Even today, Florence is still a city of traditional, ancestral handicrafts. Art, Science, its glorious past and the lively atmosphere have turned Florence into an important place for students and tourists from around the world.
PICTURESQUE SURROUNDINGS
Florence lies in the heart of Tuscany between the Apennines Mountains and the hills of Tuscany, separated into two city areas by the Arno River. The famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge houses several jewelry shops and connects the city halves to the north and to the south of the Arno River. Florence has a population of about 500,000 and is easy to visit and a lively and youthful city with its small alleys, its typical sidewalk cafés, restaurants and shops. The downtown area can be easily expolored on foot. Florence is the capital city of Tuscany, the origin of the classical Italian language and centre of a splendid history and culture, still evident to this very day. Florence was home to artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo ad Vinci as well as poets like Dante and Boccaccio. Since the Italian Renaissance, Florence possesses a nearly endless wealth of art treasures and attractions. This metropolis of the arts is also a trading centre and site of international trade shows, many elegant shops, banks, chambers of commerce, fashion, book and antique exhibitions. At the same time Florence is still a city of traditional artisanal crafts. Arts, science, its glorious past and lively atmosphere have made Florence a focal point for students and visitors from all over the world.
