Neighborhoods
The Arno River divides Florence in two. South of the river is Oltrarno, a mostly residential area with a large student and artist community. A couple of the city's major sites, including the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens are located in the Oltrarno, as well as the belvedere at Piazzelle Michelangelo.North of the Arno is the historic center of Florence. Most of the Renaissance architectural splendors that bring people here by the thousands are located along these winding streets and piazzi. For many people who arrive here by public transport, a central reference point is the train station and the adjacent church of Santa Maria Novella. Straight east of the station is the Duomo, the cathedral whose red dome rises above the entire city. From the square in front of the cathedral, Via de Calzaiuoli leads south to the Piazza della Signoria, the artistic and political center of the city. On one side of the square is the Palazzo Vecchio, the historic city hall; on the south side of the square rise the twin wings of the Uffizi one of the world's great art museums. The Uffizi fronts onto the Arno, with a view onto the Ponte Vecchio and its odd box-like shops; across the river lies the Oltrarno.