Luxury Florence Holidays

The riverside homeland of the Italian Renaissance

Florence

Florence (Firenze) is the birthplace of the Renaissance – a Tuscan city steeped in world-famous artwork, grand architecture and a trendsetting food scene.

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (or Duomo, as it’s known) has dominated the skyline since the 15^th century. It’s the fourth biggest cathedral in Europe – and the first stop on most people’s trip to Florence. From here, meandering cobbled lanes lead to Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio, the Romanesque town hall.

A trip to Florence wouldn’t be complete without a whirl around the Uffizi Gallery. It houses the world's largest collection of Renaissance masterpieces, including Botticelli's Birth of Venus. Be sure to end at least one day watching the sunset from Ponte Vecchio before sampling some locally sourced antipasti – think mellow cheeses, cured ham and handmade pane sciocco bread.

The countryside unfolds from the Florence city limits. Tour vineyards and villages or hop on a train to another Tuscan city like Pisa or Siena.

Helen Lippe

Don't discount restaurants in touristy areas. I visited a wonderful, typically Italian restaurant near the Ponte Vecchio that was full of locals, where I ate the most amazing fried artichokes.

Find Out More

Our pick of the top hotels in Florence

Every one of our hotels is handpicked and personally visited by our team

Belmond Villa San Michele

Italy, Florence

Find out more

Things to do in FlorenceTread the tiled aisle of Florence Cathedral

If you only have time to see one thing when you go to Florence, make it the Duomo. You can’t miss it – the 15^th-century dome towers above the city, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, one of the fathers of the Renaissance. The Gothic main body is even older, dating back to the 13^th century – and the cellars are even older than that, giving you a glimpse of the 7^th-century church that existed before the Duomo was even a glimmer in Brunelleschi’s eye. There are plenty of Neo-Gothic additions, too, including much of the pastel marble façade, which was wrapped up around 500 years later.

Things to do in FlorenceTake a breather in the Boboli Gardens

Most of the treasures of Florence stay north of the River Arno. But not Boboli Gardens – this classically Italian park hands out zealously manicured lawns, Renaissance statues and arching staircases next to the equally grand Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti). The gardens have become a free art gallery over the centuries. Statues range from Romanesque to Renaissance and decorate fountains and quarried amphitheatres. A wander around the hilly gardens give out both close-up views of the Pitti Palace and glimpses of terracotta rooftops and the Tuscan hills behind.

Things to do in FlorenceShake things up at the Galileo Museum

Had your fill of art and architecture? Then head to Galileo Museum (Museo Galileo) to learn about how the Renaissance was also a time of ground-breaking scientific discoveries. The displays are pieces of art in themselves, showing off beautifully curated displays of golden telescopes and mathematical instruments used by Tuscan prodigies like Galileo Galilei. Amazingly, it’s one of the least-visited museums in Florence, so you can take your time wandering around the restored rooms and hands-on exhibits. Take a moment to admire the building, too - an 11^th-century palazzo overlooking the River Arno.

Typical Costs

Bottle of beer

€5-10

Bus return

€1.50

Cup of coffee

€1-5

Glass of wine

€3-10

Main course

€15-30

Small souvenir

€10

Flight Information

Flight time from the UK to Florence is around 2 hours 15 minutes.

Transfer Time

Transfer time from Florence airport is around 20 minutes. From Pisa airport to Florence is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

When to go

Florence is a great place to visit all year round. The summer and spring months can definitely be the busiest, but the city’s piazzas and al-fresco dining venues are lovely in the warmer weather. In autumn, the weather cools down and the crowds reduce. Then the winter brings crisp, cool temperatures (and occasionally even snow) – perfect for wrapping up and enjoying a glass of red (or two). If you time it right, you can also catch the Christmas markets throughout December.

Visa Information

British citizens do not currently require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

When you dine out in Italy, you will generally be charged a coperto (cover charge), which is for the bread, tablecloth, cutlery, etc. Tipping in Italy is not customary, but is always appreciated.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.

Luxury Florence Holidays

Florence

Helen Lippe

Belmond Villa San Michele

What our customers think