Art in Florence: Top Twenty Artworks to See Before You Leave
As adamant fans of the art in Florence, it often breaks our hearts to hear that travelers to this fair city miss out on some of Florence’s renowned works. Of course there are many reasons to visit this multi-faceted town, but one of the main motivations has always been to see Florence’s breathtaking painting, sculpture, and architecture. According to UNESCO (although it may be a somewhat Western centric view), 60% of the world’s most important works of art are located in Italy and approximately half of these are in Florence.
Everyday we see tourists herded into the Uffizi and Accademia as if they are the only two museums in Florence and countless more make the mistake of thinking that because there is no line outside the many other museums and churches, that there is nothing to see inside. On the contrary, there are many places in Florence that are full of masterpieces and (relatively speaking) empty of tourists. In response to this trend, we’ve made this list of the art in Florence that (we believe) everyone should see before they leave (in truth, the list is WAY longer than this. We had to narrow it down. And then narrow again); some works will be familiar, while others, I guarantee, will be completely new.
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What to pack…
We are accustomed to keeping business cards, tickets, napkins and every imaginable scrap from our travels. Some of our favorite finds we unearthed thanks to this extensive collection. But our efforts pale in comparison to those of our Guest Blogger, Jane’s. After spending the summer in Florence with Select Study Abroad, she put together what is nothing less than a work of art; a visual explosion of all the amazing memories from our summer together. Now, because we asked very very nicely, she has been so kind as to let us display this masterpiece. Below, see some of the amazing pages from her scrapbook with descriptions of the themes that inspired each one. Keep in mind that we are only seeing a small portion of what she made. It is a testament to an absolutely amazing summer that, thanks to her generosity, we can now enjoy as well! Thank you Jane!
Flying somewhere? Taking a road trip? Studying abroad or finally taking that vacation? Trying to find room for your favorite sweatshirt or maybe those Christmas presents? Wherever you are heading and whatever you are bringing, these ten tips will help to take the stress and frustration out of packing and unpacking. As a perpetual mover and traveler, I have sharpened my organizational skills and have been called “Mary Poppins” (remember the lamp she pulled out of her small upholstered bag?) on more than one occasion. I am proud to say that I have never been charged fees for overweight luggage and friends/family are always surprised how much I manage to squeeze in seemingly small spaces. Thus, I give to you my tried and true tips on how to pack wisely and make room for those extra pair of shoes you really don’t want to leave behind. 