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Florence is a city which has an abundance
of works of art, beautiful architecture and cultural heritage.
The Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo's
David, Chianti Wine, Fireworks
on June 24, The Scoppio del Carro on
Easter Sunday plus many more. From the Hotel Rex in Firenze
you can enjoy all of these spectacles as the Hotel is located
near all of the city of Firenze's major cultural attractions.
Florence is the ideal city for a romantic
weekend break and is very often the venue where many romantic
couples pop the question to their respective partners... can
you imagine a more romantic setting than the illustrious Ponte
Vecchio with a stunning backdrop how could she possibly say
no?
Calendar Cultural Events
in Florence
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Scoppio del Carro - Easter
Sunday - Every Easter thousands of people
gather outside the Duomo to watch the "Doves of Peace
Cart Explosion".
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St John's Day Patron Saint of
Florence - June 24 - A spectacular fireworks
show from 10 p.m. until 11 p.m. is staged on Piazzale
Michelangelo overlooking the River Arno.
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Uffizi Gallery Free Entrance
- the local government often nominates days when entrance
to the gallery is free. Please contact our reception staff
for more details.
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Michelangelo's David Galleria
dell'Accademia - in September 2002 the 700
year old David was given a bath and is now looking as
radiant as ever - see below for more details
-
Wine Tasting and The Florentine Steak
- there are numerous food festivals both in and around
Florence all year round.
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The
Scoppio del Carro or Doves of Peace Cart
Explosion is the highlight of Florence's Easter celebrations.
Every Easter Sunday a huge crowd gathers outsie the Duomo
to witness the event. Spectators are kept at a safe distance
and the event is thoroughly enjoyable. The origins of the
Scoppio del Carro go back to the times of the Crusades when
as legend has it in 1099 a young Florentine Captain by the
name of Pazzino dei Pazzi was first over the wall in Jerusalem.
To reward him for his bravery he was awarded special status
and many presents including a cart. For information on the
best vantage points to view the procession and spectacular
finale please the reception staff of the Hotel San Giorgio
and Olimpic Florence.
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St John's Day
June 24 - San Giovanni is the patron saint of Florence
and every June 24 the city have a national holiday and everyone
gathers on the banks of the Arno and Piazzale Michelangelo
to view the spectacular fireworks display. The show starts
approximately at 10 p.m. and lasts about 1 hour 15 minutes.
For information on the best vantage places to view the San
Giovanni fireworks please do not hesitate to contact any of
our concierge staff here at the Hotel Rex in Florence.
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Uffizi Gallery
- One of the world's most prestigious art collections is held
at the Uffizi gallery in Florence which is near and very easy
to reach from the Hotel Rex. The Uffizi houses many paintings
in particular those from the Renaissance period which began
in Florence with painters like Cimabue, Giotto and Massaccio
being instrumental in starting the whole Renaissance period.
Later other painters like Botticelli and Raffaello were involved.
Absolute must sees in the gallery are The Battle of San Romano
by Paolo Uccello - this painting depicts a battle between
two rival towns in Tuscany and was the first painting to employ
the revolutionary concepts of Perspective and Foreshortening
- click on the image above to see the enlarged image. Other
important paintings are of course Botticelli's Spring although
perhaps the most important paintings are held near the entrance
to the Uffizi in the Room of the Madonna and Child - when
these paintings were made in the 11th century many locals
were near terrified and thought Cimabue had murdered somone,
dried them out, flattend them and put them on the canvas....
remember people at the time were just coming out of the dark
ages and not too much had happened in the 7 centuries that
proceeded the "Renaissance" or "Rebirth".
Ask at the reception of Hotel Rex Florence for information
on how to get advance tickets for the Uffizi and avoid the
lengthy queues which snake outside and around the Uffizi art
gallery - this way you can walk straight in thus adding to
the enjoyment of your romantic weekend break in Florence.
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Michelangelo's
David Galleria dell'Accademia - David has just had
a bath and is looking better than ever. Initially commissioned
as a buttress for the Duomo David was then used as a symbol
for the Florentine republic. For many years David stood outside
the Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria (a replica now
stands in the original spot) Standing outside in all sorts
of weather he began to deteriorate and was subsequently moved
to the Galleria dell' Accademia. He wasn't guaranteed safety
even inside the gallery as in 1990 a madman from nearby Prato
hacked off his big toe with a hammer. The statue itself is
amazing and there are no less than 5 lifesize replicas dotted
all over Florence. Go and see the original and marvel at the
sense of moral power and tense energy conveyed not only through
his body language but also through the concentrated gaze of
the Biblical hero.The slingshot is held over his shoulder
while the other over-sized hand holds the rock. Unlike Donatello,
who depicted the heroic David with Goliath's head at his feet,
Michelangelo selected the nervous and tense moment before
the battle. For information on how to obtain tickets for entrance
to the Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's David
please the see our concierge staff at the Hotel Rex Florence.
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Food and Wine
Festivals Florence - There are many food and wine
festivals in Florence particularly in the Summer months. June
sees a food festival almost every weekend where locals celebrate
their own regional specialities like Nocino - an after dinner
digestif made from unripe green walnuts or the local Funghi
Porcini i.e. wild musrooms which are among the best in Italy.
Look out for the word Sagra as this means food festival and
generally you will see it in papers on walls. Details of the
next food festival or wine festival (Florence is the home
to world famous Chianti wine) are also available from our
hotel reception staff here at the Rex Hotel Florence.
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