Category: Bazaar News

Elvis Francois survived for 24 days in the Caribbean with only ketchup, garlic powder, and bouillon cubes to eat.

The Caribbean is known for its beautiful beaches, crystal clear water, and laid-back lifestyle. But for one man, paradise quickly turned into a nightmare after he was lost off the coast of Saint Martin with only ketchup to eat.

Elvis Francois, 47, was found 120 nautical miles from Colombia’s Puerto Bolívar on Jan. 16th after a plane spotted the word “HELP” engraved on the hull of Francois’ sailboat, the Colombian navy reported in a tweet.

He had been lost at sea for 24 days,

“I had no food. It was just a bottle of ketchup that was on the boat, garlic powder and Maggi (bouillon cubes) so I mixed it up with some water,” Francois said in a video recorded by his rescuers.

Francois, who is originally from the island of Dominica, remarked that he had been making repairs to his boat off the coast of Saint Martin in December when bad weather conditions pulled the vessel out to sea.

He explained that he lacked the navigational skills to direct himself back to shore, and so his weeks-long ordeal began.

“I tried to [go] back to port, but I lost track because it took me a while to mount the sail and fix the sail,” Francois said. “I [called] my friends, my coworkers. They tried to contact me, but they lost service. There was nothing else I could do than sit down and wait.”

Over the 24-day period that Francois was lost at sea, he had only condiments for nourishment, and he used a cloth to collect rainwater. He spent his time trying to keep water out of his sailboat and attempting to attract attention by lighting a fire, which failed.

“Twenty-four days — no land, nobody to talk to. Don’t know what to do, don’t know where you are. It was rough,” he said. “At a certain time, I lose hope. I think about my family.”

After he was finally rescued, Francois was taken to the Colombian port city of Cartagena for medical treatment. There, he was able to speak to Colombian authorities about his ordeal and work with immigration officials to arrange his trip back home to Dominica.

According to CBS News, Colombian Army Commander Captain Carlos Urano Montes said that they found Francois “to be in good health,” though he had lost a bit of weight.

Francois expressed his immense gratitude for the rescue team, stating: “At some point, I lost hope and thought about my family, but I thank the Coast Guard. If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be telling the story.”

Colombian officials have confirmed that Francois was transferred to immigration authorities to begin his journey back home.

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After learning how Elvis Francois survived for 24 days at sea, discover more of the most unfathomable survival stories from across the globe. Or, read about a teen who survived 49 days at sea in a floating hut.

The whale skull was found packed in a 650-pound block of sediment that preserved the fossil like a “sarcophagus.”

As Cody Goddard walked along Matoaka Beach in the Chesapeake Bay, he hoped to find fossils, maybe some ancient shark teeth. Instead, the Pennsylvania man stumbled upon a 12-million-year-old whale skull.

According to Chesapeake Bay Magazine, Goddard and his family were visiting Maryland in October 2022 when they decided to go beachcombing. As they walked along Matoaka Beach, Goddard suddenly noticed a large block of sediment on the beach with a piece of fossil sticking out.

He alerted Stephen Godfrey, Curator of Paleontology at the Calvert Marine Museum, who rushed to the scene. After examining the chunk of sediment, Godfrey confirmed that Goddard had discovered a whale skull from the Miocene era, later estimated to be 12 million years old.

“It felt like we had won the World Cup of Paleontology,” Godfrey said.

But along with the thrill of the discovery came the challenge of extracting the whale skull and the 650-pound block of sediment that encased it.

As Fox 6 Now reports, it took a team of paleontologists two months to recover the whale skull. Even Goddard returned to Maryland to help.

“We are so blessed to have so many avocational and professional paleontologists locally,” Godfrey told Chesapeake Bay Magazine, noting that many “paleontology enthusiasts” made the extraction possible.

The fossil was taken to the Calvert Marine Museum’s Fossil Preparation Lab, where scientists will use tools similar to “miniature jackhammers” to carefully remove the skull from its block of sediment. Though painstaking, the sediment played an important role in preserving the remains.

“In a way, it created its own sarcophagus – its own little burial chamber that preserved it for millions of years and for us to be able to find,” Godfrey explained to Fox 6 Now.

Indeed, Godfrey has been able to determine some facts about the whale. The skull once belonged to a baleen whale which, like some modern whales today, used its teeth to filter out plankton to eat. But, while baleen whales today can grow quite large — including the humpback whalem which can reach up to 49 feet in length — this ancient whale would have been smaller.

Godfrey explained to Fox 6 Now that the ancient baleen whale was probably just five and a half feet long, and 18 inches wide.

“This would have been a very hydrodynamic type of whale, so it could probably swim fairly quickly,” Godfrey explained. “And, of course, you’d want to because you have Megalodon [giant ancient sharks] swimming at that time, and you’re doing all you can to avoid being Megalodon’s next meal.”

That said, the whale skull — the most complete fossilized whale skull ever discovered in the area — still holds some mysteries. Godfrey told Chesapeake Bay Magazine that it will take months to remove the sediment from around the skull and that, for the moment, it’s unclear how hardened the sediment is. Once that’s done, the museum will have more clarity about what kind of whale washed up on the shores of Matoaka Beach.

“We don’t yet know what species of Miocene baleen whale this is,” Godfrey said. “[T]hat we will only know once it has been prepared. It might even prove to be our greatest preparation challenge.”

Until then, the 12-million-year-old whale skull will remain at the Calvert Marine Museum as one of the museum’s prize jewels. It’s been nicknamed “Cody” after the man who discovered it in the first place.

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After reading about the 12 million-year-old whale skull that was found by a beachcomber, see how nine-year-old Molly Sampson found an enormous megalodon tooth near Chesapeake Bay while searching for fossils with her family. Or, learn about the 40 million-year-old four-legged whale fossil that was discovered in Peru.

When you have limited free time to clean your house, certain spots get prioritized. Areas that you see regularly—like floors, countertops, and sinks—become harder to ignore the dirtier they become. Sanitizing the hidden parts of your home may not be high on your to-do list, but they often need the most attention. The drip pan at the bottom of your fridge is a prime example.

According to Kitchn, a drip pan is a tray that catches condensation from your freezer’s defrost drain. Most of the moisture evaporates on its own, so there’s no need to wipe down this piece of equipment on a weekly basis. But even residual amounts of moisture can breed harmful microbes like mold if they’re left to sit for too long.

Most drip pans are located beneath the fridge’s doors, which makes any grime build-up hard to catch unless you look for it. Typically, you can access it by popping off the panel covering the bottom of your refrigerator. (Designs vary, so consult your owner manual first if you aren’t sure where to start.) You should see a plastic or metal receptacle on the floor of the compartment. If it’s dirty, you can lift it out of the brackets holding it upright to clean it, taking care not to spill any standing water on yourself.

Drip pans can be cleaned with regular dish soap and hot water, or a solution of bleach and water for especially nasty jobs. Even if you don’t see excess water in the receptacle, it’s still a good idea to clean it every three months or so—and if you don’t remember the last time you checked it, plan to disinfect it sooner rather than later. Here are more household chores you should be doing more often.

[h/t Kitchn]

Are you wondering what are the best museums in Florence, Italy? I have visited Florence with my husband and our friends. I was really inspired and amazed with countless work of arts dotted around Florence made by famous artists of our time. I would like to share with you the various museums in Florence, Italy that you should not miss when visiting this beautiful Italian city.

Is it possible to visit Florence without stepping inside one of the city’s breathtaking museums? There are many museums to explore in the region that gave rise to the Renaissance.

You can get up close and personal with original works by Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, and many other great Italian artists during your travels. These Florence museums are a window into the past, allowing you to discover this city’s fascinating aspects.

I wrote another article about the Best Things to Do in Florence, Italy. I encourage you to read it to know more about this beautiful Italian city.

Read more: Beautiful Places To Visit In Italy For The First Time

List of the best museums in Florence, Italy:

1. Uffizi Gallery

You can only visit Italy by visiting the Uffizi, one of the most well-known art museums in the world.

