Plans & Vacation Ideas for a Florence, Italy, Trip

Arguably the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence can sometimes feel like an open-air museum. Turn at any corner in the city and you're drawn in by some masterpiece of art or architecture -- until you look over one block and decide to move on to the next masterpiece. The Botticellis and da Vincis scattered around the city, however, are just the beginning of a trip to Florence. Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of Tuscany and with a vibrant passion for style and life's pleasures, the city offers attractions for travelers of virtually every interest.

Architectural Tour

• The soaring red dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is probably the first thing you'll see as you near Florence. It's also a good first stop on an architectural tour of the city, especially if you take the small staircase to the top of the dome for a panoramic view of Florence. By the church, take a walk by Florence's baptistery, paying special attention to the brass doors designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti or the Donatello-designed tomb of Antipope John XXIII inside. For a full day of museum-going, head to the Palazzo Pitti, the monumental former residence of the Medici family that now is filled with museums and galleries. Pick a sunny day to walk across the Arno River on the medieval Ponte Vecchio and, on the other side, head to the beautifully landscaped and sculpture-filled Boboli Gardens for some rest.

Artistic Tour

• You don't have to go to a museum to see beautiful art in Florence. Some of the city's best-known works can be found in Florence's churches and palaces, like Giotto's frescoes of the life of Christ in the church of Santa Maria Novella. If you choose to go to a museum, the Galleria dell'Accademia holds priceless works. such as Michelangelo's David, while the Uffizi Gallery has a spectacular collection of Renaissance masters. Be prepared to spend several hours in either. For a glimpse of contemporary Florentine art and new talent, head to galleries like For Gallery or Galleria Alessandro Bagnai. The Oltrarno district across the Arno is rapidly becoming a hub for young designers and stylish boutiques, reports The New York Times.
• La Dolce Vita

• To indulge in the earthly pleasures that inspired Renaissance humanism, sit down to a three-hour Tuscan meal in a trattoria along the narrow streets of Oltrarno. Regional specialties include charcoal-grilled steak and bean stews, all washed down with locally produced wines. You can walk off the meal with some window shopping along the fashion-filled Via Tornabuoni or head to the San Lorenzo Market for handcrafted leather goods. At dusk, the bars around the Piazza del Duomo fill with performers and revelers, and you can finish off the night with opera at the Teatro Comunale or an open-air summer concert at the Piazza di Sant'Ambrogio.

Getting Outside the City

• The green hills of Tuscany are just outside Florence. You can hike up to Fiesole -- the walk featured in the movie version of E.M. Forster's "A Room With a View" -- directly from the city. For more fresh air, the hills of San Miniato and Bellosguardo are just south of the Arno River, and both offer stunning views of the city and surrounding countryside. In Tuscany, Frommer's recommends renting a car and taking a tour through the back roads of the province, stopping at tiny villages not found on any tourist map and at "vendita direttas" (direct sales) in the countryside to buy fresh cheese, home-pressed olive oil, local wines and herb-scented honeys directly from farmers.

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What Are Some Places of Interest in Florence, Italy?

Florence, Italy, a city rich in history, art and architecture, is an unmissable destination for visitors hoping to soak up some culture. For pleasure-seekers, Florence is also a cosmopolitan and stylish city, a place where food and fashion have been elevated to art forms. Whatever your interests, the city offers must-see sights and activities that are sure to capture your imagination. And should you need a break from this often hectic city, the idyllic Tuscan countryside, complete with its rolling hills, vineyards and red-roofed villages, is just a short drive from the city center.

