The capital of Italy’s Tuscany region and birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is home to so many masterpieces of art and architecture that it’s difficult to know where to start. It’s also very much a living city with a vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene and scores of interesting and quirky shops.
Florence is world renowned for its beautiful architecture, rich art culture and history. The Galleria dell’Accademia is filled with works by Michelangelo who’s remains are interred nearby in the Basilica di Santa Croce.
Florence is also a hot-spot for photographers with truly stunning city scenery such as the Ponte Vecchio bridge and all within a city that is made for walking so don’t forget to pack your camera!
The local Tuscan cuisine is also a highlight and pays homage to the region’s bounty. Locally sourced food is readily available with everything from freshly baked bread, locally sourced olive oil and not to forget the many wines grown right here in Tuscany such as Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Buon appetito!
Florence Travel Resources
These are my favourite companies to use when I travel.
• Find cheap flights with Skyscanner.
• Get the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Florence Tours
Find the best city sightseeing tours & attraction tickets on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Weather & Best Time to Visit
Hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, with the wettest month generally being November. Temperatures in July and August can often reach 30ºC for much of the time. Spring and autumn to enjoy the best of the weather, although prices will be at their highest. For the best deals visit the city between November and March, when Florence is also at its quietist.
Don’t Miss
Florence is one of the world’s top attractions for lovers of art.
The number one attraction on many people’s list is the Uffizi Gallery, home to the world’s greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art. The Accademia art gallery contains Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David as well as other of Michelangelo’s sculptures.
The famous “Duomo” or cathedral is possibly Florence’s most iconic landmark, capped by distinctive red tiled dome.
The Duomo, is the result of over six centuries of work. Its basic architectural structure was designed at the end of the 13th-century; the imposing dome was created by Filippo Brunelleschi, while the facade that completed it was carried out as recently as the late 19th-century.
A series of structural and decorative interventions to both the exterior and the interior were carried out during this time. The third and last Florentine cathedral, it was built on top of the second cathedral, which was demolished in 1375.
No visit to Florence is complete without at least some time spent dawdling on the Ponte Vecchio, browsing in the jewellers’ shops which line the oldest bridge over the River Arno.
Once across the river the Renaissance Pitti Palace, home of the Medici family for many years, is well worth a visit, as are the beautiful and lavishly landscaped Boboli Gardens. One of Florence’s green lungs, the Gardens were designed for the Medici family in the 16th Century and were used as a basis for all the royal gardens in Europe, including Versailles.
Go to the top of Piazzale Michelangelo for a photo. The coach leaves, and we wander down the hill and into town. Hire a local guide who will talk you through the sights. Then go to a leather demonstration, and after that explore the town. Wander around, and see the galleries and churches and piazzas which are magic.
Culture
A visit to the famous Uffizi Gallery is a must. The Uffizi is home to the world’s greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art including Boticello’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Titian’s Venus of Urbino and works by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
The Uffizi Gallery is amongst the most visited museums in Italy so long queues are inevitable. Weekends, Tuesdays and mornings are the busiest times. It can be worth paying a little more and buying your Uffizi tickets in advance to skip the queues and spend more time in the museum. When you need a break, head to the rooftop café for fresh air and fabulous views of the city..
The Galleria dell’Accademia houses Michelangelo’s famous statue of David, but if you don’t get to see it there is a full size replica in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, in the location where the real one used to stand before it was placed inside to protect it from vandals and the weather.
Head across the Ponte Vecchio to the huge 15th Century Pitti Palace which houses several museums including collections of paintings, porcelain, sculptures and costumes, mostly gathered together by the Medici family.
Eat & Drink
Enjoying great food and wine in Florence is not difficult at all.
Eating is a serious business in the city and the best recommendation for any restaurant is the presence of locals. Local specialities include steak (bistecca alla fiorentina) and tripe (trippa)
Enjoy a glass of local Chianti or treat yourself to a tasty gelato (ice cream) from one of the many gelateria which often make their ice creams in-house with fresh, natural ingredients.
Shop
If shopping is your thing then you could do far worse than spend a few hours wandering the shops of the Piazza Santo Spirito and maybe pick out some items from Florence’s home grown fashion icons Guiccio Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo.
