When in Florence
Even in a country renowned for its dreamy cities and romantic feel, Florence succeeds in standing out as one of Italy's most atmospheric and attractive urban centres. With foundations dating back to the Roman times, Florence's heritage is vast, impressive and still clearly evident to modern day visitors.
Situated in the heart of Tuscany, one of Italy's most attractive regions, Florence remains a hugely popular choice for European holidaymakers. Spreading out over the banks of the River Arno, the small city has retained much of its medieval feel, with its compact size making it easy to explore on foot. Florence benefits, or some would say suffers, from hot summers and breezy winters. Temperatures can routinely reach 34 degrees in the summer months and are known to dip below freezing in winter. Accordingly, savvy holidaymakers are advised to visit during April to June or September to October, when the climate makes a long day's sightseeing more bearable, while lower tourist volumes make a stroll through the city's many piazzas more enjoyable.
The city was in many ways at the heart of the renaissance, a legacy clearly visible in its impressive architecture and artistic and cultural heritage. Florence was home to many rich and prominent Italians, including writers, artists and philosophers such as Machiavelli, Leonardo de Vinci and Dante. Its tradition of a secular civilisation is credited by many for fuelling its fantastic artistic heritage, while its prominent position in Italian history helped to ensure its importance as a cultural and artistic centre.
In the 15th century the city was ruled by the wealthy Medici family, the famous Medici balls of which still adorn many buildings. When Tuscany became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860, Florence was briefly appointed the capital, furthering its importance as an artistic and political hub. Few other museums could obtain such impressive collections based on the work of "locals", but Florence's many museums and galleries are well stocked by the works of famous Florentines such as Donatello, Botticelli and Michelangelo.
With a population of less than half a million and an attitude more inclined towards long lattes than frantic espressos, Florence provides a pleasantly lazy version of the la dolce vita. The Boboli Gardens overlooking the city provide a perfect retreat from the relative hustle and bustle of the streets below, while visitors may also wish to explore the neighbouring Chianti region, home to some of Italy's most beautiful countryside, not to mention some highly quaffable wines.
Vespucci Airport is just five km out of the city centre and is well connected to the main Santa Maria Novella station thanks to a regular bus service. Many budget airlines also fly into nearby Pisa airport and in many ways it is preferable to fly to Pisa, see its sights, such as the famous leaning tower, and then continue on to Florence. Like Rome, the city is also accessible via the Eurostar, with trains every hour and a half.
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Introduction