Actually, “Uffizi” stands for “Ufficio,” or offices. The Medici family constructed the building in 1560 to house the city’s administrative offices, hence the museum’s name. Midway through the 18th century, it was given to the state as a museum.

One of Florence’s most illustrious families, the Medici, started gathering artwork and artifacts. It gradually grew into the sizable collection that is the Uffizi of today. Famous pieces by legendary artists like Raphael and Botticelli can be found here. A

You can find artworks like “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera” by Botticelli, “Doni Tondo” by Michelangelo, “Venus of Urbino” by Titian, “The Medusa” by Caravaggio, and many more tucked away in the side rooms and along the Uffizi’s long, golden corridors.

If you only have time to visit one museum in Florence, make sure it’s this one. Also, make reservations in advance!

2. Accademia Gallery

The Accademia Gallery is another must-see in Florence alongside the Uffizi. The statue of David, whose gaze has captivated millions of people worldwide, resides here.

The gallery building itself dates back to 1787. The museum’s collection has expanded beyond the works of the master sculptor Michelangelo, despite initial perceptions to the contrary. You can even check out a one-of-a-kind collection of vintage instruments in the museum’s current incarnation.

Take advantage of the masterpieces on either side of the hall while admiring the illuminated David in the center. Michelangelo’s famous unfinished “Slaves” are hidden among the rough marble blocks. The full scope of Michelangelo’s genius is displayed in these works that were not commissioned. The Accademia has much stunning artwork that will leave you in awe, but it’s still on the smaller side compared to other museums. A morning visit is possible before spending the afternoon in the city’s heart.

3. Opera del Duomo Museum

Have you ever been curious about Duomo’s construction in Florence? The church is a prominent feature of the Florence skyline, its stunning Brunelleschi dome serving as a focal point. The Opera Duomo Museum gives visitors a glimpse into the process that led to the building’s current splendor over several centuries.

Visit this museum to learn more about the great dome designed by Brunelleschi. You won’t just get a bird’s-eye view of the dome; you’ll also be able to examine the church’s priceless sculptures up close.

Not to be confused with his sculpture of the same name in the Vatican, Michelangelo’s “Pietà” is one of the most impressive works. It depicts Nicodemus carrying Christ’s body after his death, with the assistance of two of the Marys.

Michelangelo abandoned this project because he was dissatisfied with the marble and believed it to be flawed. This explains why Christ seems to be limping a bit.

There’s also the intriguing theory that Michelangelo was portraying himself in Nicodemus. You can get as close to the masterpiece at the Duomo Museum as standing in front of the artist himself.

A museum devoted to a church might not seem attractive at first, but you should check it out. There are many excellent, unexpected things to see in this museum.

4. San Marco Museum

A trip to the San Marco Museum is essential if you’re interested in learning about the life and work of one of Florence’s most well-known residents, the painter, architect, sculptor, and all-around Renaissance man Fra Angelico.

This lovely monastery-turned-museum is housed in the former convent of San Marco, where Angelico once resided and worked while living and working under the patronage of none other than Cosimo de’ Medici. The convent now houses a collection of famous works by Angelico and other artists who, over the centuries, have lived and labored there (albeit non-exclusively).

Even though you could spend hours wandering the halls and the courtyard, Fra Angelico’s “Annunciation,” regarded as one of his best works and one of the final San Marco frescoes to be finished, is unquestionably one of the highlights of the museum. It is regarded as a masterpiece of Italian art from the 15th century and shows Mary seeing the angel Gabriel.

Other popular attractions are the First Floor Dormitories and the mesmerizing Chapter House, which was once used by the monks for congregational meetings but is now completely covered in images of the Crucifixion and Saints.

But this off-the-beaten-path museum is more than just the artwork on display; the building itself is a work of art. The monastery was built in the 15th century, though it was occupied as early as the 12th century, as evidenced by the stunning medieval architecture. The intricately detailed frescoes in the cloister, painted by the Italian Mannerist painter Poccetti in the 16th century, depict scenes from San Marco’s daily life and provide a window into that period’s radically different way of life.

The San Marco Museum is tucked away in the north of Florence and is open from Monday through Friday from 8.15 am to 1.15 pm and on weekends from 8.15 am to 4.15 pm. It is about a 10- to 15-minute walk from Florence’s main historical attractions. Bookings for guided tours are required in advance and are highly recommended.

5. Palatine Gallery

The Palatine Gallery is one of Florence’s most beautiful art museums, if not all of Italy. It is stunning and colorful in every direction you look, with gold trimmings adorning the ceiling and eye-catching artwork lining the walls.

The Palatine Gallery is a part of Florence’s largest museum complex, the Pitti Palace, a grand-ducal residence that once housed the Medici and Lorraine families and now houses the Palatine Gallery. The Pitti Palace looks out onto the Boboli Gardens. This long, slender gallery, which occupies the entire first floor of the palace, was built in 1458 by Medici’s friend and Florentine banker Luca Pitti.

The gallery was built to house the Medici family’s impressive art collection and host significant events. It is made up of 28 rooms, many of which are named after planets or gods, and has high barrel-vaulted ceilings with intricate frescoes.

The Palatine Gallery is a visual feast featuring works by some of the most renowned painters of the 16th and 17th centuries and beyond, such as Titian (note the Portrait of Vincenzo Mosti), Rubens, Van Dyck, Raphael (note the Portrait of Agnolo Doni as well as Ezekiel’s Vision), Correggio, and Andrea del Sarto.

Unfortunately, with so many masterpieces packed into a small area, it can be challenging to see everything at once (especially since they are arranged similarly to how they were during the Medici years and don’t follow any strict chronological order); it is advised to use one of the audio guides to help you make sense of it all.

The Palatine Gallery is open daily from 1.30 pm to 6.30 pm, excluding Mondays. If you’d rather avoid the crowds, it’s essential to know that the Palatine Gallery is typically much less crowded in the evening than in the afternoon. If you want a more upscale experience, you can purchase a skip-the-line pass or schedule a private tour.

Adult admission is 23.75 euros (plus 4.75 euros for pre-sales; round up to 19 euros), with discounts available for students and seniors. You can get your money’s worth because tickets are also valid for the Modern Art Gallery, The Costume Gallery, and The Medici Treasures.

6. National Archeological Museum of Florence

The National Archaeological Museum is one of the biggest and most significant museums in this stunning city on the Arno, offering a welcome diversion from the Renaissance art that is dispersed throughout numerous Florence museums (not to be confused with the eponymous museum in Naples). In addition to many intricate and exciting Roman sculptures, it also contains a fantastic collection of Etruscan, Egyptian, and Greek artwork.

The Archaeological Museum is close to the Accademia Museum and is housed in a stunning building (to be expected of Florence by this point, right?) with an expansive garden housing Etruscan tombs out the back. It is situated in the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata.

Keep an eye out for some of the museum’s most famous exhibits as you stroll through its halls, such as the François vase from 570 B.C., an Egyptian war chariot, and the 2nd century BC sarcophagus of Laerthia Seianti, to name a few. Extensive is the Egyptian section, also known as the Egyptian Museum and, surprisingly, the second-largest of its kind in Italy.

See smaller items on display throughout the museum if you enjoy finding undiscovered treasures and lesser-known pieces. Visit the corridor upstairs to see a variety of ancient treasures from the Medici collections, which include Roman mosaics, Greek vases, and a group of amulets from the ancient world.

Tuesday through Friday, 9 am to 8 pm, and on the weekends, 9 am to 4 pm, are the hours of operation for the National Archaeological Museum (closed on Mondays). There is a 5 euro entrance fee, and for those who would instead learn than browse, there are also guided tours available.

7. Salvatore Ferragamo Museum

One of Florence’s more distinctive museums, the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo, serves as a beacon for fashionistas from near and far. For one thing, you won’t find Renaissance paintings or marble sculptures here.

