Why? Despite being over-run with tourists for centuries, Florence remains one of the world's most beautiful cities - and people continue to flock to holiday in Florence, an artistic, architectural and cultural gem. In a relatively small area, Florence contains a wealth of Rennaissance art treasures among streets that were once walked by their great creators like Michelangelo, Boticelli and Leonardo da Vinci.
When? High season for a holiday in Florence is high summer, when the sun bakes down from the blue Tuscan skies. Crowds make this season unpleasant for serious art-lovers, however, and for a relatively quieter view it is best to travel here in spring or autumn, or even during the mild winter (although there are many rainy days during this period).
Who for? No self-respecting European tourist can miss out on a holiday in Florence, which ranks as one of the 'must-see' Italian destinations. Serious art-lovers, who are out to do more than just tick the destination boxes, also rank a holiday in Florence at the very top of their itineraries.
More Info: Although it is difficult to itemise everything there is to see in this beautiful city, our comprehensive Florence travel guide lists the major galleries and attractions, with details of opening times, admission prices and other useful information to help you plan your time during your Florence holiday.

The Duomo, Florence © Italian Tourist Board

The principal Tuscan city of Florence (Firenze) nestles below the wooded foothills of the Apennines, along the banks of the Arno River. The works of Botticelli, Michelangelo, Bruneschelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Boccaccio, Alberti, Masaccio, Donatello, Vasari and Fra Angelico imbue the city with the magnificence of their contribution to art and life. The city itself is muse to some and home to many stylish citizens, who enhance the cobbled streets and fashionable piazzas with their inimitable Italian flair.

The heart of the city, where everyone from tourist to tout seems to congregate, is the Piazza de Duomo and the Piazza della Signoria. The statues dominating the Piazza della Signoria commemorate major historical events of the city's life, and the magnificent Palazzo Vecchio still performs its original role as Florence's town hall. The adjacent Uffizi is the oldest gallery in the world, with a collection of the greatest works of the Renaissance commissioned largely by the Medici family. The man who founded the great long-ruling Medici dynasty was Cosimo il Vecchio. His legacy is imprinted in the city's northern area, marked by the churches of San Lorenzo, San Marco and the Palazzo Medici Riccardi.

The western stretches of the city are formed by Florence's railway station at one end and the Ponte Vecchio at the other. The quaint Ponte Vecchio bridge was built in 1345, and was one of the few areas to emerge unscathed from the wartime bombs. Little workshops that used to belong to butchers, tanners and blacksmiths peer onto the river from their timber supports. The church of Santa Maria Novella also rises from the city's western boundaries in true gothic splendour, preserving some of the most important works of art in Florence.

The Oltrarno (meaning 'over the Arno') area became the place from which the Medici ruled from the Palazzo Pitti. The magnificent Boboli Gardens were designed and laid out around it. The area surrounding Via Maggio and Piazza di Santo Spirito boasts a collection of other palazzi built during the late-16th and 17th centuries.