Architectural Points of Interest

• The Piazza del Duomo, considered the heart of Florence, contains many of its most iconic architectural treasures. Start your tour by exploring the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore -- otherwise known as the Duomo -- in order to admire its richly decorated exterior and the frescoes inside. Right next to the Duomo, you can climb Giotto's Campanile for a panoramic view of the city. Head to the octagonal baptistery in front of the Duomo to view its imposing bronze doors designed by a young Lorenzo Ghiberti. For more, visit the churches of Santa Maria Novella and Santa Maria del Carmine; both churches contain masterpieces of Renaissance art. Cross the Arno River on the medieval Ponte Vecchio on your way to the Boboli Gardens, where you can take a stroll through a Renaissance garden filled with a myriad of sculptures and fountains.

Art Museums and Galleries

• Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, meaning, of course, that its museums are treasure troves of works by masters like Sandro Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci. The Galleria dell'Accademia is worth a visit even if only to see Michelangelo's triumphant statue of David. The Uffizi Gallery holds a huge permanent collection of Renaissance art. The Palazzo Pitti -- once home to the wealthy Medici family -- holds much of the family's impressive art collection; combined tickets are available to see the sprawling palace's various museums. For Florence's vibrant contemporary art scene, "The New York Times" recommends heading over to Biagiotti Arte Contemporanea or Galleria Alessandro Bagnai to see what the city's newest masters are up to.
• The Countryside

• Florence is the regional capital of Tuscany, and the rolling green hills, vineyards and olive groves that make the region famous are located just outside the city. The hike to Fiesole -- a small town located in the hills above Florence, complete with a Roman amphitheater -- from the city was featured in the film adaptation of "A Room with a View." Just south of the Arno River, the hills of San Miniato and Bellosguardo will take you through more rural landscapes that offer commanding views of the city and surrounding countryside. When in Tuscany, Frommer's recommends renting a car and taking a trip off the tourist map, through small hilltop villages and "vendita diretta" -- direct sales -- stands, where you can buy local wines, honeys, olive oils and cheeses directly from local producers.

Other Places of Interest

• A trip to a Florentine market displays both the city's rich trading past and its vibrant present. The Mercato Centrale focuses on produce and food items for culinary enthusiasts. The nearby San Lorenzo Market is a good place for souvenirs and leather goods. To eat the way the locals do, seek out an appealing trattoria in the Oltrarno district. At sunset, head to the Lungarno -- Florence's riverside promenade -- for drinks and people-watching. You can top it all off with an opera or a show at the Teatro Comunale.

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Plans & Vacation Ideas for a Florence, Italy, Trip

Arguably the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence can sometimes feel like an open-air museum. Turn at any corner in the city and you're drawn in by some masterpiece of art or architecture -- until you look over one block and decide to move on to the next masterpiece. The Botticellis and da Vincis scattered around the city, however, are just the beginning of a trip to Florence. Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of Tuscany and with a vibrant passion for style and life's pleasures, the city offers attractions for travelers of virtually every interest.

Architectural Tour

• The soaring red dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is probably the first thing you'll see as you near Florence. It's also a good first stop on an architectural tour of the city, especially if you take the small staircase to the top of the dome for a panoramic view of Florence. By the church, take a walk by Florence's baptistery, paying special attention to the brass doors designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti or the Donatello-designed tomb of Antipope John XXIII inside. For a full day of museum-going, head to the Palazzo Pitti, the monumental former residence of the Medici family that now is filled with museums and galleries. Pick a sunny day to walk across the Arno River on the medieval Ponte Vecchio and, on the other side, head to the beautifully landscaped and sculpture-filled Boboli Gardens for some rest.

Artistic Tour

• You don't have to go to a museum to see beautiful art in Florence. Some of the city's best-known works can be found in Florence's churches and palaces, like Giotto's frescoes of the life of Christ in the church of Santa Maria Novella. If you choose to go to a museum, the Galleria dell'Accademia holds priceless works. such as Michelangelo's David, while the Uffizi Gallery has a spectacular collection of Renaissance masters. Be prepared to spend several hours in either. For a glimpse of contemporary Florentine art and new talent, head to galleries like For Gallery or Galleria Alessandro Bagnai. The Oltrarno district across the Arno is rapidly becoming a hub for young designers and stylish boutiques, reports The New York Times.
• La Dolce Vita