This museum, which is devoted to the life and work of famed Italian shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo, who became well-known in Hollywood during the 1920s by designing iconic shoes for stars like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Greta Garbo, gives visitors a glimpse into the fascinating world of high fashion and Italian design and highlights the significant influence Ferragamo had on the development of both footwear and global style.

The Salvatore Ferragamo museum is housed in an opulent structure on the Via de’ Tornabuoni, in the basement of Palazzo Spini Feroni, a historic structure built in 1289 that, some 700 years later, became the company’s headquarters and the first Salvatore Ferragamo store. The museum now has over 14,000 items spread across three floors, including sketches, original prototypes, press cuttings, advertising materials, photographs, vintage shoes (more than

A few pairs of shoes Ferragamo made for Hollywood stars like Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Sophia Loren are among the highlights of the exhibition; it’s easy to see why he earned the nickname “Shoemaker to the Stars” after opening the “Hollywood Boot Shop” in 1923.

The eccentric shoe collection is impressive, and he uses various materials to make each pair unique, including silk, cotton, wood, satin embroidery, and more. Still, it’s not just about the shoes. The museum also hosts themed, recurring exhibits that explore a variety of subjects beyond just a few pairs of sneakers, such as silk or sustainability.

Every day from 11 am to 7.30 pm, the Ferragamo Museum is open. Adult admission is 8 euros; children and those in school receive a 50% discount.

The Museo Salvatore Ferragamo is worth a visit if you’re interested in fashion or want to learn more about one of Florence’s most famous sons. If you want to learn more, consider using a free audio guide (available in Italian, English, French, Spanish, and Japanese).

8. Museo di Palazzo Vecchio

Discover centuries of art history by entering one of Florence’s most iconic palaces, which accurately represent the city’s architectural style. This palazzo is one of the city’s most intriguing sights, both inside and out.

You may have noticed that Florence’s palaces resemble fortresses more than castles from fairy tales. The palace halls were designed to serve as municipal buildings and fortifications. The Republic of Florence’s governing body oversaw all municipal affairs in the Palazzo Vecchio during the Middle Ages. There aren’t any unique masterpieces inside. The real draw is the palace itself, with its intricate architecture and frescoes.

If large crowds put you off, this is one of the best museums in Florence, Italy. Even though the piazza in front may be pretty crowded, fewer people enter the palace’s interior.

9. Leonardo Da Vinci Museum

You’ve already experienced Florence’s historical masterpieces and the opulence of its artisan fashion houses. It’s time to take a closer look at the city’s creative side.

The Leonardo Da Vinci Museum offers each visitor a singular experience where the senses and knowledge of “Leonardo” marry, giving visitors the feeling of being immersed in a history of extraordinary relevance. The museum is located in Florence and has various traveling exhibits from all over the world.

The Leonardo da Vinci museum in Florence houses the machine codes derived from Leonardo, serving as a point of reference for visitors as an educational and cognitively complete tool.

A striking and unusual piece of work, meticulously carried out by the WMA World Wide Museum staff: real machines, all running, large, and made of particular cases. Machines, which can never be defined as anything more than “models,” are entirely made of wood, necessitating the dedication of both sophisticated technology and specialized human skills.

The museum is a carefully researched exhibition where the machines’ interactivity is crucial.

Children can operate the rotating crane model and other models of Da Vinci’s inventions in this exhibit (about half are roped off as display only).

The museum has five sections.

1. Mechanisms

Based on Leonardo’s codexes, the machine demonstrates the following concepts: motion transformation, looking system, flywheel, worm screw, ball bearer, eccentric cam, etc.

There are numerous interactive machines, including printing machines, rotating cranes, oil presses, automata, rolling mills, odometers, theatrical machines, fantastic animals, etc.

The machines inspired by water are still considered very modern and are used today. Some examples of these machines include the hydraulic saw, the Archimedean skew, water floats, and the webbed glove.

In this section, we will discuss such topics as Leonardo’s parachute, the hornithopters, the wing trial, the anemometer, the anemoscope, the hygrometer, the comedy bird, and other related issues.

The Atlantic Codex served as an inspiration for artillery machines. Machine guns and mortar fire are two of these. This section contains the fully interactive armored tank, which is unique worldwide due to its size.

10. Museo Galileo

Continue your break from the arts and learn about Galileo Galilei, one of the most renowned scientists in history.

We owe much of today’s mathematical knowledge to Galileo because of his far-reaching expertise and curiosity. Of course, heliocentricity—the notion that we revolve around the sun rather than the other way—was one of his most significant theories.

You can still learn much about the researcher’s life and discoveries in this museum, even though it isn’t as interactive as the Da Vinci museum. Numerous telescopes, maps, and other items that he would have used in his research are included in the collection.

The museum is conveniently located in the heart of Florence, close to the Uffizi, making it accessible from anywhere you may be traveling.

11. Museum of Costume and Fashion

The Meridiana of the Pitti Palace, which was started under Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo in 1776 and finished in 1840, and which was chosen as a residence by the families that ruled Tuscany and by the Savoy house until 1946, is where the Costume Gallery (Museum of Costume and Fashion) is located. The historical clothing and accessory collections once kept in the palace’s warehouses are now on display in the Lorraine/Savoy rooms.

The collections span the years from the eighteenth century to the present. The restoration of the Grand Duke Cosimo de’ Medici’s, Eleonora of Toledo’s, and her son Don Garzia’s funeral robes recently added some exceptional examples of 16th-century attire to the museum.

Every two months, various clothing selections are displayed in the air-conditioned rooms to illustrate the evolution of fashion for educational purposes. Instead, temporary exhibitions are held in a few rooms, such as the dancing hall. The decision to switch out the clothes on display every two years was made to ensure their preservation. Still, it also provides a chance to display another patrimony stored in the depository, primarily from private donors.

Along with a sizable collection of historical clothing donated to the museum by Umberto Tirelli, Sartoria Tirelli’s collection of about 90 theater costumes is also included in the Costume Gallery’s holdings. A laboratory for fabric restoration is located in the nearby Meridiana building.

12. La Specola

Although less well-known than museums like the Uffizi, Accademia, and Archaeological Museum, Florence’s Museo di Storia Naturale della Specola is unquestionably worth a visit if you’re interested in science and nature in general. It’s also thought to be the oldest scientific museum in Europe.

The wax anatomical models on display are one of this museum’s most intriguing features; Gaetano Giulio Zumbo produced this odd collection of figures in the 18th century (who had an obsession with anatomy and corruption).

Make no mistake; when you see the nude wax women in erotic poses, with their organs showing and ribcages open, you’ll realize that La Specola is a nightmare away from your typical Madame Tussauds. These lifelike models are both fascinating and slightly eerie, giving visitors an insight into what medical science was like back in the day.

The Museo di Storia Naturale della Specola, located on Via Romana on the southern bank of the Arno close to the Pitti Palace, also houses an extensive collection of minerals, including some of the giant crystals in the world, meteorites, fossils, and taxidermied animals, as well as an impressive Skeletons Hall on the ground floor.

There is even a section on archaic zoology where you can learn how different species have changed over time. The collection contains over 3.5 million animals, with about 5,000 on display at any time.

Aside from the abundance of fascinating exhibits that line its floors, the museum itself is a piece of history. Before the early 19th century, this unique but underappreciated organization was the only scientific museum designed for the general public. Therefore, anyone desiring to gain firsthand knowledge of natural history for more than two centuries had to travel to Florence. It is changing times indeed!

13. Bargelo National Museum

The Bargello served as the “podesta’s” palace during the Renaissance; today, we would refer to him as a judge. It served as a court as well as a prison simultaneously. Following the verdict, prisoners who had been given the death penalty were taken to the area outside the city walls, where most executions occurred.

The Bargello is now a museum with a lovely collection that includes some works of art from the Renaissance. Two masterpieces each depict a famous scene: David slaying the enormous Goliath.

