The façade of the Palazzo Uffizi (home of the Uffizi Gallery) is decorated with a series of statues in niches.
This one shows Niccola Pisano, sometimes called "the father of modern plastic art."
Pisano was a leading sculptor and architect in the 13th Century.*
There are now non-stop flights to Florence or you can change somewhere along the line by flying into Pisa, which is only an hour away from Florence then take the 1 - 1.5 hour train ride from Pisa to Florence, board this train from the P. della Stazione. These trains run every hour and are also very well marked as to destination. Cost about $7.00. Or fly into Rome via the Rome Airport or fly into Milan via the Milan Airport and transfer to a plane to Florence or take the train from Rome or Milan to Florence. You may have to leave the Milan airport to go into the City to catch your train to Florence.
Arriving from the Peretola Airport:
If you will be taking a taxi to our office, taxis are stationed in front of the Arrivals terminal or can be called by "radiotaxi" (Phone +39.055.4242/4390/4499/4798). Florence Airport
The program's classes and office's will be at the Syracuse University Florence campus centered on the Piazza Girolamo Savonarola #15, which contains computer labs, a snack bar and a pleasant garden, and is near the Giardino della Gherardesca. It is about 15-20 minutes walk north of the Duomo via the Piazza delle SS Anunciata, and 25 minutes walk from the Arno.
Taxi journey time from the airport to Florence city center is about 15 minutes (depending on traffic). Journey cost is calculated by the taxi meter (average cost is €15/16 roundtrip or about $22-$25 roundtrip), plus about $1.25 for each piece of luggage with a maximum of 4 pieces allowed, plus your tip to the driver. For more transportation information, go to Transportation in Florence
Arriving by Train:
Once you have arrived in Florence by train, which is near Santa Maria Novella Place, you may then take a taxi to our office for about $15, Monday thru Saturday, and about $20 on Sundays. Taxi's are right outside the train station of Santa Maria Novella. Or, you can go directly to your housing choice if you have arranged for someone who will meet you there when you arrive to hand over your house keys, do a walk-through to make sure all is working and in good order as well as provide you with any necessary instructions. You will then need to go to our office and check-in (Mon - Fri only). The office will not be open on Saturday's or Sunday's unless you have made special meeting arrangements prior to your arrival.
Or Arriving by Bus:
Exit the Santa Maria Novella train station to you left and go down the stone steps. At the traffic lights in front of the steps is the main bus terminal.
Bus tickets must be purchased before getting on to the bus anywhere inside the station at either the newspaper stand or Tabacchi (cigarette sellers). Each ticket is valid from 1 hour to a weekly ticket, depending on the type of ticket you purchased. The ticket costs start at about $1.50 (€1) for 1 hour and goes up to about $18 (€12) for a weekly ticket. Tickets must be stamped once you are on the bus if you are only taking one bus to your destinaton. If you have to take more than one bus, tickets must be stamped only once on the first bus you start with. There are orange stamping machines on the bus at the entrance and exit doors for your transfers.
If you purchase a bus ticket at the airport and stamp it on the 1st bus, you will not need to purchase another ticket for the 2nd bus.
All above prices are subject to change at any given time.