Florence

Florence (Firenze) is the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Renaissance, a city on the Arno that shaped Western art, architecture and thought. Under the Medici family it became a centre of bankers, artists and scholars, and its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an extraordinary concentration of masterpieces.

The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, crowned by Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery with its bronze doors form the religious heart of the city. Piazza della Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio are its political centre. The Uffizi Gallery holds works by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael, and the Accademia shows Michelangelo's David. The Ponte Vecchio, lined with goldsmiths' shops, crosses the Arno to the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens. Show more

Beyond the great sights, Florence has lively neighbourhoods such as Santo Spirito and San Frediano across the river, and the Mercato Centrale and Sant'Ambrogio markets for local food. Craft workshops for leather, paper and jewellery continue old traditions. Bistecca alla fiorentina, ribollita and lampredotto are local classics, and Piazzale Michelangelo and the church of San Miniato al Monte offer the famous view over the city.

Florence has an airport and is a hub for high speed trains to Rome, Bologna and Milan. Three or four days allow time for the city, and it is a base for Siena, Pisa and the Chianti. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, while summer is hot and busy.