April 2008
The Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence was built circa 1294, perhaps by a plan of Arnolfo di Cambio. It was constructed with funding from the population and the Florentine Republic and built above the foundations of a small church which some monks had erected outside the walls of the city in 1252, just a few years after the death of St. Francis. The remains of the original building were not identified until 1966, when in the aftermath of the great flood that sumerged the city, part of the paving belonging to the present Basilica gave way.
From its beginnings, the history of Santa Croce has been closely linked to the history of Florence itself. It has been continually re-planned and re-designed throughout the course of those seven centuries without suffering significant interruptions, and therfore acquiring new symbolic connotations each time. From the original Franciscan church it evolved to become a religious "town hall" for the important families and corporations when Florence was ruled by the Medici family. From being a craftsmen's laboratory and workshop - first Humanist and then Renaissance - it became a theological centre; and in the 19th Century, it saw a change from being a pantheon of the nation's glories to a place of reference for the political history of Italy before and after its unification.
Basilica of Santa Croce
Piazza Santa Croce 16
50122 Firenze
Tel. 055 24 66 105
Fax 055 24 66 105
Email: info@operadisantscroce.it
The Florence Airport (FLR) is named "Amerigo Vespucci Airport" but is also known by many people by its old name "Peretola" (many road signs still have this name on it, more history of Peretola here), which is the area where the airport is located. The airport is about 5 kilometers from the city center. There is now a fixed taxi fare of € 20 (nights, Sundays, and baggage are extra) from the airport to the center. There is also a bus shuttle run by ATAF from the airport to the main train station (Firenze, Santa Maria Novella) every half hour from early morning to 8:00 PM.
This is a small airport, with one runway (which was recently expanded to handle larger planes) - there is a larger one at Pisa, Galileo Galilei, which is 80 kilometers away. Florence Airport has a bar/café, a duty free shop, and a currency exchange. The airport handles about 2 million passengers a year.
Amerigo Vespucci Airport
Via del Termine 11
50127 Florence
Information on flights (24 hours): 39 055 3061700 Ext. 702
Palazzo Strozzi was begun in 1489 by Benedetto da Maiano for Filippo Strozzi, a rival of the Medici who desired to have the most magnificent palace in the city. Filippo Strozzi was left in ruins by the cost of the project and died in 1491. The palazzo was eventually finished in 1538 by Il Cronaca (Simone del Pollaiuolo).
Today the Strozzi houses 2 separate exhibition spaces (the main space, and the Strozzina in the basement) with rotating exhibits (3 a year), a brand new café, administrative offices, and a library.
Palazzo Strozzi
Piazza Strozzi, 50123 Firenze
Telephone +39 055 27 76 461/06
info@fondazionepalazzostrozzi.it
The Gold Market is a popular jewelry store on Piazza Santa Croce - they have been in business at this location for almost 40 years. They have a brand new website and now you can buy their gold jewelry directly from Italy and have it shipped to most countries.
The Gold Market
Piazza Santa Croce 20/r
50122 Florence (FI), Italy
Tel. 055 242 983
http://the-gold-market.com