In the city of Florence, in the Tuscany region of central Italy

 "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day!"
-- I Can See Clearly Now lyrics, by Johnny Nash
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(in the Tuscany region of central Italy) Cradle of the Renaissance, romantic, enchanting, and irresistible, Florence (Firenze) is found in the center of the Italian peninsula, surrounded by rolling hills covered with villas, farms, vineyards, and orchards. Capital of the Firenze province and of the Tuscany region, Florence is a great place to feast on world-class art and gourmet Tuscan cuisine. Indeed, there is no better place for Renaissance art and architecture than here -- from the Galleria dell’Accademia (home to Michelangelo’s David) to the cathedrals and arches that make up the Piazzale Michelangelo.

+ The most famous site in Florence is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, on the Piazza del Duomo “cathedral.” The outside of the Duomo is covered with pink, white, and green marble, while the inside contains paintings and stained-glass windows by some of Italy’s finest artists. The building’s dome is a landmark of the city. The cathedral was completed in 1436. Standing next to the Duomo is a campanile, or bell tower, designed by the painter and architect Giotto. The tower is more than 80 meters high and is also covered in pink, green, and white marble. Across from the Duomo is the Baptistry, which is one of the city's oldest buildings. It is known for its bronze doors, which illustrate religious scenes. Another famous church is Santa Croce, which dates back to the 1200s and is the final resting place of many well-known people of Florence, including the famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo. (The Ponte Vecchio is a popular bridge that is lined with shops.)

+ Florence is known for its many museums. One of these is the Uffizi Gallery, located in a huge building originally designed to house the offices of the city government. Today the art galleries of the Uffizi display what is considered to be the richest collection of Italian Renaissance works in the world. Famous paintings include The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation. Another Florentine landmark, the Pitti Palace, has art, beautifully decorated rooms, and glassware, silver, and jewelry on display. The Gallery of the Academy of Art is the home of Michelangelo’s famous sculpture, David.

+ Today. Florence thrives on tourism, which is based on its cultural attractions and on the work of its outstanding artisans. Art restoration is an important business in the city as well.

+ Florence became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1537. Upon the death of the last Medici in 1737, the region of Tuscany and the city of Florence passed to the Austrian Hapsburgs, with brief rule by the French at the beginning of the 1800s. In 1860 Florence joined the newly formed kingdom of Italy, serving as its capital from 1865 to 1870.