While there are lots of incredible traditional tourist attractions to seek out if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are spending some time exploring the city, it is also a great place to wander around. Wandering semi-aimlessly is always a great way to get to know a new place and Florence, in particular, really rewards visitors who explore her streets as the incredible grandeur of her architecture and the impossible wealth of things to see and do mean that it is a true feast for the eyes. From grand old palaces where the nobles of Florence would stay when they weren't in their country homes on estates located throughout Italy and many of which now house excellent museums of art, fashion and more, to stunning churches and religious buildings like gilded jewellery boxes that are stuffed with amazing works of art and meticulously handcrafted objects. From gardens overflowing with blooms, to wonderful restaurants and cafes and bars (that have existed for centuries in some cases), to plazas offering incredible views over the city and filled with fountains and statues by history's most famous artists, the city is just full of abject beauty and wonder. If you are wandering around the city, one particular plaza (and one of the prettiest) that you will likely encounter is the Piazza della Repubblica.
The Piazza della Repubblica is a perfect place to sit, indulge in a spot of people-watching, grab a coffee and, depending on when you drop by, explore a historic outdoor market, or, depending on if you have some little ones in your party, have a go on the very pretty historic carousel in the square. Part of the Roman core of the city, the piazza was originally the site of the city's forum and the Colonna della Dovizia (Column of Abundance) in the square actually marks the exact point where the cardus and decumanus maximi met and where the Roman forum stood (although the current column in this spot is actually a copy of the original that dates to 1431) and the exact geographic centre of Florence to this day. In the Middle Ages, long after the Romans and forum were gone, the area around the column became densely packed with markets, tabernacles, and churches and was the heart of the city. Under Cosimo I of the ruling Medici family, the areas then became the Jewish Ghetto and all Jewish residents of the city were obligated to live there.
Sadly, the medieval character of this neighbourhood and the Ghetto managed to last for centuries until they were eventually completely swept away beginning with the Risanamento, a period of large scale re-planning of the city and improvement works initiated in Florence in the 19th century that also saw the destruction of the 13th century walls around the city and the creation of the city's major avenues and boulevards. This saw the centre, “cleaned up,” following the unification of Italy and during the brief time period after 1865 in which Florence would act as the nation's capital. Unfortunately, this ultimately saw the destruction of priceless architectural gems including medieval towers, churches, houses, workshops, and the original seats of several of the city's historic guilds. The present rectangular form and architecture, while also beautiful in its own right, was only brought about at the cost of the long-standing commercial hub of the city as it had existed for centuries.
However, losses aside, the new elegant appearance of the Piazza della Repubblica and the cafes that came to line the square transformed the space into a sophisticated centre of public life. It is still home to the historic Caffé Gilli, Caffé Paskowski and Caffé delle Giubbe Rosse, which were the meeting places of many of the city's preeminent writers, thinkers, and artists, most notably the Futurists. In addition, the square is also home to the famous Hotel Savoy on Via Roma and the central Post Office, which is tucked away under the arches of the portico extending from the square's Triumphal Arch. When you visit today, if you head there on any Thursday morning between September and June, you will find that the stunning square is made all the more lovely by the weekly flower market that sees the Piazza della Repubblica filled with fresh, colourful blooms. If you visit on the first Saturday of any given month from 8am to 8pm (bar January, July, and August) you will find Il Mercatale, an excellent and vibrant farmers market that floods the square with around 90 different local farmers and artisans selling wine, oil, fruit and vegetables, salami and other cured meats, cheese, honey and other typical Tuscan products of the highest quality, the majority of which are from organic producers. In addition to all of this, the square is often home to impromptu performances by street artists and musicians, particularly if you visit after sunset and the Hard Rock Cafe (which is located on the fringes of the square) also frequently holds concerts and parties under the portico. At Christmas, the piazza is pretty magical as it hosts a giant tree plus the ever-present pretty, antique carousel that children so love to ride and adults so love to admire and photograph, and the shops and eateries decorate festively.
So, if you have found a vacation rental in Florence you're looking for a good place to soak up the capital city of Tuscany, then be sure to carve out some time to lounge at this central point in the city and in the city's public life.
Photo credit: Michelle Maria / CC BY-SA 3.0