Hotel Patrizia Florence (Official website) 2 Star Hotel in Florence

The Hotel Patrizia is located in the heart of the historical centre of Florence, just 200 mt from the Church of Santa Maria Novella. A network of small streets and wide shopping avenues converges on Piazza Santa Maria Novella, where stands the homonymous imponent Basilica of

Michelangelo's David

the late 13th century.
Santa Maria Novella Basilica is the most important Gothic church in Tuscany. It was built in 1246 by Domenican friars on the site of the 10th-century Dominican oratory of S. Maria delle Vigne.
The beautiful facade was remodelled between 1456 and 1470 by Leon Battista Alberti who created the splendid portal, bordered by the heraldic sails of the Rucellai family who commissioned the work. The inside of the church, which is simply vast, has a number of important art works by Vasari, Ghirlandaio, Masaccio, Pisano, Brunelleschi and most of the important artists of the period.
Its Cloister, the Chiostro Verde, derives its name by the dominant colour of the biblical frescoes by Paolo Uccello (14th century).
His workshop on the theme of “Genesis” was badly damaged in the floods of 1966. At least, Uccello’s “Diluvio Universale” was saved from destruction. On the southern end of the square rises the Loggia di San Paolo, the entrance to the Ospedale San Paolo dei Convalescenti, something similar to Brunelleschi’s Ospedale degli Innocenti. This Loggia was decored with

Uffizi Gallery

terracottas by Giovanni della Robbia. From the characteristic lanes of Via de Fossi, that house many interesting shops selling antiques, statues and Florentine products, you will arrive to the Church of Ognissanti that was first erected between 1252 and 1255, and then reconstructed in baroque style in the XVII - XVIII century. The bell-tower only is still original. The façade done by Matteo Nigetti in 1637 is one of the earliest examples of Florentine Baroque. Ognissanti was the church of the merchant family “Vespucci”, whose most famous member was Amerigo: inside the church there is a fresco-painting by Domenico Ghirlandaio showing the whol e Vespucci family. The refectory houses a number of works, including Botticelli's Saint Augustine in his Studio, and Domenico Ghirlandaio's Saint Jerome and one of his Last Suppers. In a pleasant In a pleasant walk of 5 minutes, you will rich some of Florence’s symbols: Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) and the Uffizi Gallery. The Cathedral, dedicated to “Saint Mary of the Flower” is located in the beautiful Piazza del Duomo, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio who enlarged the existing structure. The building of the Duomo started in 1296. The Cupola remained unfinished and only in 1421 it was built by the famous architect Brunelleschi. The cupola’s interior was decorated by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari who painted a huge “Last Judgement”. The Bell tower, designed by Giotto in 1334, was completed in 1359, 22 years after his death. The work was continued under Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti who continued in repeating the marble decoration and the Ghotic ornamentation.

Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo)

The belltower (Campanile) is still a masterpiece of elegance. Its Baptistery is one of the oldest constructions of Florence and goes back to the IV century. The gilded bronze doors are by Andrea Pisano (present south door: 1336) and Lorenzo Ghiberti (north and east doors: 1427 and 1452). The latter is the famous "Gates of Paradise", whose original panels has been removed for restoration and there are copies in its place. A few steps from this area, in Piazza della Signoria, there is the great Uffizi Gallery, founded in 1581, by the De Medici family, one of the oldest museums in the world. The U-shaped Uffizi Palace, which covers an area of about 8.000 sq.m., houses the most important collection of paintings in Italy (with works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Uccello etc...) and one of the most important collections of art of all times. The famous corridor (Corridoio Vasariano) that was used by the Medici to move from a residence to an other without leaving the house, was built in 1565 by the favourite Medici’s architect: Vasari. It connects the Palazzo Vecchio with Palazzo Pitti, through the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio.
Ponte Vecchio is the oldest and the most romantic bridge which crosses the river Arno. It dates back to Roman times and it has often been re-built. It was the only one to survive to the second world war. Originally the sides held food shops but by the end of the 15th century Ferdinando I drove away these categories and the shops were assigned to goldsmiths and silversmiths. In the middle of the bridge there is a bust of Benvenuto Cellini, one of the most famous city’s goldsmiths.
For people who travel for work or business, the hotel’ location is great: in fact, in a few minutes one can reach the imposing complex of the Fortezza da Basso, that hold the most important international fairs, shows and events. On the other side of the river Arno, you’ll also find the historical Palazzo Pitti that now houses interesting museums and events.

So, let’s start visiting Florence from the Hotel Patrizia and have a nice holiday!