For luxury shopping (or window shopping) head to the Via Tornabuoni. For a variety of Italian leather goods including clothes, bags and purses you’re best aiming for the San Lorenzo market or the area around Piazza Santa Croce.
Hunt for a bargain in one of the tiny artisan shops in the labyrinth of streets around the Pitti Palace, from jewellery to leatherwork and ceramics to shoes.
Discover
The Galileo Museum, one of the few museums in Florence not dedicated solely to art. The museum is a collection of pieces that trace the history of science from Renaissance times onwards.
Galileo, who lived from 1564 – 1642, was one of the most significant figures in these developments and the collection has some of Galileo’s original instruments and an interactive section where you can see how some of his discoveries work on a practical level.
Across the river from the historic centre of Florence and not far from the more famous Boboli Gardens, lie the quieter and very beautiful Bardini Gardens with their Baroque statues and magnificent views of the city from the Belvedere Café.
Festivals
Florence is a city of culture, history and stunning buildings and an eternal metropolis that retains its beauty throughout the year. Regardless of which season you are visiting, or indeed where you’re staying in the city, you’re never far from things to do and see.
I’ve collected a few events that take place over the summer months and should not be missed if you find yourself staying in this glorious Tuscan gem.
Estate al Bargello Summer Festival in July
If you find yourself on holiday in Florence during July, don’t miss out on one of the great open-air performances that are being held in connection to the annual Estate al Bargello Summer Festival.
Housed in with the Bargello Museum, the festival is sponsored and supported by a wide range of cultural bodies, and features a host of events including classical music, ballet and theatre, set against the beautiful sculptures that populate the museum.
Markets in Scarperia in August
On the first Sunday each month, the historic centre of the small town of Scarperia, just outside Florence, transforms into a lively and bustling market.
Strike a bargain and discover a wide range of antiques, collectibles, and delicious street food. From Florence, it’s approximately a 30-minute drive north by car or a short train journey along a scenic railroad stretch to San Piero.
Festa della Rificolona / Paper Lanterns Festival in September
Each year, on the evening of the 6th of September, the streets and piazzas around the Santissima Annunziata Basilica come alive with cheers, lanterns, and lots of great, local produce.
The tradition of this local parade arose from peasants from the surrounding rural parts of Tuscany, who would set out for the ba silica on the evening before the birthday of the Virgin Mary, so that they could arrive in time for the celebrations.
Today, the parade is led by the cardinal through the streets of Florence, and locals can be seen carrying paper lanterns as well as some of their own produce to the final destination in front of the basilica, which is subsequently transformed into a giant food market.
Feast of St Reparata in October
The patron saint of Florence, St Reparata is said to have protected the Florentines during a vicious siege by the Ostrogoths in the 3rd century. The city emerged victoriously and its foundations as a Christian city was cemented.
Today, Florence celebrates this legend each year on the 8th of October. Locals dress up in colourful and traditional costumes and parade through the city in a cheerful procession until they reach the Piazza San Giovanni in the centre of town.
Here lots of festivities take place, including a footrace and guided tours of St Reparata’s crypt.
Places to Visit Nearby to Florence
Pisa
Take a local train and Pisa is only one hour away. Here you’ll get to see the famous leaning tower which lies in the Piazza dei Miracoli. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is also home to the Baptistry, the Cathedral with its cavernous interior and the fascinating Camposanto, The earth below this cemetery is said to have been carried back from Golgotha in the Second Crusade, earning it the name camposanto, literally “holy field”.
Rome
If you have never been to Italy before, Rome really needs to be on your list.
Venice
Magical Venice can easily be reached by train, and it really is somewhere you just have to see.
Plan a Trip to Florence
Cradle of the Renaissance in the heart of Tuscany, Florence is home to some of Italy’s finest museums, cathedrals and churches.
Florence is a city ideal for:
• Short breaks
• Renaissance architecture
• Museums and art galleries
• Sampling delicious Florentine food
• Combining with a stay Rome and Venice
You can go home knowing that you can return time and time again and you still won’t have seen it all.