In Bargello, there are two Davids—one by Donatello and one by Verrocchio. While depicting the same subject, their stylistic differences are vast. The first freestanding sculpture made of bronze after antiquity was Donatello’s David. It was commissioned by the Medici family and stood in the courtyard of their city palace for a considerable amount of time.

However, by the end of the 15th century, the Medici had been expelled from the city for a short while, and the statue had been moved to the Palazzo della Signoria, also known as the “Palazzo Vecchio.”

Two bronze panels created for a competition to design a set of bronze doors for the Battistero in front of the Duomo are another outstanding component of Bargello’s collection. Brunelleschi and Ghiberti, two Renaissance masters, faced off against one another.

Even though both panels had an exquisite casting and fine detail, Ghiberti won the contest. Among the causes? He made his cast out of less bronze by leaving the back hollow. It significantly reduced the cost of the doors. Even the wealthy Renaissance men were sensitive to it!

14. Synagogue and Jewish Museum of Florence

David Levi, the president of the Hebrew University, left his possessions as a bequest in 1868 to construct a new synagogue in Florence that would be “worthy of the city.” He made provisions for purchasing a parcel of land between the newly built Mattonaia and Piazza d’Azeglio.

As a result, between 1874 and 1882, the architects Marco Treves, Mariano Falcini, and Vincenzo Micheli constructed the “Tempio Maggiore Israelitico.” The Moorish-style temple is made of pink pomato stone, travertine is centrally planned, and has a dome flanked by towers. It is of the “of the Emancipation” variety because it was designed as a standalone structure rather than being concealed, as in ghettoes.

The Sienese architect Pasquale Franci’s cast-iron railings surrounding the synagogue, which is situated in a garden with exotic plants, give visitors a sense of the splendor of the East.

The central dome, raised on a tall circular drum, is covered in copper that has undergone oxidation to give it the distinctive greenish hue that makes it stand out on the Florentine skyline. Giovanni Panti decorated the interior, bathed in golden light, with painted red and blue arabesques that had initially been outlined in gold. A museum on the first floor, split into two sections—one depicting the history of the Jews in Florence and the other displaying religious and ceremonial objects—illustrates the history of the Florentine community.

15. Gallery of Modern Art

Since 1924, the Gallery has been arranged on the second floor of the Pitti Palace and extends as far as the rooms and the facade used by the Medici for the palace library and the side wings used for children and retainers.

It was founded in 1914 and initially comprised works of art from the Academy of Fine Arts. The current museum collection shall consist of thirty rooms that trace a wide chronological arc: from the time of Pietro Leopoldo to the First World War.

The tour, organized in chronological order and by historical-topical category, attempts to furnish the visitor with a clear view of the histories of the various core collections and enable a correct reading of the diverse atmospheres, marked as they are by the personal tastes of the royal families alternating in their reigns.

Today, it has an extraordinary juridical nature due to a convention signed by the Italian State and the Municipal Administration of Florence.

The thirty rooms of the Gallery have recently been reorganized, according to chronological criteria, Down a period going from Neoclassicism (the age of Peter Leopold) to the 1920′ s. The rooms on the second floor have been restored, but the decoration, upholstering, and furniture of the Lorraine period have been maintained.

The itinerary begins with both Neoclassic works like the “Oath of the Saxons to Napoleon” by Pietro Benvenuti and romantic jobs like the grandiose “Entry of Charles VIII” by Giuseppe Bezzuoli or “The two Foscari” by Francesco Hayez.

There is a section that comprises essential works by Giovanni Fattori, like the “Rotonda Palmieri,” the “Battle of Magenta,” the “Staffato,” and a rich series of landscapes and scenes of life in the Maremma – the “Market in Maremma,” the “Ox cart,” the “Salto Delle Pecore.” Many of the works of these artists displayed in the Gallery belong to the collection of Diego Martelli, a critic and friend of the Macchiaioli who left their paintings to the museum at the end of the last century.

There are also many paintings by Silvestro Lega and Telemaco Signorini with views and interior scenes, while Giovanni Boldini is represented with a series of rapid and elegant portraits. The sculptures of this section include the works by Adriano Cecioni, who lucidly translated and experimented with the tonal ideas prevalent to whom the touch was so important.

In addition to the collections mentioned above belonging to the early and late 19th century, the Museum also displays a lavish array of 19^th-century works that will be arranged in the so-called “Mezzanine Degli Occhi” (Mezzanine of the Eyes, the “eyes” being windows in the shape of a circle.

16. Horne Museum

The English collector Herbert P. Horne (1864–1916), who donated his lifetime’s worth of collections to the Italian State and the palace where he had assembled them, is the inspiration behind the Horne Museum. This structure was once owned by the Alberti family and later by the Corsi family, who gave it its current appearance at the end of the 15th century. Simone del Pollaiolo, also known as “Il Cronaca,” is likely responsible for the elegant exterior design and the balanced internal courtyard.

The current design reflects the owner’s preferences (Horne was a man of letters, an architect, and a valuable critic). Horne relocated to Florence at the end of the 19th century to study the Italian Renaissance. He developed a keen interest in the artwork, furnishings, and decorative and practical household items that belonged to the typical Florentine home he wished to recreate for himself. The result is a vast and opulent collection organized to preserve a private home’s personality through furniture and household items.

The exquisite household items, such as original silver and ivory cutlery, needles, mirror holders, leather boxes, and firedogs, are particularly fascinating.

Even the collection of paintings is intriguing because it includes many Florentine and Sienese paintings from the 14th century and other pieces created by 14th- and 15th-century artists. The design clearly reflects the owner’s sensibility and taste, who was an avid student of Botticelli. The painting by Giotto depicting “St. Stephen” is the most priceless item.

Among the sculptures are pieces by Desiderio da Settignano, Giambologna, and Bernini’s “Angels in Glory.”

Fine examples of Italian ceramics from the 14th to the 17th centuries, made in the factories of Orvieto, Cafaggiolo, and Urbino, can be found in most furniture pieces.

17. Casa Buonarroti

The Casa Buonarroti offers one of the most distinctive visitor experiences among Florence’s museums. It is both a museum and a monument, a location of remembrance and celebration of Michelangelo’s genius and, at the same time, a lavish baroque display and exhibition of the rich art collections of the family.

The Madonna of the Stairs, an intense witness to his passionate study of Donatello, and the Battle of the Centaurs, an eloquent testimony of unquenchable love for classical art, are the two famous reliefs in marble that are masterpieces created by the young Michelangelo.

The link between Michelangelo’s works and the worldly affairs of the Buonarroti family is not any less significant for those who walk through the grand doors of the seventeenth-century palace in Florence’s Via Ghibellina 70.

A place where they preserved a priceless cultural heritage (including significant archives and a library) and unique collections of art, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and archaeological objects that are now on display on the two floors of the museum; they spared no expense in enlarging and decorating their home.

18. Hospital of Innocents

The Hospital of Innocents, also known as the Ospedale Degli Innocenti, is more than just a significant piece of architecture. It has continuously provided care for infants and young children for over five centuries. The “Innocenti” represents the evolving humanistic views of Florence during the early Renaissance, starting with its sponsorship and continuing through its services and architecture.

The Gallery is located in one of Florence’s most renowned and significant architectural complexes from the early 15th century. Filippo Brunelleschi was designed and constructed under the direction and funding of the WooI Guild. Brunelleschi deliberately balanced the refectory, cloisters, dormitories, infirmary, nurses’ rooms, and porticoes to produce a beautiful and functional hospital design.

Later, they were expanded and frescoed, which served as a record of the institution’s ongoing activities and the Medici family’s favors.

Both the former children’s dayroom above the main portico and the loggia above the cloister has been set aside for the Gallery. It consists of excellent works that only make up a small portion of the extensive collections amassed over the years by the Hospital through donations, bequests, loans, or pieces that the organization itself commissioned.

