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ESSENTIAL GEOGRAPHY

River, centre, quarters, architecture.

The city is dissected by the River Arno which runs through the city from roughly south-east to north-west. The city's site marks the river's highest navigable point.

The centre of Florence is dominated by two features, one temporal and one spiritual: the Palazzo Vecchio in the Piazza della Signoria and Santa Maria del Fiore - the Duomo (cathedral), which are linked by the pedestrianised Via dei Calzaiuoli (see Navigation).

The Palazzo Vecchio was (and is) Florence's political centre. Immediately to the south is the Uffizi and from there the aeriel Vasarian Corridor crosses the River Arno via the Ponte Vecchio, connecting the Palazzo Vecchio-Uffizi complex with the newer Pitti Palace in Oltrano. This corridor allowed Cosimo I to move between his palaces without the armed guard he would otherwise have needed in the streets.

Ponte Vecchio with the Vasarian corridor in the foreground

The Ponte Vecchio is famed for its gold jewelry shops which were established there in the second half of the Sixteenth Century. Three other bridges (flanked by two weirs) also span the river in the historical centre. The weirs appear to have closed the circumference of the city walls thus preventing penetration via the river.

Florence was divided historically into four quarters based on four churches: Quartiere Santo Spirito (also known as Oltrarno), Quartiere Santa Maria Novella, Quartiere San Lorenzo and Quartiere Santa Croce. The traditional quarters still compete in sixteenth century football.

Rik - 26 March 2003