Florence
★ 4.9🇮🇹 FlorenceSuggested visit 1-2 daysBest season April to June and September to October, with pleasant weather
World HeritageArtHistoric site
The birthplace of the Renaissance, where a red-tiled dome and the Uffizi define a whole city.
Overview
Florence is where the Renaissance began, and its historic centre joined the World Heritage List in 1982. Brunelleschi's dome on the cathedral, about 45 metres across, was an engineering marvel of its day and can be climbed in 463 steps. The Uffizi holds Botticelli's Birth of Venus along with works by Leonardo and Michelangelo, making it the essential collection of Renaissance art.
History
Founded by the Romans in 59 BC, it grew rich on wool and banking in the Middle Ages and became the centre of the Renaissance in the 15th century under the Medici.
Highlights
- •Brunelleschi's dome
- •Giotto's bell tower
- •The Uffizi Gallery
- •The Ponte Vecchio and the Arno
Practical tips
- •Book both the dome and the Uffizi ahead
- •The centre is a restricted traffic zone — do not drive in
Practical information
- Best time
- April-June, September-October
- Tickets
- Cathedral free; dome about EUR 30; Uffizi about EUR 25
- Opening hours
- Cathedral 10:00-17:00; Uffizi 8:15-18:30
- Local food
- Tuscan bruschetta, bistecca alla fiorentina, Chianti wine
- Getting around
- About 1.5 hours by high-speed train from Rome, two hours from Venice.
- Visa
- A Schengen visa is required; apply about one month in advance.
Traveller reviews
…