The collection still holds outstanding panel paintings, detached frescoes, furniture pieces, decorations, and several priceless illuminated manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries that are regarded as some of the finest preserved in Florence, even though the collection’s most significant works (by Della Robbia, Beato Angelico, Vasari, and Giambologna) were dispersed in the 19th century.

The Adoration of the Magi by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449–1494), created for the Hospital church, is one of the best paintings. The painting depicts some historical figures (merchants of the Guild of Silk and their servants) involved with the life of the Hospital and praising the Child in a stunning palette of colors.

The art of cinema combines moving pictures and sound to conjure up stories, fueled only by the human imagination and the craftsmanship of a dedicated team of professionals. Films also might convince you to try sucking venom out of a loved one’s snake bite. One of those things could turn out to be a problem.

For instance, despite what you might have seen in Snakes on a Plane, the cut-and-suck method ratchets up the risk of infection—in part because your mouth is teeming with germs. And if you have any sort of open wound in your mouth, the venom could very well enter your own bloodstream. Moreover, snake venom typically moves through your body too fast for your suction tactics to make much of a difference.

If you’re with someone who has an unfortunate encounter with a venomous snake, putting your mouth near the bite area is not advisable. In fact, you shouldn’t even apply a tourniquet, as that can cause nerve and tissue damage. Instead, call 911. And if Samuel L. Jackson is around … maybe ask him to call 911.

That suspect snake strategy isn’t the only lie movies might have taught you. In the latest episode of The List Show, host Erin McCarthy walks through more than a baker’s dozen-worth of myths from the movies, from how easy it is to walk away from a nearby explosion to how many phone calls you’re guaranteed after being detained by police.

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Technically, Prince Charles became King Charles III the very moment his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on September 8, 2022. That change in leadership, known as the accession, happens automatically—though a ceremony is held after the fact.

But in terms of length, scope, extravagance, and basically everything else, the accession ceremony has nothing on the coronation, which marks a monarch’s formal investiture as sovereign. The celebration of King Charles III’s coronation will take place over three days this May—here’s everything we know about it so far.

The coronation itself comes first, scheduled for the morning of Saturday, May 6. King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, will lead what’s known as “The King’s Procession” from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. There, the Archbishop of Canterbury will preside over a religious service during which King Charles III is expected to recite the coronation oath, be crowned with St. Edward’s Crown, and hold the Coronation Regalia (a bejeweled scepter, orb, and spoon). Camilla will also be formally crowned Queen Consort during the proceedings. Afterwards, the pair will lead royal family members and other key figures back to Buckingham in the so-called “Coronation Procession” and wave to the masses below from the palace balcony.

For Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, extra stands were erected inside the abbey so more than 8000 people could attend. Unless King Charles III does the same (which isn’t likely), we’re looking at a guest list closer to 2000. But the ceremony will almost definitely be televised—following Elizabeth’s history-making precedent.

Back in October, the Daily Mail claimed that Charles’s coronation ceremony is expected to last a bit longer than an hour; his mother’s went on for about three. This means certain traditions will probably end up on the chopping block, including, perhaps, bestowing Charles with gold ingots. The dress code could be less formal, too; reports suggest that Charles may forgo the traditional silk stockings and breeches in favor of his military uniform.

Since the 14th century, the Court of Claims has convened before each coronation to determine who gets to perform honorary duties during the ceremony—such as carrying the Coronation Regalia and various other objects. This time, the Cabinet Office has established a special Coronation Claims Office to take its place.

According to a press release, officials “will consult with ecclesiastical experts from Lambeth Palace and ceremonial experts from the Royal Household” to decide which duties to keep and which people will perform them. In order to be considered for a role, you have to submit a claim with evidence that it “has been performed at previous coronations.” You also have to “show your connection to those who have previously performed the role.”

The anti-monarchist group Republic is planning a peaceful protest of the coronation on May 6. It will take place in Parliament Square, right near Westminster Abbey. “The coronation is a celebration of hereditary power and privilege, it has no place in a modern society,” Republic CEO Graham Smith told Reuters. “At a cost of tens of millions of pounds, this pointless piece of theatre is a slap in the face for millions of people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.”

Day two of coronation weekend—Sunday—will feature a huge concert at Windsor Castle. Though the line-up of “global music icons and contemporary stars” hasn’t yet been announced, the palace has promised a performance by a coronation choir comprising diverse singers from “refugee choirs, National Health Service choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf signing choirs.” There will be a lights show with drones and lasers, too. In addition to broadcasting the entire event, the BBC and BBC Studios will give away several thousand tickets (though the details of that process remain unclear).

Every year since 2009, education and social charity The Eden Project hosts what it calls The Big Lunch. Basically, on one Sunday in June, everyone convenes in their local community spaces to have lunch together. The organization celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee with a special Big Jubilee Lunch, and it’s planning a similar series for the Coronation. If you’re interested in hosting a Coronation Big Lunch in your own community—no matter where you live—you can learn how to get started here. 

Monday, May 8, is confirmed as a bank holiday. Anybody who doesn’t have to work that day is encouraged to spend the time volunteering in their communities. The multi-organization campaign, dubbed The Big Help Out, is a nod to King Charles III’s commitment to public service.

Sometimes, an event is more likely to occur than we think. For example, if you survey a random group of 23 people, you have a 50–50 chance of finding someone with the same birthday as you. Understanding the Birthday Paradox is all about mathematical probability.

What’s the key to understanding the Birthday Paradox?

Understanding the Birthday Paradox is important to understanding the limits of our intuition.

The Birthday Paradox is a statistical phenomenon that states that in a group of just 23 people, there’s a 50-50 chance that two of them will have the same birthday. This likely seems counterintuitive. The probability of any two people having the same birthday seems much lower, right?

But as the number of people in a group increases, the probability of two people having the same birthday also increases. (That part makes sense.)

To understand the Birthday Paradox, we have to consider the probability of two people not having the same birthday.

If the first person in a group has a birthday on any day of the year, the probability that the second person does not have the same birthday is 364/365, or 0.9973. The probability that the third person does not have the same birthday as the first two people is 363/365, and so on.

As the number of people in the group increases, the probability of any two people not having the same birthday decreases.

How does the math work on this?

Ok, let’s say we have a group of 23 people. The probability that any two people do not have the same birthday is (364/365)^(23*22/2) = 0.4927. That means that there is a 50.73% chance that two people in the group will have the same birthday.

In a group of 30 people, the probability increases to 0.7037. In that case, there is a 29.63% chance that two people will have the same birthday.

A simpler way to think about the Birthday Paradox is to think about it as a game of matching pairs. If you have a deck of cards with 365 cards and you randomly draw 23 cards, the probability of matching pairs is 50.73%. The more cards you draw, the higher the chance of matching pairs. — WTF fun facts

Source: “Probability and the Birthday Paradox” — Scientific American

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The first video game ever created was called Tennis for Two. The game was played on an oscilloscope. It was created by physicist William Higinbotham in 1958.

Is Tennis for Two the first video game ever?

“Tennis for Two” is considered to be the first video game ever created, even though we’d hardly recognize it as a video game today.

Developed by physicist William Higinbotham in 1958, the game was played on an oscilloscope and was a simple simulation of a game of tennis (kind of like Pong).

An oscilloscope is an electronic instrument that allows people to visualize electrical signals. In the case of Tennis for Two, the oscilloscope was used to display the game on its screen.

The game consisted of two dots, representing the ball and the paddles, which could be moved up and down by players using knobs. Players would try to hit the dot back and forth across the screen. The game ended when one player failed to hit the dot (or ball) ball back to the other side.

Despite being pretty basic, Tennis for Two laid the foundation for the modern video game industry.

Who played Tennis for Two?

The first video game was created as a demonstration for visitors at Brookhaven National Laboratory, where its creator worked.

“Tennis for Two” was an instant hit with visitors to the laboratory. In fact, the game was played by thousands of people over the course of the next few years and featured in newspapers and magazines, sparking public interest.

Tennis for Two was the first game that allowed players to compete against each other in a virtual environment, and it provided a new way for people to interact with technology. Of course, very few people had the tools to play it.

