Florence, Italy

Housed primarily in the refectory of the Santa Croce convent, this museum contains frescoes, sculptures and paintings primarily from the late Gothic and early Renaissance periods, including works by Cimabue, Gaddi, and Orcagna.

This splendid Dominican church has a facade of green, white and pink patterns and a nave that appears longer than it really is. Inside are Lippi's frescoes of classical ruins and other art highlights.

Replacing an ancient Roman bridge destroyed in a flood, the Ponte Vecchio was rebuilt in 1345, probably by the painter Taddeo Gaddi. It has been occupied by the shops of goldsmiths and silversmiths since 1593.

Reconstructed in the mid-11th century, the cathedral baptistery is one of Florence's oldest buildings and greatest art treasures. It is covered inside and out with splendid medieval and Renaissance decoration.

This magnificent cathedral is notable for its revolutionary dome designed by Brunelleschi (1436), its tall campanile by Giotto, fine marble exterior and splendid baptistery. Inside, the Duomo is a veritable museum of Renaissance art.

This is the principal Franciscan church of Florence, best known for its Florentine artwork and the tombs of illustrious dead such as Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli.

This hilltop church south of the Arno is the finest Romanesque church in Tuscany. It has a beautiful marble facade with inlaid Christian symbols and a fine view of the city.