Florence, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the capital of Tuscany, is located in the central part of Italy 270 km north of Rome.
The city was the center of medieval European trade and finance, especially under the rule of the Medici family and it is considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.
Florence is the place where all of Tuscany’s great characteristics are combined in full, the great atmosphere, the culture, and the Renaissance art treasures in addition to the medieval, Baroque, Neoclassical and modern architecture.
You will be overwhelmed by the works of Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, and many others in the city’s squares, museums, and galleries.
Roam the streets where writers and philosophers such as Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolo Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini used to stroll, and enjoy the magnificent churches, monuments, and architecture gems going back from the Lombardic tribes and the Roman to modern days.
Romantic and enchanting with overwhelming beauty, Florence historic center is small and packed with extraordinary art and cultural attractions, most if not all in a walking distance.
In 2-4 days you will have a continues celebration of history and art, culture, excellent local cuisine, and wine.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Boboli Gardens
Sprone Fountain
Visit the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia gallery, and the Palazzo Pitti for their great arts, stroll Ponte Vecchio the famous bridge over the Arno River, and enjoy the city’s fabulous landscape at sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo.
Be sure to explore the imposing Piazza Della Signoria, Piazza del Duomo and the Florence Cathedral, and do not miss the churches of Santa Croce, San Miniato, Santa Maria Novella and San Lorenzo for their important tombs, mosaics, and frescoes.
Italy’s fashion industry was born and bred in Florence. Window shop the small fashion boutiques in Via de’ Tornabuoni and enjoy the specialized boutiques and the family run workshops of goldsmiths, shoemakers, and leather specialists in the Medieval backstreets.
The city is overwhelming with the fine architecture and the amazing artworks of the Renaissance masters, which might be sometimes too much for children.
Among some of the attractions better suited for Children in Florence are climbing on top of the Duomo Dome and the adjacent Campanile bell tower, Piazza della Repubblica, da Vinci museum, Museo Stibbert, family tours of Palazzo Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery, Museu Galileo, Boboli Gardens and the Natural History Museum.
Florence is surrounded by rural rich hills and is a gourmet paradise where eating and wine drinking is a must.
Enjoy the local foods and wines in the markets and the family run trattorias.
While Visiting Florence, Thetjoy.com suggests concentrating in two areas the historic center and the Diladdarno (Oltrarno) quarter south of the Arno River.
- The historic center north of the river stretches over 3-4 km from Galleria dell’Accademia in the north and Ponte Vecchio in the south.
Plan 2-3 days to visit and enjoy the area’s attractions. - The second area to explore, the Diladdarno quarter south of the river, is popular by many and considered the most authentic and charming part of the city.
Here its recommend to walk from west to east (or vice versa) on a 3-4 km long stretch, from Basilica di Santo Spirito in the west to Piazzale Michelangelo and Basilica di San Miniato al Monte in the east.
Consider half to one day walking through the fabulous attractions, the Boboli gardens and the great landscapes of the historic center, and the Arno River and its bridges.
