Firenze
Florence, capital of Tuscany and cradle of the Renaissance, rises on the banks of the Arno, encircled by gentle hills
Updated 19 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Firenze now
The story
The story of Firenze
The capital of the Renaissance
Florence is an open-air museum-city, where every square and alley tells of centuries of history, art and power. Founded as a Roman colony and grown into one of the economic and cultural capitals of medieval and Renaissance Europe, it owes its extraordinary flowering to the Medici family, great patrons of the arts. The historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, packs an unrivalled density of masterpieces into a few square kilometres, among churches, palaces, museums and still-living artisan workshops.
The Duomo and the monumental heart
The symbol of the city is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with the famous dome by Filippo Brunelleschi, a masterpiece of engineering that dominates Florence's skyline, flanked by Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery with its bronze doors, including the Gate of Paradise. Nearby, Piazza della Signoria is the political heart, with Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia dei Lanzi, an open-air sculpture museum. From here, a few steps lead to the Uffizi Gallery, among the most important art collections on the planet.
The Arno, Ponte Vecchio and the Oltrarno
The Arno crosses the city and is spanned by the Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge to survive the war intact, still crowded with goldsmiths' shops. On the other bank lies the Oltrarno, an authentic district of artisans, restorers and trattorias, dominated by Palazzo Pitti and the splendid Boboli Gardens. Climbing to Piazzale Michelangelo, you enjoy Florence's most famous view, with the dome and red rooftops glowing at sunset, while the basilica of San Miniato al Monte watches from above.
Museums and masterpieces
Beyond the Uffizi, Florence offers a network of museums that recount the whole history of Western art. At the Galleria dell'Accademia you can admire Michelangelo's David, while the Bargello Museum holds sculptures by Donatello and Michelangelo himself. The basilicas of Santa Croce, with the tombs of great Italians, and of Santa Maria Novella preserve extraordinary frescoes and chapels. Everywhere you breathe the legacy of Leonardo, Botticelli, Michelangelo and the other geniuses who here changed the course of art forever.
Florentine flavours and traditions
Florentine cuisine is honest and full of flavour: the bistecca alla fiorentina, ribollita, pappa al pomodoro and the lampredotto of the street stalls tell of a hearty, generous popular tradition, paired with the great wines of the Tuscan hills. The historic markets, such as San Lorenzo and Sant'Ambrogio, are the best place to taste local produce. Between festivals, leather and gold craftsmanship and a lively cultural life, Florence blends the grandeur of the past with an ever-vibrant contemporary soul.
Not to be missed
- Brunelleschi's dome and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
- The Uffizi Gallery and Michelangelo's David at the Accademia
- The Ponte Vecchio and a stroll through the Oltrarno
- Sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo
- Palazzo Pitti with the Boboli Gardens
To see
What to see in Firenze
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Routes in Firenze
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