A forgotten history

Despite its success at the time, Tennis for Two was not developed further. It was eventually forgotten as the video game industry continued to evolve. But it paved the way for the creation of more advanced and sophisticated games.

By the time Pong was created (the game considered to be the first arcade video game), most people didn’t know about its predecessor.

Pong was created in 1972 by Atari, and it could be played on arcade machines or home consoles.

While Tennis for Two is a two-player game, Pong could be a one or two-player game. And while Tennis for Two had no scoring system (the game simply ended when one player failed to hit the dot), Pong kept score. Each time a player fails to hit the ball back, the opponent scores a point. The game ends when one player reaches a certain number of points. — WTF fun facts

Source: “The Complete History of Tennis for Two” — History Computer

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In life and in death, Bessie Coleman hasn’t always received the same recognition as some of her peers. That’s beginning to change: Schools, airport streets, and a Chicago library all bear her name today. Now the barrier-breaking aviator has a special-edition quarter celebrating her achievements.

The new quarter is the inaugural coin of the U.S. Mint’s 2023 American Women Quarters Program. It features George Washington on the front and Bessie Coleman replacing the standard eagle image on the tail-side. The Black Cherokee pilot is shown donning her flight gear as her Curtiss “Jenny” biplane soars behind her. The date 6.15.1921 inscribed at the bottom of the coin is the day Coleman received her pilot’s license.

The U.S. mint commissioned Chris Costello to design the portrait. “As I researched Bessie Coleman’s life, I discovered that the existing photographs and illustrations of her were posed and very familiar. I challenged myself to create an original, never-before-seen portrait that was not based on any known photo,” the designer said in a statement. “My wife and young daughter, who are of African and Native American heritage, modeled for my drawing that depicts her in a more active posture—readying her goggles as she takes to the skies.”

When Coleman was unable to attend flight school in America due to segregation, she traveled to France with dreams of becoming a pilot. She achieved her goal at age 29, making her the first Native American and the first Black woman pilot. Additionally, she was the first Black person to hold an international pilot’s license. After a thrilling career that involved stunt flying for live audiences, Coleman died in a plane accident at age 34.

Coleman isn’t the only pioneering American woman being honored by the new quarter program. Now through 2025, the U.S. mint plans to circulate coins spotlighting journalist Jovita Idar, composer and dancer Edith Kanakaʻole, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and prima ballerina Maria Tallchief.

Like any two dialects of a language, British English and American English have plenty of lexical variations. Sometimes, a word means something different in the U.S. than it does in the UK, as is the case with biscuit and jumper. And then there are terms that only really exist in one dialect or the other. Lorry is one of them. 

Speakers of British English know a lorry to be a large, load-bearing vehicle—what American English speakers would refer to as a semi, an 18-wheeler, a tractor-trailer, or just a plain old truck. According to UK trucker blog Fleet Speak, some people think a vehicle’s cab and cargo unit need to be separate for it to qualify as a lorry, but that distinction doesn’t always hold in colloquial conversation.

Nobody’s totally certain how the word lorry came to be. But the leading theory, per the Oxford English Dictionary, is that it’s related to lurry, a verb dating back to the 17th century that means “to carry or drag along.” This is supported by the fact that when lorry first appeared in print during the mid-19th century, it was sometimes spelled lurry. 

So if lorries (or lurries) were around before automobiles existed, what exactly were they? According to the OED, the term originally referred to “a long flat wagon without sides running on four low wheels.” By the early 20th century, motor vehicles had arrived, and lorry had evolved to describe a large one used to transport cargo.

Renaissance man and self-taught photographer Gordon Parks made an indelible mark on nearly every art form in midcentury America. Parks rose up through poverty and segregation to become the premier documentarian of everyday life from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Parks—a prolific writer, composer, painter, and filmmaker—also became the first Black man to write and direct a major Hollywood film in 1969 with The Learning Tree, a vital work that was part of the inaugural crop of 25 films added to the Library of Congress for preservation in 1989. However, he is best known for his searing photographic portraits like the iconic American Gothic, Washington DC, and for helping to invent the Blaxsploitation film genre with his adaptation of Ernest Tidyman’s Shaft. Here are 10 facts about a true visionary.

Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks was born to Andrew Jackson Parks and Sarah Ross November 30, 1912 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The youngest of 15, he grew up on the family farm, where they grew corn, beets, collard greens, turnips, and potatoes. When he was 7 years old, his mother bought a piano through an installment plan, and Parks began learning to play.

Following the death of his mother in 1928, Parks moved to Minnesota to live with his sister Peggy and her husband. But on Christmas Eve of that year, Peggy’s husband tossed the teen out of their house and into subzero weather. Parks, who was just 16 at the time, later claimed this was the moment he realized that he only had himself to rely on for his own survival.

Parks likened this family squabble to another traumatic event from his childhood: a literal sink-or-swim situation that occurred when Parks was 11. Three white boys, who presumably did not believe Parks could swim, threw him into the Marmaton River, yelling “Swim, Black boy, or die!” Parks survived only because he kept his head under the water long enough for them to leave.

In 1937, Parks was working as a waiter on a train service that ran from Chicago to Seattle when another waiter gave him a magazine that featured pictorials of Dust Bowl migrants. It showed Parks how powerful a tool photography could be in helping him document the injustice he had felt his entire life. He bought a Voigtländer Brilliant camera, which he described as a “weapon against poverty and racism,” at a pawn shop for $7.50 (about $115 in today’s dollars) and taught himself how to use it. 

“I was trying to shoot seagulls,” Parks told The Smithsonian Institution of his earliest photographic attempt, which ended with him falling into the water. “I saved some of the pictures I’d made earlier in the day and luckily the exposures weren’t altered much by the water.”

Parks shot fashion photography for department stores in the St. Paul, Minnesota, area and caught the attention of Marva Louis, a model, singer, and the first wife of famed boxer Joe Louis. Marva recognized Parks’s talent, and suggested that he should think about moving to Chicago in order to have a larger stage on which to showcase his work.

Parks followed her advice. Once in the Windy City, he began shooting portraits of Marva and other society women, which gave his career yet another boost.

Over the next several years, Parks continued to make a living in fashion photography, but also began taking on freelance assignments and using his camera to document the world as he saw it. A series of photos he took of everyday life in Chicago’s South Side ghetto won him a fellowship with Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Farm Security Administration (FSA), an organization tasked with fighting rural poverty, which took Parks to Washington, D.C.

Though the FSA was dissolved in 1946, Parks decided to remain in Washington, D.C. and became the first Black photographer to work for the Office of War Information. One of his first assignments was to document the training and deployment of the Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group. While Parks was fully prepared to travel with them to Europe, despite the fact that he and his wife Sally were expecting their third child, a group of southern U.S. Senators reportedly interfered. When it was time for Parks to prepare to leave, he was told his paperwork was not in order. As such, he was forced to remain stateside.

While it might be difficult to definitively say which of Parks’s photographs was his most famous, American Gothic, Washington DC would definitely be a top contender. In it, cleaner Ella Watson stands in front of an American flag in a Farm Security Administration office, holding the mop and broom she used to clean the building. Parks’s boss Roy Stryker noted its power, but said it couldn’t be published. “You’ve got the right idea,” Stryker said, “but you’re going to get us all fired!”

According to Parks, he “sneaked it out and published it in an old [newspaper] that used to be in Brooklyn.”

LIFE published Parks’s “The Atmosphere of Crime” photo essay in 1957, wherein he documented crime in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles alongside writer Henry Suydam. The images were striking because they challenged the normal way of viewing criminals, using empathy instead of salaciousness, and uncovering the common brutality and banality of criminal justice by intentionally focusing on systems instead of individuals. Far from the mugshot-laden newspapers and shots of police raids in tabloids, Parks preserved the anonymity of those behind bars.

