Florence, Tuscany’s capital is famed for its spectacular Renaissance architecture. The historical element is still very vivid and as you wander around the city you feel as though you have taken a step back in time. The picturesque beauty of this city is enhanced even further by the River Arno running through it. There are many bridges to cross from one side to the other; most famous is the Ponte Vecchio.
Things to see and do:
- Duomo – is the building you are most likely to recognise from postcards and pictures due to its imposing red tiled dome. Duomo is vast and is in fact the world’s fourth largest cathedral.
- Piazza del Signoria – outstanding statues adorn this square with each statue commemorating an historical event that took place in the city.
- Medici Villas – outside of the city are a number of sumptuous villas built during the 15th and 16th century for the Cardinal Ferdinando de’ Medici.
- Out of town – if you want a break for the city and fancy feasting your eyes on a something more rural then head for the Mugello Region. This region is famed for its un-spoilt Tuscan heritage.
- Bargello Museum - the museum and chapel opposite hold attractions such as medieval and renaissance sculptures and works by Michelangelo and Donatello and frescoes by Giotto.
Getting there:
You best option for getting to Florence is either to fly to Pisa or Bologna. Florence does have an airport (Amerigo Vespucci) but it tends to deal with few international flights and mainly domestic ones. A good and reasonably priced option is take the train from Pisa to Florence which takes around 60 minutes.
Location and weather:
Florence is situated at the back of the Tuscany region which is on the west coast of Italy. The weather there is typically Mediterranean with balmy, hot summers and cooler, damper winters.
Top tip:
To avoid long entry queues into places such as Uffizi and Pitti Palace either ask your hotel to make the advanced booking or get ahead of the game and make an online reservation before you leave.
If food is your passion, head over to the huge covered market at Mercato Centrale in San Lorenzo where you will find wonderful food with out the tourist prices tags.
|
