like
the buildings of ancient Rome. To this
end, he commissioned some of the
greatest architects and artists of the time
Roundel on Spedale
degli Innocenti
SIGHTS AT A GLANCE
Churches and Synagogues
San Lorenzo
pp 90-91
2
San Marco pp96 -7
7
Santa Maria Maddalena dei
Pazzi
y
Santissima Annunziata
r
Tempio Israelitico
u
Museums and Galleries
Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia
6
Conservatorio
0
Galleria dell'Accademia
9
Museo Archeologico
t
Opificio delle Pietre Dure
q
Streets, Piazzas and Markets
Mercato Centrale
1
Piazza della Santissima
Annunziata
e
Piazza di San Lorenzo
3
Gardens
Giardino dei Semplici
8
Historic Buildings
Palazzo Medici Riccardi
5
Palazzo Pucci
4
Spedale degli Innocenti
w
1*";;"%&--h
*/%*1&/%&/;"
1*";;"%&-
$30$*'*440
(*"3%*/0
%&--"
()&3"3%&4$"
1*";;"%*4"/
."3$0
1%&-
.&3$"50
$&/53"-&
1*";;"
."44*.0
%h";&(-*0
KEY
Street-by-Street map
See pp92-3
7
1*&53"1*"/"
#
0
Street-by-Street map
See pp86-7
Tourist information
0 metres
300
0 yards
300
