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Few cities cram as much into such a small space as Florence. Within a few square kilometres, you’ll find some of the greatest art, architecture and food in the world. Set on the River Arno and framed by the rolling hills of Tuscany, it is one of Italy’s most beautiful cities and has changed very little over the past five hundred years. It’s no surprise that Florence remains a firm favourite with our team and clients.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (more commonly known as the Duomo) is Florence’s major landmark. And wherever you are in the city, you’ll be able to spot its huge eight-sided terracotta dome. Designed and built by Brunelleschi, the dome was completed in 1436 and was the largest in the world at the time. To this day, it remains a staggering feat of engineering. The 463 steps to the top give you a lovely panoramic view. Next door, you’ll find Giotto’s Bell Tower, which also offers great views (and a slightly less exhausting climb!). And don’t miss the Baptistery just in front of the cathedral, whose gilded bronze doors are so beautiful that Michelangelo reportedly called them the ‘Gates of Paradise’.
Piazza della Signoria is Florence’s main square and the heart of the city. It’s lined with impressive sculptures and dominated by the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s town hall with its richly decorated rooms and elaborate ceremonial hall, the Salone dei Cinquecento (Hall of the Five Hundred). A short walk away is one of the city’s most iconic sights: the Ponte Vecchio. Built in the mid-14th century, it’s lined on both sides with tiny goldsmiths’ shops that literally overhang the river, their wooden shutters folding down to become display counters. If you cross it and look back from the far bank, you’ll see why so many people fall in love with Florence as you take in the view of the bridge itself reflected in the river, with the Palazzo Vecchio tower and Duomo in the background.
Florence is home to more than 80 museums and some of the world’s greatest art collections. But you do need to book them well in advance as they are hugely popular, for good reason.
One of these is the Uffizi Gallery. It covers the entire span of the Renaissance period, from the early works of Cimabue and Giotto through to the big hitters including Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera are both housed here, along with Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation and Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo.
Connected to the Uffizi is the Vasari Corridor, a fascinating, covered and elevated passageway built in 1565 for Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici, so he could move unseen between the Palazzo Vecchio and the Pitti Palace.
The Accademia is another extraordinary museum, where you’ll find Michelangelo’s David, standing over five metres tall, along with four of his unfinished works known as the Slaves.
Basilica di Santa Croce is one of Florence’s most important churches. This is where the city chose to bury some of the greatest figures of the Renaissance, including Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli.
The inside of the church is huge and peaceful, with beautiful frescoes by Giotto. The square outside is also one of the loveliest in Florence, and the surrounding area is a great place for a quiet wander, with independent cafes and local shops.
By crossing the Ponte Vecchio, you’ll find yourself in the Oltrarno. This is Florence’s artisan quarter with leather workshops, gilders, restorers and small independent restaurants tucked into the backstreets. The streets are dotted with small workshops and studios where craftspeople still work as they have for generations.
The main sight here is the Pitti Palace, the former home of the Medici family. It contains state apartments, a costume museum and a gallery of Renaissance paintings. Behind it, the Boboli Gardens is a lovely place to grab a spot of peace, with terraced fountains, grottoes and avenues of cypress trees, with great views back over the city.
For the best panoramic view of Florence with the Duomo, the river, and the hills beyond, head up to Piazzale Michelangelo, which is about a twenty-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio. It’s busy, but go at sunset if you can. Just beyond it, the Romanesque church of San Miniato al Monte is one of the most beautiful buildings in Florence and is worth visiting if you have time.
For something a bit different, jump on the number 7 bus near the centre and head up into the hills to Fiesole, the ancient Etruscan and Roman town above Florence. It’s only twenty minutes away, but it feels like a different world. Here you’ll find Roman ruins, an Etruscan museum, a quiet cathedral square and a spectacular view back over the city.
If you’re the kind of person who likes to explore a city through their stomach, you’ll have come to the right place. Tuscan cooking is some of the best in Italy, and Florence is a great place to try it. For meat lovers, the non-negotiable is bistecca alla Fiorentina, which is a huge T-bone steak cooked rare over a wood fire. And for a classic Florentine street-food experience, try lampredotto – slow-cooked offal in a bread roll, which is more delicious than it sounds!
The Mercato Centrale near San Lorenzo is a beautiful covered market with a great food hall upstairs, perfect for lunch. The Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio is smaller, less touristy and just as good. In the evening, Piazza Santo Spirito in the Oltrarno is the best place for an aperitivo, with the surrounding streets packed with trattorias and popular with locals as well as tourists. Wherever you end up, though, make sure you always leave room for a gelato!
If you’re thinking about visiting Florence, why not check out some of our Italian multi-centre itineraries that take in this wonderful city? Combine it with Rome and Venice on our classic Grand Tour itinerary of Venice, Florence & Rome, or add Sorrento to the mix. If food is your priority, our Rome, Tuscany & Florence itinerary takes in Rome’s trattorias, Tuscany’s vineyards and Florence’s cuisine in one trip, or keep it simple for a dual-centre and combine Florence & Bologna. Simply get in touch, and we’ll put together the perfect trip.
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