BACKSTORY: Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages. The city contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace, amongst others, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. All photos in the Italy section are from Fall, 2004.
