ThecityofFlorenceeats，sleepsandbreathesart.Examplesofman’
sartisticgeniusstandonnearlyeverystreet.Dozensofmuseumsandartshopswaittobeexplored.Florence，Italy，isanartlover’Sparadise.DuringtheRenaissance（or“Rebirth”ofart），Florencewasapara—diseforartiststhemselves.Infact，theRenaissancebeganheremorethan500yearsago.Beforethistime，artfocusedcompletelyonreligioussub—jects.Renaissanceartbegantoincludemorevariety.Artistspaintedpic—turesofordinarypeople.TheypaintedscenesfromhistoryandcharactersfromGreekandRomanmyths.MichelangelowasthegreatestofFlorence’Sartists.VisitorslineupforhoursattheAccademiamuseumforalookathisimpressiveDavid.This14一foot—highstatuehasbecometheidealhumanfigureoftheRe—naissance.DavidisanexampleofMichelangelo’Stalentforsculptingpeoplesimply，yetpowerfully.MoreofMichelangelo’SworkCanbeseeninthegreatPalazzoVec一chio.ThisbuildinghousedtheFlorentinegovemmentfrom1299—1322.PaintingsandcarvingsoffamousItalianartistsfillthepalacerooms.Mi—chelangelohelpeddecoratetheoutside，too.Hechiseledaheadintothepalacewall.Astorysaysthattowinabet，Michelangelocarvedtheheadwithhishandsbehindhisback，facingawayfromthewall.NotfarfromthePalazzoVecchioliesFlorence’SCathedralSquare.Thebeautifuld。med。u。m。，。r“H。useofG。d，”tooknearly。150tobuild（1294—1436）。Oneofthemostfamousengineersofthedaysignedit.Visitorsstillmarvelatthedome，thecrowningfeatureoftheca—thedral.Tothisday，nobuildinginFlorencemayriseabovethedome.NearbystandstheCathedralWorksMuseum.Thebuildingoncehousedtheofficesofthemenwhocommissionedartforthecathedral.Todayitcontainssculpturesthatusedtodecoratetheoutsideofthecathe—dral.AshortwalkthroughthenaiTowstreetsofFlorencebringsvisitorstothefamousUffiziGallery.Thisbuildingdatesfrom1560andusedtobeanofficebuilding（UfficimeansofficeinItalian.）Todayitboastsanoutstandingartcollection.Visitorsshouldbesuretowearcomfortableshoes，asexploringthegallerytakesmanyhours.Someofthemostfa—mousworksinthecollectionincludeBotticelli’SPrimaveraandBirthofVenus.Evenvisitorstiredofartwon’twanttomissthePittiPalace.OncehometoFlorence’SpowerfulMedicifamily，thegrandpalacenowhousesthreemuseums.Filledwithpricelessart，thenumerousroomsglitterwithgolddeco—rations.Forabreathoffreshair，wanderamongthestatuesandfountainsofthepalacegardens.TheyaresomeofthegrandestgardensinItaly.Be—sidesfillingthegardenswithsculpturesandfountains，theMediciexperi—mentedwithgrowingpotatoesandpineappleshere.AfterexitingthePitti，arighttumbringsvisitorstooneofFlorence’