Not only is central Florence the heart of town, but since the 1500s it was also the heart of the Italian Renaissance. While many of Florence’s neighbors never recovered from plagues and famines, thanks to its river access, powerful military, and ruthless Medici rulers, Florence grew into a European powerhouse in the Age of Enlightenment.

Officially called the Cathedral of Santa Maria of the Flower (del Fiore), Florence’s Cathedral (Duomo) is the most monumental landmark in town. Before the current church was started in 1296, the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Reparata sat here dating back to the Gauls in the 400s. Because the architect died in 1310, work slowed for 30 years until the survivors of the Plague of 1348 revived the project. ( exterior only )

The Roman bridge was built next to this one around 127AD and replaced by in 966. It was the only one to cross the River until 1218. The first one was made of wood then turned into a stone bridge after the Flood of 1333 or 45? butchers (beccai) were based here, threw scraps in the river, and it stunk so bad that Cosimo de Medici had Vasari build him a suspended walkway to Pitti Palace. Rich people didn’t want to walk the stinky bridge either and had Goldsmiths move in. It is the only bridge in town to survive WW2

The Eastern side of the complex was a theater in Roman Times built around 150AD (city Florentia was 59 BC by Julius Caesar) on what was a natural 20-foot slope. It was seating for 8,000-10,000 people and had to be enclosed by an additional wall as it boarder the original city wall. It was abandoned by the 500s, built over in the 1300s, a re-discovered in 1875. ( exterior only )

The city of Pisa rises above the banks of Arno, just before the mouth of the river at Marina of Pisa. It is one of the most important cities in Tuscany and it is extremely well-known in the world, because of its famous symbol: "the Leaning Tower".

The Tower of Pisa in Italian “Torre Pendente di Pisa” is located in the city of Pisa, exactly in the Piazza del Duomo of Pisa known as “Piazza dei Miracoli” (Cathedral Square). This famous tower began to tilt when its construction began in 1173. The Tower of Pisa measures 55.86 meters of height with an estimated weight of 14,700 tons and an inclination of about 4 ° extending 3.9 m of the vertical. In 1964 the Italian government asked for help to prevent the Tower of Pisa from collapsing. In 1987, UNESCO declared Patrimony of the Humanity to the whole patrimonial group of the Cathedral Square. In 1990 it closed its doors to the public as a security measure and after several works of restructuring, on June 16th 2001 opened its doors again.

With a circumference of 107.24 metres, walls 2.63 metres thick at the base, and a height of 54.86 metres, it is the largest baptistery in Italy. The dome is clad with red tiles on the side facing the sea, and with lead sheets to the east.

Founded in 1064 and consecrated with great pomp on September 26th 1118, the Cathedral was built in two stages, one by architect Buscheto, who created the original layout with the basilican body with four aisles and one nave, a transept with one nave and two aisles, and the dome on the cross vault, and one by Rainaldo, who extended the building and the façade. The building was not finally completed until the last quarter of the XII century, when Bonannoís bronze leaves were placed on the central door, which were later destroyed by the devastating fire of 1595, after which many of the destroyed works were replaced and a vast decorative plan was started.