FLORENCE 275Km
Crossed by the Arno River, it was the capital of Italy for a short period after the unification (1865-1871) and for a long time under the dominion of the Medici family (1434-1494, 1512-1527 and 1530-1737), when it was an important commercial and financial center of medieval Europe. It is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and is known throughout the world for being, in many respects, one of the cradles of art and architecture, with its many rich museums (including the Uffizi Gallery, the Galleria Palatina, the Bargello and the Garden of Archimedes, museum of mathematics). The historic center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.