Back when all the world believed in Him the tallest buildings were always places of worship so we could get closer to God… all of which you’ll see for yourself on the rooftops of the Medicis’ Firenze.
Il Duomo still dominates Firenze‘s skyscape with every visitor heading for the jewel of the Renaissance City.
Santa Maria del Fiore (Lady of the Flower), to give it its Sunday name, is a nod to the very name of the florid city.
One of the largest churches in the world, we all focus on the large octagon of the immense dome, around which are three radial apses (or “tribunes”), each consisting of five chapels.
All of which you can get the best vista of if you are perched on a roof garden in a swish hotel, preferably with an Aperol Spritz in hand.
Arts and Kraft
Our travel buddies Cassidy Travel are happy to oblige, providing accommodation with a three-night package at the 4* Kraft Hotel from October 22.
All part of their Jewels of Italy programme.
You will get flights, 10kg luggage and return train Pisa/Florence included. All from €745pps.
The Kraft is central, meaning not too much walking before you hit that crazy paving, so disliked and avoided by the Medici, the family of Renaissance Firenze..
The centrepiece in your hotel is, of course, their panoramic top floor terrace with roof garden, restaurant and a heated swimming pool.
Firenze FOMO
Not that we had any Firenze FOMO at all when we had to cancel our trip to the Flower City this time last year because of a family bereavement.
And we know the aforementioned and much-missed Maj who waxed lyrical about his visit there will want us to put that right and follow in his footsteps.
To learn more about this fascinating family, you should immerse yourself in Medieval Medici mirth by following this easy-to-follow free Visit Tuscany guide.
You can discover more about the 505m corridor they used to keep them away from the plebs.
With it spanning from their luxurious Palazzo Pitti to the Uffizi office (not shabby either). The additional 155m would include walking through the Uffizi Gallery to the Palazzo Vecchio.
All this art, well that was down to the Medici too with Michelangelo working for La Famiglia.
And his David (Boy, not Beckham) the symbol of Firenze and the most Instagrammable pic from your visit.
While Galileo Galilei was also in their employ and presented to his former student, the Grand Duke Cosimo II of Tuscany, the Medician stars.
That’s a discovery of four celestial orbs that became the perfect way to honour the Medicis.
Ice one Medicis
Perhaps, of course, the Medicis greatest gift to the world was gelato.
Or Florentine chef Bernardo Buontalenti, although the Medicis naturally took the credit.
Bernardo invented modern gelato in 1565 when the Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici asked him to organise a banquet to receive the Spanish deputation.
And he invented a tasty dessert based on eggnog, milk, and fruit, producing the famous ‘Florentine cream’ and ‘Buontalenti.’
So there’s a scoop for you, OK 650 years old. Salute and enjoy your Aperol and gelato on the rooftops of the Medicis’ Firenze