Ms. McClintock was Parks’s school advisor when he attended a desegregated (but grossly unequal) high school where Black students couldn’t play sports or take part in any social activities. She and others told the Black students not to bother with college because it would waste their parents’ money. In 1993, while speaking at Skidmore College, Parks dedicated his 30th doctorate to McClintock.

After consulting with Hollywood studios for decades and making his directing debut with The Learning Tree in 1969, Parks made Shaft, the Blaxploitation detective film starring Richard Roundtree as the cat that won’t cop out when there’s danger all about. He made a director’s cameo in the 1971 original as a landlord, and was honored with another cameo when Paramount rebooted the franchise in 2000 with Samuel L. Jackson as John Shaft. Parks, credited as Lenox Lounge Patron, is playing chess when Shaft greets him by calling him “Mr. P.”

Are you wondering what are the best things to do in Florence, Italy? I have been to Florence during our 2-week Interrail trip around Europe. I travelled to Florence with my husband and two other friends, and we really had a great time exploring the arts, churches, architectural designs and the breathtaking Florence landscape. With its classic beauty, no wonder why Florence is a popular city in the Tuscany region of Italy.

One of the world’s most culturally and historically significant cities, Florence is home to some incredible buildings and historical sites. Florence, the capital of Tuscany in Italy, is home to 383,000 people, with a total population of 1.5 million in the surrounding metropolitan area. This wonderful city is located in central Italy and has connections to Bologna and Pisa through a well-developed rail system.

Florence was once a Roman city in antiquity and later turned into a thriving medieval commune. It is celebrated as the birthplace of the Renaissance movement and was one of the most significant cities in the world in the 12th, 15th, and 16th centuries. Machiavelli, Lorenzo Medici, Dante, Michelangelo, Donatello, Galileo, and Raphael were among the notable Florentines.

Today, Florence’s economy undoubtedly depends heavily on tourism, which attracts an average of 13 million visitors annually. Florence won’t let you down if you’re looking for some culture and want to see amazing structures like their famous Duomo.

Read more: 7 Beautiful Places To Visit In Italy For The First Time

List of Best Things to Do in Florence, Italy:

1. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower, more commonly referred to as the Duomo di Firenze, serves as the focal point of the city.

You probably already know everything there is to know about this well-known dome because you have either seen it or heard it. Climbing to the lantern at the very top of the structure will take you to the highest point in central Florence as long as you don’t mind the 463 steps and some tight spaces involved in the process. Prior to 1881, it was the largest structure of its kind in the world.

You’re not out of breath yet, are you? Visit the adjacent Campanile (bell tower) designed by Giotto for an additional breathtaking perspective of the city and the Duomo building itself.

The Baptistery of St. John

In front of the main facade of the Florence Cathedral is where you’ll find the Baptistery. The Baptistery was constructed in 1059, making it well over a thousand years old. Extremely ancient, particularly when measured against standards from the United States. The Church of San Miniato al Monte is Florence’s oldest building and the city’s only other structure of its kind.

The Baptistery was designed to honour Saint John the Baptist, who is revered as the city’s patron saint and is credited with being the first person to perform the sacrament of baptism. The citizens of Florence were baptized in this particular baptistery when the city was first founded.

Up until the 18th century, this was the only location in Florence where baptisms could take place. It was there that the poet Dante and members of the Medici family, who ruled at the time, received their baptisms. The baptistery is well-known for the three sets of bronze doors and the spectacularly decorated mosaic ceiling that it features.

2. Piazalle Michelangelo

This square in the centre of Florence has some of the best views in all of Florence, particularly of the Cathedral.

Piazzale Michelangelo is a public square in Florence, Italy, that is perched high on a hill close to the Boboli Gardens and the Palazzo Pitti. It is situated on the southern banks of the River Arno.

In the middle of the plaza is a magnificent bronze statue of David, and around the perimeter of the plaza are a number of merchants and artists selling their wares. The perspective that you get from the Piazza is unparalleled, and you can see Florence in all of its splendour while it is silhouetted against the Arno River.

This is the perfect location to take a picture that will stick out in your mind for a very long time!

3. Go Museum Hopping

There is no doubt that Florence is among the top destinations in the world in terms of the arts, culture, and history. You could spend days immersed in the culture of the Renaissance city that is known all over the world for the famous statue of David created by Michelangelo as well as countless other art treasures.

Here are some of the museums worth visiting in Florence, Italy.

The first and second floors of the substantial building, designed by Giorgio Vasari and built between 1560 and 1580, are entirely devoted to the Gallery. It is renowned throughout the world for its magnificent collections of antique sculptures and paintings (from the Middle Ages to the Modern period). Among the absolute masterpieces found in the collections of Renaissance and 14th-century paintings are works by Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Beato Angelico, and Botticelli, among others.

The Gallery of the Academy of Florence, which is close to the Piazza del Duomo and the Basilica di San Lorenzo, is a very significant museum. The Gallery is a plain structure that you might walk right by if you didn’t know it was there, but it houses some Renaissance masterpieces, including the original David sculpture by Michelangelo.

• National Archeological Museum of Florence

You would hardly know that MAF, the National Archaeological Museum in Florence, is one of the oldest museums in Italy as you stroll through the roomy, modern-styled halls. Additionally, this collection of artifacts, historical works, and works of art is to blame for a phenomenon that first appeared in Europe: “the birth of museums as state institutions connected to the formation of modern nations.”

From the moment you enter the Palazzo Vecchio, you will be amazed. The Marzocco and Judith and Holofernes statues, both works of art by Donatello, are displayed in front of the façade and stand out in their beauty (the originals are now in the Bargello Museum).

A permanent exhibit is located in Florence, Italy’s historic center, at the Leonardo Interactive Museum (there are traveling exhibitions around the world). Interactive wooden models of Leonardo’s inventions are on display in the Florence museum. Actually, the museum’s full name is “Leonardo da Vinci Interactive Museum.” This is part of what makes it the ideal place for kids to visit since they love to learn through touching and doing, but adults will also find it interesting!

A massive sundial at the entrance gives you a hint as to what you’ll find inside this cutting-edge museum, which is nearby the Uffizi Gallery. The instruments, which were amassed by the Medici and Lorraine dynasties, provide a journey through the history of astronomy, mathematics, and other sciences with a focus on Galileo Galilei’s contributions.

4. Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio is one of the most well-known structures in Florence and is also an extremely old bridge. Florence is full of famous buildings.

The Vecchio Bridge is a historic structure that spans the river Arno in Florence, Italy. It is famous for the numerous shops that are built into the sides of the bridge, as well as the decorated history of the bridge itself, and the abundance of shops that line the main walkway.

Although there is evidence that the bridge existed as early as the year 996, its true origin is unknown.

Step onto this incredible structure, where you’ll find a variety of shops and vendors, and take a look around: There are also art dealers, as well as shops selling souvenirs and jewellery.

When you reach the point halfway across the bridge, it will open up, and you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the river Arno below you.

You can see the exterior of the Ponte Vecchio and its marvellous house-like attachments by walking along the Corridoio Vasariano in addition to walking on the bridge itself.

5. Palazzo Vecchio – Piazza della Signoria

While the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is considered to be Florence’s most significant religious structure, the Palazzo Vecchio is considered to be the city’s most significant administrative structure.

In former times, this building served as both the town hall and the palace of the Signoria of the Republic of Florence. In more recent times, it also served as the town hall.

The Palazzo was initially constructed in 1299, and its design was created by the same architects who were responsible for the construction of the Duomo and the church of Santa Croce. The structure is almost designed to resemble a castle; it has a square layout, a number of crenulations, and a large bell tower. In addition, the structure is a church.

There is a collection of coats of arms displayed on the front facade. These coats of arms represent various families and significant individuals who have played a role in the history of the city. The interior of the palace is equally as magnificent, featuring a number of uniquely designed rooms such as “The Hercules Room” and “The Room of Cybele.”

