Florence, which has a population of some 400,000 inhabitants, lies on the banks of the River Arno, in a valley surrounded by hills. Its industry and craft businesses, commercial and cultural links, artistic scene and scientific concerns make it a lively city. Given its central position in the Italian peninsula, it is on the main national railway lines and is connected to many major Italian and European cities. Moreover, Florence's Amerigo Vespucci Airport is just five kilometres from the city centre and is served by various domestic and international airlines.

The city has a number of celebrated monuments marking the (...)

Florence, which has a population of some 400,000 inhabitants, lies on the banks of the River Arno, in a valley surrounded by hills. Its industry and craft businesses, commercial and cultural links, artistic scene and scientific concerns make it a lively city. Given its central position in the Italian peninsula, it is on the main national railway lines and is connected to many major Italian and European cities. Moreover, Florence's Amerigo Vespucci Airport is just five kilometres from the city centre and is served by various domestic and international airlines.

The city has a number of celebrated monuments marking the various phases of Florence's artistic history: the Baptistery with its mosaics; the Cathedral, a majestic example of Gothic architecture topped by Filippo Brunelleschi's dome, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture; medieval churches decorated with fresco cycles; public and private palaces like Palazzo Vecchio,

Palazzo Pitti, Palazzo Medici-Riccardi and Palazzo Davanzati, built by leading architects on behalf of the city's most eminent families. Many artistic treasures can also be found in the city's places of worship: monasteries; refectories frescoed by important artists with depictions of the Last Supper (cenacoli ); quiet, shady, cloisters; and, just outside the city, ancient country parish churches and monasteries such as the Certosa, which for centuries has housed art works of immense value. In the Archaeology Museum, besides an important Egyptian section, there is a rich collection charting the Etruscan civilization.

Various important events, some of international importance, take place in Florencein the course of the year. In the city that produced modern melodrama, there is the long-established and world-renowned Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, a festival of classical music, opera and ballet held in spring. The season of opera and symphonic music at the Teatro Comunale is also very important. The city also plays host to a number of important international fashion fairs: Pitti Immagine, Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati take place twice a year in the exhibition centre of the Fortezza da Basso. Florencealso stages a number of traditional events dating back centuries. One of these is Calcio in Costume, a medieval form of football in period dress; it now takes the form of a competition between the city's four historic neighbourhoods, organized in three games played in June. The 24th of the same month is the feast day of St John, the patron saint of the city, during which there is a spectacular firework display. Another important and very ancient tradition is the Scoppio del Carro ("Explosion of the Cart") on Easter Sunday morning. A cart pulled by white oxen processes through the city centre, coming to a halt in front of the cathedral, where its load of crackers and fireworks are then set off.