Discover Florence

Florence is a town enchanting its visitors with its art heritage. Symbol of the Italian Renaissance, the Tuscan city is an excellent destination for the lovers of the arts but also the ideal place for those loving shopping and social events. 

Recommended Hotels in Florence

To visit Florence and fully take advantage of your stay, here are some of our best hotels in town:

- Hotel 500 – 4 stars
- C-Hotels Ambasciatori – 4 stars
- Hotel Villa Gabriele D'Annunzio – 4 stars
- Hotel Grifone – 4 stars

Florence: What To See

The city of Florence is one of the most interesting of Italian cities to visit for lovers of the arts and cultural tourism.

The city centre is represented by Piazza della Signoria, where you can find the Palazzo Vecchio, a symbol of civil authority of the city and home to one of its Museums. Around the square there is the Loggia dei Lanzi, famous for its masterpieces of sculpture, which stands next to the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most famous art museums in the world. Art lovers will admire here the most known works by Leonardo, Botticelli and Caravaggio.

In Piazza della Signoria there is a copy of Michelangelo's David, one of the most famous artists of all time. In 1873 it was replaced by the original, now on display in the Gallery of the Academy, in order to protect it from the elements that could damage it.

Not far from Piazza della Signoria you can admire the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, covered by a dome designed by architect Filippo Brunelleschi, and flanked by Giotto's Campanile and Baptistery of San Giovanni.

Piazza Santa Croce is also worth a visit. With its church where important people from the past are buried, people the like of Michelangelo, Galileo, Foscolo, Machiavelli. Inside the church you should not miss Giotto's frescoes and Cimabue's crucifix.

Besides the places already mentioned, Florence is home to over 70 museums, including Palazzo Pitti, once the palace of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, and the Palatine Gallery which is located in one of its halls. The Gallery features many important works from many Renaissance and Baroque artists like Tiziano, Raffaello, Rubens and Van Dyck. Next to the Pitti Palace there is Boboli Gardens: an historical park, a favourite place for the Medici family, who used to spend spring months here. This park is a fulgid example of the Italian Garden, the ideal place to relax and hang around among fountains, statues and grottoes. 

What To See Around Florence

The outskirts of Florence are indeed very charming places. The well preserved beauty of its surrounding villages will absolutely seduce you. The most remarkable one is Monteriggioni, with its thirteenth century castle and its walls overlooking he hills of Siena. Less than an hour from Florence is Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo Da Vinci. You can see his house and visit the Leonardesque Museum or simply hang around the mediaeval village with its narrow streets. If you do not want to miss a piece of paradise, the village of Castelfalfi will be a real surprise. Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio was filmed here and the places has a breathtaking view of the hills fulls of olive trees and vineyards, a unique view. 

Shopping In Florence

The Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio) area is famous for its jewellers and its goldsmiths. Goldsmiths moved here in the second half of the twentieth century, preserving the legacy of their ancestors while keeping an eye to details and novelties. 

For those preferring a less costly approach to the city, a good idea is the San Lorenzo Market, once a referring point for the many restaurants in that area and now a typical place for the lovers of good cuisine looking for local products or for a quick meal. Talking about good price shopping, a good place is the Barberino Designer Outlet, about 30 minutes from the city centre, the nest place for the lovers of Italian brands unwilling to pay high prices for high styled items. 

For those willing to stay updated with the latest fashion trends, Pitti offers a series of exclusive events, like Pitti Uomo, a must if you want to know the new rends in fashion. 

The Best Dishes of the Florentine Cuisine

A trip to Florence is not a real one without a taste of the real Tuscan cuisine. Mario, a typical trattoria in the Saint Lawrence area, is a real symbol of the local tradition. Every dish is expressly prepared, there is no menu, as ingredients are chosen on a daily basis from the near market. Other traditional dishes to taste in Florence are the tripe and the famous Bistecca alla fiorentina or beefsteak Florentine-style, for a real taste of the real local tradition. 
The Florentine street food is another great alternative: the tripe kiosk in Porta Romana (the Southern Gate of the old city, offers lampredotto, a variety of tripe. Other dishesto be enjoyed on the go are the Finocchiona, a fennel flavoured salami and the schiacciata, a flat salty bread. Taste has no limits in Florence! 

The Best Time To Visit Florence

The  best time to visit Florence  is between the second half of March and the second half of June: in spring and autumn the Florentine days are milder. If you don't like the hot weather, avoid July and August.
Winter is generally cold and humid and there are not may tourists... So, if you want to visit Florence in a more relaxed atmosphere, planning your stay in the winter could really be a good idea!

How To Reach And Visit The City

The historical centre of Florence is quite small and the best way to visit it on foot. Bus, provided by ATAF, offer a good service for the entire city area. For those reaching the city by car, the centre features several parking spots available for a charge.

Florence can be easily reached bycar driving along the A1 (Milan-Rome), A-12 (from Genoa) and bytrain . The Santa Maria Novella (SMN) central railway station, is the real gateway to the centre.
The airport is named after Amerigo Vespucci, is served by many low cost companies and lies less than 5 km (3.1 miles) from the centre.