Piazza della Signoria

The Piazza della Signoria is an equally significant public square in Florence, and like its more famous neighbor, the Piazza del Duomo, it is home to a wide variety of historic structures and works of art. Because of its central location, the square can be reached quickly and easily from Piazza del Duomo, which is to the square’s immediate south.

The magnificent Pallazo Vecchio, with its enormous clock tower and fantastic statues of David and Hercules, is the primary building that can be found in the Piazza. A magnificent statue of Cosimo Medici can be found standing close to the fountain of Neptune, and a variety of upscale shops can be found lining the buildings.

The magnificent Fountain of Neptune can be found to the left of the palace, and the Loggia dei Lanzi, which can be found to the right, is home to some stunning sculptures from the Renaissance period. These sculptures include Hercules, Menelaus, and Perseus.

6. Boboli Gardens

The Boboli Gardens are an enormous and stunning public garden that is connected to the Pitti Palace.

The gardens are some of the largest in Florence, covering a total area of 45,000 square meters, and they are a real treat to stroll through.

The Boboli Gardens were established in the 16th century and include a wide variety of distinct sections, such as a main lawn that is adorned with a fountain and an obelisk, an assortment of trees, plants, and flowers from around the world, and several large ponds that are outfitted with water features.

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can find peace and quiet in this amazing place and take pleasure in the stunning designs and natural specimens.

7. Fountain of Neptune

The Fountain of Neptune, which keeps watch in the middle of the bustling Piazza Della Signoria against the majestic Palazzo Vecchio, has long been one of Florence’s most iconic sights.

The commission for this Bartolomeo Ammannati masterpiece came in honor of Francesco I de’ Medici and Grand Duchess Johanna of Austria’s nuptials. With the face of Cosimo I de’Medici, the ornate bronze and marble statue depicts a towering representation of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, while satyrs and horses frolic around the tall central pedestal and basin.

The statue has undergone painstaking restoration and continues to be a well-liked gathering spot for both locals and tourists despite having sustained significant damage over the years, including losing a hand to vandals in 2005.

On Florence tours by foot, Segway, or bicycle, a stroll through Piazza della Signoria with a stop at the Fountain of Neptune is essential. The Uffizi, Palazzo Vecchio, and Accademia are a few of the top attractions in and around Piazza della Signoria that are usually included in private and small-group tours.

8. Admire the famous statues of Florence

If you enjoy art and want to see some of the most well-known sculptures, Florence is a great place to visit. Due to its location in a busy part of the city, it is also a well-liked spot for people-watching. These statues are available for viewing in Florence.

The Statue of David, a magnificent work of Renaissance art created by the illustrious artist Michelangelo, is arguably one of the most famous and well-known sculptures in the world (and not just because of his genitalia). This statue is renowned for its incredible detail and unwavering accuracy in representing the human form. It shows the biblical hero David, who is believed to have been the first King of Israel.

• il Porcellino (Fontana del Porcellino)

Il Porcellino in Mercato Nuovo is a bronze statue of a wild boar made of a Greek bronze. The tradition has very little to do with rubbing the boar’s nose, but it is now practically required to get the boar ready for what comes next.

• Perseus with the head of Medusa

The Perseus statue was added to the Piazza della Signoria alongside some of the more notable statues of the era, including David by Michelangelo and Hercules and Cacus by Bandinelli. When you visit the well-known square, which is surrounded by shops and restaurants, be sure to admire the statue.

Baccio Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus’ journey from quarry to piazza was probably the most difficult of any marble block’s journeys. A sculpture with two tales to share, one of which is the myth of Hercules. The other is its involvement in the significant upheavals that occurred when Florence went from being a republican to a monarchical state.

9. Go visit the markets

The knickknacks and treasures discovered in Florence’s vintage markets are an adventure all their own as the birthplace of the Renaissance and a focal point of medieval history. Any market is a great place to stop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs because they are full of local Tuscan produce, wine, and leather goods and great for treasure hunting. The following are a few of Florence’s top markets.

The Piazza della Repubblica, which is in the heart of Florence, Italy, was initially conceived in 1858 by architect Angelo Masucci and finished in 1871. The attraction is not only significant historically, but it also boosts Florence’s economy significantly. Take advantage of the chance to visit the museums that are devoted to the Piazza’s history.

This 19th-century indoor market hall, made of iron and glass, is situated in the center of the San Lorenzo neighborhood and offers fresh, local foods.

Before the rest of the city wakes up, the nearby restaurants are its most eager customers, snatching up the best ingredients for the day’s menu. Early riser locals quickly follow. Italians are perfectionists, and anything less wouldn’t be acceptable.

The newly added food court, which is located on the market’s second floor, allows you to create your own customized Tuscan tasting using only the freshest local ingredients. It resembles a gourmet food court in that it offers everything from upscale hamburgers to an entire enoteca with the best wines from the area. The upper level of Mercato Centrale is a foodie’s paradise if you’re searching for a quick lunch with fantastic food and something for everyone.

• Mercato di Sant’ Ambrogio

The Sant’Ambrogio Market (Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio) in Florence is one of the country’s most energetic outdoor markets. Here, you can shop at the stalls stocked to the gills with fresh produce and regional specialties while taking in the atmosphere of an authentic traditional Italian food market.

10. Go Church Hopping

Despite the fact that Santa Maria del Fiore and its enormous dome frequently steal the show, Florence is home to a number of breathtaking churches that are rich in cultural, historical, and artistic significance. Check out these additional churches.

Even though Florence’s Cathedral is enormous, the Basilica of Santa Croce is incredibly lovely and warm. It was also built around the same time as the Duomo and has a front facade with polished white stone contrasted with polychrome panels of pink, green, and red marble. The Basilica perfectly frames the Piazza di Santa Croce as it occupies the center of the square.

• Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

A stunning building with a front facade made of polychrome and white marble, the Church of Santa Maria Novella is situated in front of the city’s main railway station. Its design is similar to that of the Duomo and the Basilica of Santa Croce.

• Basilica di Santo Spirito

One of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture created by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 15th century is the Augustinian convent that became the Basilica di Santo Spirito. When visiting the Basilica, you can view the magnificent works of art by well-known artists like Perugino, Andrea, Michelangelo, and many others.

11. Porta San Niccolo

It was constructed in the 13th century, is over 65 meters tall, and provides breathtaking views of the city. Visitors can take in breathtaking views of the cityscape from the tower’s top, which includes the Duomo Cathedral, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the River Arno. Anyone visiting Florence must see the Tower of San Niccol. The building is a superb example of Romanesque architecture, and the vistas are simply breathtaking from the top.

An enduring representation of Florence, Italy, is the San Niccol tower. To protect Florence’s southwestern approaches, the tower was constructed in 1324. Originally a part of the city’s defences, the tower was later abandoned and allowed to deteriorate. The tower underwent extensive restoration in the early twenty-first century and is now accessible to the public.

It is one of Florence’s few remaining examples of a medieval building. The tower is constructed of stone and brick and is plastered in white. At the bottom of the tower, there is a small door that opens to a staircase that ascends to the top of the structure. One of Italy’s most prized architectural works, this stunning tower is situated right next to the tower of San Niccol, allowing you to take in both buildings’ full splendour.

A man has died after a dog stepped on a rifle and shot him from the rear of a truck in the US state of Kansas.

The victim, who has not been named by police, was found in the front passenger seat, having been struck by a bullet in the back.

Emergency services were called and the 30-year-old was given CPR, but he could not be saved and he died at the scene near Geuda Springs.

Wellington fire department chief Tim Hay said another person was found unharmed in the driver’s seat.

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Officials added that the accident appears to have been hunting related, with supplies found in the back of the vehicle.

“A canine belonging to the owner of the pickup stepped on the rifle, causing the weapon to discharge,” the Sumner County Sheriff’s office said in a statement to local media.

“The fired round struck the passenger, who died of his injuries on scene.

“The investigation is ongoing, but the preliminary investigation shows it to be a hunting related accident.”

The owner of the truck and the dog was not immediately clear, and an investigation is taking place.