The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and Italy’s cultural capital, Florence, is a medieval wonder.
Brimming with romance, history, and fantastic Tuscan eats, the enchanting city will mesmerise you and keep you wanting more. Follow our guide to falling in love with Firenze. Ciao!
Stroll along Ponte Vecchio
If there’s only one thing you do in Florence, grab a gelato and walk across the romantic, jewellery shop-lined bridge. Then, stand over the Arno and watch the sky transform into glorious shades of rosy pink, honey and blazing amber. Next, walk across Ponte Alle Grazie to get to the Pitti Palace and Boboli gardens and escape to a more subdued side of Florence surrounded by centuries-old oak trees, statues, and fountains.
Wander around Piazzale della Repubblica
The centre of public life in Florence, the piazza houses the finest restaurants, hotels and cafes and is often a theatre for musicians and street artists. The square sits in the city’s historical centre, at the intersection of two ancient Roman roads, the Cardo and the Decumanus.
One of the great joys of Florence is that you don’t have to travel far to see one of the city’s greatest hits. The piazza is 2 minutes away from Palazzo Strozzi and Florence’s chicest watering hole Colle Bereto, an ideal locale to settle in for some high-profile people-watching.
Enjoy a sunset aperitivo at Piazza Santo Spirito
Piazza Santo Spirito is a local haven for hole-in-the-wall trattorias, late-night drinks and music. Linger in the square to catch an al fresco gig in the summer, or head to Loggia Roof Bar at the Hotel Palazzo Guadagni, a Renaissance palazzo in the Oltrarno offering views from Bellosguardo Tower to the Boboli Gardens and, of course, the Basilica di Santo Spirito.
Promenade your way through Galleria degli Uffizi
There’s no escaping this brilliant gallery that houses the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael and more. A quick stroll through the city’s historic centre will take you past a myriad of museums and churches, including the Galleria dell’Accademia and Santa Maria Novella.
Grab a bite at Gucci Garden
Located in the 14th-century Palazzo della Mercanzia in one of Florence’s most captivating squares, Piazza Signoria, Gucci Garden is a colourful journey through the Florentine fashion house’s past, present, and future.
The multi-level museum and retail outlet includes a boutique selling exclusive Gucci Garden designs, a fashion gallery, and a ground-floor restaurant bearing the name of one of Italy’s most prominent chefs. With menu options like tortellini, hamburgers served in neon pink Gucci boxes, and tostada’s, there’s something for everyone at Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura.
Stop and smell the roses at Giardino Delle Rose
Located below the magnificent Piazzale Michelangelo, with a spectacular view of the city, the rose garden is perfect for those needing a break from the museum scene.
Invigorate your senses at the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
A short walk from the heart of Florence, The Duomo, Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the oldest herbal pharmacies in the world. The perfumery is a beautiful frescoed chapel filled with glass bottles of oils and perfumes, lotions, the brand’s trademark soaps and the scent of signature Tuscan herbs and flowers, all concocted from the 13th-century recipes.
.