[2025 Florence Attraction] Travel Guide for The Gates of Paradise (Updated Mar)

|Alberobello🩷. Fairytale Town 🗞️History: Originally a refugee settlement, the town has become a prosperous tourist destination, yet the residents still maintain traditional ways of life, such as using scarecrows to ward off birds and weather vanes adorned on stone chimneys. 📌Local Life: Tourists can check in to renovated *trulli* and experience a fairytale-like living environment, or enjoy drinks with locals at a tavern, immersing themselves in the simple charm of Southern Italy. 🌈Must-See Attractions: ✅Church of Sant'Antonio: Located in the south of the town, this is the largest *trullo* structure. Its dome reaches a height of 21m, topped with a giant Greek cross. The unique architectural style is particularly captivating. ✨Chiesa del Santissimo Sacramento: Built in 1609, this church features a Renaissance style. Its two towering spires exude elegance and solemnity, adding an artistic touch to the town. 🔗Rione Monti: Situated on the southern side of the town and built against the hillside, this area has a high concentration of *trulli*. From the viewing platform next to the central Piazza del Popolo, you can overlook the panoramic view of Alberobello, where clusters of white, domed roofs contrast beautifully with the blue sky and white clouds, creating a breathtaking scene. 🚥Transportation Guide: 🚙Driving: If conditions permit, driving is a great option. Starting from Bari, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Southern Italy along the way, driving towards Alberobello and enjoying the freedom of the open road. 🚞Train: Take the Sud-Est line from Bari Centrale railway station. The journey takes about 1.5 hrs and costs EUR 4, making it a convenient and affordable option.

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is home to many stunning buildings, sculptures, and talented artists. The Medici family played a key role in the city's success by sponsoring and supporting the arts. The three famous artists Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo all spent their early years at the Medici Palace. Even if you don't know much about art, you will be moved by the beauty of the dome of the Florence Cathedral, designed by Brunelleschi after studying the Pantheon in Rome, and the east door of the Baptistery of St. John, created by Ghiberti over 27 years (Michelangelo called it the "Gates of Paradise"). From the Piazzale Michelangelo, you can see the Ponte Vecchio (where Dante and his muse Beatrice met again), the dome and bell tower of the Florence Cathedral, and the replica of Michelangelo's David. You can also listen to the beautiful music that perfectly blends with the art.

To the east of the Baptistery of the Gate of Paradise, facing the Cathedral of Flowers, is the most exquisitely carved bronze door made by Gibbetti. Michelangelo once praised it as the "Gate of Paradise", and it is also the one that attracts the most attention from tourists. of a door. This octagonal Baptistery was built in the seventh century AD. The interior was redesigned in 1300, and murals of "Genesis" and "The Last Judgment" were added to the ceiling. There are three bronze doors in the Baptistery, the most familiar of which is the east door.