It is easy to visit Pompeii and Naples on a self-guided day trip by high-speed train from Rome but few would regret staying overnight in Naples and enjoy a less rushed visit. It is possible to visit the ancient ruins of Pompeii on a do-it-yourself day trip from Rome. The fastest way to travel from … Read more
Art treasures from the Pompeii and Herculaneum excavations, including the best mosaics and frescoes, and the giant Farnese sculptures from ancient Rome are the top highlights in the magnificent MANN National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Italy. The National Museum of Archaeology in Naples (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli — MANN) is one of the world’s … Read more
The art in the Church of Santa Croce in Florence includes frescoes by Giotto and Taddeo Gaddi and the oft-visited tombs or funeral monuments for Michelangelo, Dante, Galileo, and others. The Basilica of Santa Croce is one of the great Gothic churches of central Florence. This large Franciscan church is full of art including magnificent … Read more
Many of the best early Renaissance paintings and altarpieces by Fra Angelico are exhibited in the San Marco Museum in Florence. The pilgrims’ hospice of the former convent of San Marco in Florence has the world’s largest collection of altarpieces and paintings by Fra Angelico (c. 1395-1455). Famous altarpieces on display include the Deposition from … Read more
The San Marco Museum in Florence is famous for its large collection of paintings by Fra Angelico including original frescoes in the cells of the convent. The San Marco Museum in Florence is in the former Dominican convent where the cells and art of the monastery have been preserved. Fra Angelico designed frescoes for each … Read more
The Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana is the Medici library designed by Michelangelo in the San Lorenzo complex in Florence. It is also a major working library. The Laurentian Medici Library (Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana) is a major library in Florence. For tourists, the main sight is the magnificent Renaissance reading room designed by Michelangelo. The entire room … Read more
The Medici Chapels with Michelangelo sculptures in the San Lorenzo church complex form the mausoleum for the most powerful and best-known family in Renaissance Florence. The mausoleum of the Medici family in Florence is not surprisingly a grand affair. The second largest cupola in Florence covers the huge Chapel of the Princes (Capella Dei Principi) … Read more
Santa Maria Novella has some of the finest medieval and Renaissance art in Florence, including Masaccio’s Holy Trinity and a Crucifix by Giotto. The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, originally a Dominican monastery church, has always been full of art. Top works include Masaccio’s Holy Trinity — an early application of the rules of perspective … Read more
Visit the Santa Maria Novella church to see some of the finest Gothic architecture and cloisters in Florence, as well as top medieval and Renaissance art. The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is one of the major churches in Florence and is full of art. The large church and former Dominican monastery complex with several … Read more
The Firenze Card is a skip-the-line ticket for top attractions and museums in Florence including time-slot reservations for the Uffizi and Accademia galleries. The Firenzecard (Florence Card) is a sightseeing pass that offers priority access to almost all top sights in Florence for a period of 72 hours. It is a particularly good deal in … Read more
