Florence

Florence brings together, within a compact cultural area, medieval urban history, the Renaissance, major art collections and extensive green spaces. If you are looking for accommodation in Florence, you can therefore plan your stay around the experiences that matter most to you: historic architecture, painting and sculpture, the history of science or walks outdoors.

Historic Centre and Major Art Collections

The historic centre preserves entire streets, fortified palaces, loggias and fountains from the medieval and Renaissance past of the trading city. The city’s history is therefore reflected not only in individual monuments, but also in the preserved forms of public and urban space.

The Uffizi Gallery is a focal point for art enthusiasts. The museum occupies the entire first and second floors of a building constructed between 1560 and 1580 and designed by Giorgio Vasari. The painting collection includes works by Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Caravaggio and other European painters. It is complemented by ancient statues and busts from the Medici collection, including ancient Roman copies of lost Greek sculptures. In this way, Renaissance painting, European art history and ancient sculpture come together under one roof.

The Pitti Palace is the largest of Florence’s palaces. Today it houses the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Palatine Gallery, the Royal and Imperial Apartments, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Costume and Fashion Museum. For your choice of cultural highlights, this means an unusually broad combination: you will find courtly collections, historic rooms, modern art, and costume and fashion history in one place.

Cathedral, Civic Power and Science

Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the largest churches in the world. The building is 153 metres long, 90 metres wide at the crossing and 90 metres high from the floor to the base of the lantern. The foundation stone was laid on 8 September 1296; after the completion of the dome, the church was consecrated by Pope Eugene IV on 25 March 1436.

For more than seven centuries, the Palazzo Vecchio has symbolised the civic power of Florence. The Cappella dei Magi in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi offers another historical perspective: Benozzo Gozzoli decorated it with frescoes in 1459. Those who want to discover Florence not only through individual masterpieces, but also through its political, religious and courtly history, will find different approaches to the city here.

The Museo Galileo focuses on science. Its instrument collections are among the most important in the world. The collections document the promotion of scientific research by the Medici dynasty and the Lorraine grand dukes. The museum also presents instruments and memorabilia belonging to Galileo Galilei. It therefore complements the art museums with the history of observation, research and scientific patronage.

Outdoor Sculptures and Routes to Viewpoints

The Giardino di Boboli is an open-air museum with sculptures dating from the Roman period to the 17th century. The Parco delle Cascine is used by locals and tourists as a green space for sports, walks and recreation. Both places expand the cultural programme with outdoor experiences, but differ in their focus: at Boboli, sculptures and historic garden culture take centre stage, while at the Cascine, sports, walks and recreation are the focus.

Piazzale Michelangelo can be reached via Viale Galileo, Viale Michelangiolo or from Piazza Poggi via the monumental stairways known as the Rampe del Poggi. This allows you to choose between several described approaches when planning your day, without reducing access to the viewpoint to a single route. If your trip is to include art collections, historic buildings and quieter outdoor spaces in equal measure, Florence offers clearly distinguishable themes within the same destination.

Other Destinations for Orientation

For further orientation, you can consider Settignano, Castelfiorentino, Palazzuolo Sul Senio, Figline Valdarno and Cerreto Guidi.

To the overarching travel overview: Florence.

More About the Destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Airports in Tuscany: Choosing Pisa or Florence, Historic Football in Florence - Holidays in Tuscany (Italy), Province of Florence - Travel and Accommodation in Tuscany (Italy).