Florence
travel guides

Florence is the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Renaissance. The city sits in a valley along the Arno River, surrounded by rolling hills covered in olive groves and cypress trees. For a city of just 380,000 residents, Florence holds an extraordinary concentration of world-class art and architecture - the Uffizi Gallery alone contains more masterpieces per square metre than most national museums. Add the Duomo's terracotta dome (still the largest masonry dome ever built), Michelangelo's David, and the medieval Ponte Vecchio, and you begin to understand why UNESCO listed the entire historic centre as a World Heritage Site in 1982.

Beyond the museums, Florence rewards those who explore on foot. The Oltrarno district south of the Arno is home to artisan workshops that still produce leather goods, marbled paper, and gold leaf using centuries-old techniques. San Lorenzo's covered market sells lampredotto (tripe sandwich) from carts that have operated on the same corners for decades. In the evening, Piazzale Michelangelo offers a panoramic view of the entire city, with the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio tower framed against the Tuscan hills.

Florence is compact and best explored without a car. The historic centre measures roughly 3 km across, putting every major sight within walking distance. Florence Airport (Peretola/FLR) is 5 km northwest, connected by tram in 20 minutes. Pisa Airport (PSA), a budget-airline hub, sits 80 km west with direct bus service to Florence's main train station, Santa Maria Novella. The city also serves as an excellent base for day trips to Siena, San Gimignano, and the Chianti wine region.