• To indulge in the earthly pleasures that inspired Renaissance humanism, sit down to a three-hour Tuscan meal in a trattoria along the narrow streets of Oltrarno. Regional specialties include charcoal-grilled steak and bean stews, all washed down with locally produced wines. You can walk off the meal with some window shopping along the fashion-filled Via Tornabuoni or head to the San Lorenzo Market for handcrafted leather goods. At dusk, the bars around the Piazza del Duomo fill with performers and revelers, and you can finish off the night with opera at the Teatro Comunale or an open-air summer concert at the Piazza di Sant'Ambrogio.

Getting Outside the City

• The green hills of Tuscany are just outside Florence. You can hike up to Fiesole -- the walk featured in the movie version of E.M. Forster's "A Room With a View" -- directly from the city. For more fresh air, the hills of San Miniato and Bellosguardo are just south of the Arno River, and both offer stunning views of the city and surrounding countryside. In Tuscany, Frommer's recommends renting a car and taking a tour through the back roads of the province, stopping at tiny villages not found on any tourist map and at "vendita direttas" (direct sales) in the countryside to buy fresh cheese, home-pressed olive oil, local wines and herb-scented honeys directly from farmers.

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Places to Go in Florence

The capital of Tuscany, Florence rose to prominence in the Renaissance due to the influence of families like the Medici, whose money fueled the artistic activity behind some of the world’s great masterpieces. Now an international hotbed for fashion and fine dining, Florence is dressed to impress with its stunning collections of art, architecture and restaurants. Visitors can lose themselves amongst crowds of chic Florentines and experience the best that Italy has to offer.

A Walking Tour

• Florence presents a walker’s paradise, with vehicles banned around the city’s most famous landmarks. The Piazza della Signoria provides an ideal starting point for a day of exploration. This famous square resides at the center of Florence’s historic district and contains an open-air sculpture museum. No visitor to Florence should miss the city’s most renowned cathedral, Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Also known as Il Duomo, this iconic building features the largest brick dome in the world. Wandering couples should make the time for a romantic stroll over Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s oldest bridge and a popular site for wedding proposals.

Premier Galleries

• Art has provided Florence’s primary claim to fame for centuries. Uffizi Gallery resides at the top of many visitors’ lists. One of the oldest museums in the world, Uffizi contains masterpieces by da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio. The Galleria dell'Accademia, most famous as the home of Michelangelo’s “David,” has a notable collection of other artworks including pieces from Botticelli. Palazzo Medici Riccardi, one of the city’s largest gallery spaces, occupies the former estate of the Medici family and displays traveling exhibitions along with an extensive permanent collection.

Things to Do and Hear

• Florence offers more than just cathedrals and art museums. Famed jewelry-maker Alessandro Dari maintains an open workshop near the Ponte Vecchio. Guests can purchase his pieces, observe the crafting process and even enroll in day-long classes. If your artistic tastes include a love of music, you will want to catch an authentic Italian opera. St. Mark’s English Church offers regular operas at reasonable prices. For a low-key excursion, Piazza della Santissima Annunziata provides free outdoor jazz programs during the summer months. Visitors who want to stretch their legs can spend hours in exploration of Bardini Gardens, which has stunning views of the city from its many terraces.

Tuscan Dining

• Tuscany prides itself on its food, and Florence provides the best place to sample ribollita, pici and the wild game dishes that form the basis of the regional cuisine. Floretine steak, a massive cut of locally sourced beef, is a local favorite and best experienced at a restaurant like Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco. Osteria Tornabuoni offers excellent Tuscan cuisine, with lamb ragu and purple artichoke risotto. The owners of Lungarno 23 maintain their own Chianina cattle, which they use for one-of-a-kind burgers. Visitors who want to enjoy the Florentine evenings with a cocktail should check out Piazza di Santo Spirito, a hip bar district with several offerings.

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