St Trinity Bridge - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, was the only medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge across the Arno in Florence until 1218. The current bridge was rebuilt after a flood in 1345. During World War II it was the only bridge across the Arno that the fleeing Germans did not destroy. It is mostly full of tourists enjoying the view, musicians playing songs, artists making portraits and all sorts of entertainers can be found on this bridge.

The church of Santo Spirito is one of the main basilicas of the city of Florence. It is located in the Oltrarno district, the southern part of the historic center, and with its simple facade dominates the square of the same name. It was built on the remains of the thirteenth-century Augustinian convent destroyed by a fire in 1371. This church is nestled in a quiet little corner of Florence and it is very possible that you will pass in front of it several times before even really noticing its per

Palazzo Strozzi in Florence is one of the most beautiful Italian Renaissance palaces. Of imposing size, it is located between the homonymous via Strozzi and Piazza Strozzi, and via Tornabuoni, with three grandiose identical portals on as many sides. A true masterpiece of Florentine Renaissance civil architecture, it was begun at the behest of Filippo Strozzi, a wealthy merchant belonging to one of the wealthiest families in Florence, traditionally hostile to the Medici faction.

Piazza Santo Spirito is a square of the district Oltrarno in Florence. The square was formed in the thirteenth century, like other squares in front of important religious buildings, to accommodate the crowds who attended the prayers of the Augustinians, owners of the Basilica of Santo Spirito Frequent home to markets and flea markets, it is full of restaurants and nightclubs, craft shops and artists' studios.

The Loggia dei Lanzi is a beautiful arched gallery that was built in the 14th century at the Piazza della Signoria right in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. It consists of wide arches open to the street. The arches rest on clustered pilasters with Corinthian capitals. The wide arches appealed so much to the Florentines that Michelangelo proposed that they should be continued all around the Piazza della Signoria.

This tall structure halfway down Via dei Calzaiuoli looks more like a Gothic warehouse than a church—which is exactly what it was, built as a granary/grain market in 1337. On the ground floor of the square building are the 13th-century arches that originally formed the loggia of the grain market. The second floor was devoted to offices, while the third housed one of the city's municipal grain storehouses, maintained to withstand famine or siege.