Florence is famous all over the world for its unique beauties. To visit the principal beauties in Florence you need at least 4 days. For many years Florence has been the cradle of culture and art: many of the most famous artists of the Renaissance were born there and thanks to them thousands of tourists choose Florence for their holidays. Florence signifies abundance or wealth; during the middle-age, thanks to the Medici family, became an important economic, cultural and artistic city. The artistic patrimony of Florence is among the most important of the world. - Famous museums (Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Museum, Museum of the Bargello, Archaeological Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Opera del Duomo). - Great libraries (Laurenziana Library, Riccardiana Library, Marucelliana Library, Central National Library). - The famous academies (Academy of the Bran, Academy of Cimento, Colombaria Academy). - Large parks and gardens (Park of the Cascine, Garden of Boboli, Garden of the Iris). - The monuments in Florence constitute an artistic complex among the most important of the world: the Baptistry (with the gold doors by the Ghiberti and Andrea Pisano), the Fortezza da Basso, the Giotto Bell Tower, the Innocenti Hospital. - Important churches like the Dome (or Santa Maria del Fiore) with the immense cupola by the Brunelleschi and the bell tower by Giotto, The Pietà by Michelangelo, the Santa Croce church, in which we found the rip of Machiavelli, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Alfieri, Foscolo and Rossini, the San Lorenzo church, the Santa Maria Novella church. - Florence is rich of great work and wonderful palaces like the Palazzo Vecchio, the loggia by Orcagna, the Spedale degli Innocenti of Brunelleschi, the Palazzi Medici, the Pitti Palace and the Uffizi (by the Vasari with the famous Uffizi Gallery), the Ponte Vecchio with the double row of small old shops, from the 1500 exclusive rights of the orafi. - The splendid squares like Piazza del Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Santa Croce, Piazza Della Signoria, Piazza Della Libertà, Piazza Dell'Indipendenza, Piazza Santa Maria Novella, Piazzale Michelangelo. - The historical houses of Dante Alighieri, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Guidi. In this section of the website you'll find a Florence virtual tour and a map of Florence that will guide you to the discovery of the beauties of the main city in Tuscany. Moreover for those stay in Florence for more than 2 or 3 days we have prepared a dedicated section for the itineraries and excursions in order to program a visit in one of the most beautiful medieval villages wich lie near the city. There are places in the outskirts of Florence that are really marvellous and if you have enough time they really desrve to be visited.

More info

There are few cities in the world that can rival Florence Italy for its rich history and beauty. Visitors are enchanted by the Italian city's many tourist attractions, churches, cathedrals and town squares. The Dome cathedral is just one of many wonderful tourist attractions to visit in the city that Italians call 'Firenze'. Among the many works of art that can be found in Florence, is Michelangelo's most famous statue called 'David'. Art and architecture from the Renaissance period can be found throughout the city. The lily was chosen to be the symbol of Florence in the second half of the XII century. Florentia had to be represented by a flower and the flowers mainly used in heraldic bearings were roses and lilies. The Florentine lily on the gonfalon was originally white on a red background; it was changed to red on a white background by the Guelfi in 1266, as a sign of victory over the Ghibellini. The botanic name of the lily of Florence is Irish Florentina, the iris can be seen in the city's coat of arms because it is a flower that grows abundantly in the fields around the city. Mythology tells that the lily was born from drop of milk that feels from Giunone' s breast while she was feeding Ercole. The lily therefore signifies purity and chastity. The Florentines were so struck by the abundance and beauty of the flowers that they became attached to the iris and associated it to their city life; the iris became the emblem of Florence due to its botanical name, Iris Florentia. Whether it was red on white background or white on a red background, according to the current political movement, it was always the only valid symbol of the city and under it is sign Florence won liberty and honour. The iris however has story. The Egyptians cultivated various varieties of it on the banks of the river Nile and the Greeks admired the beautiful and many-coloured plants between the rocks and stones of the temple. The Greeks in their fantasy saw in these many coloured petals, Iride the messenger of gods, sliding down the rainbow from Olympus. In this section of Florence Online: the generality of Florence, the history, the photos of Florence, the historical pictures, the Florence flood and the annual events. Moreover to your disposition we have created a useful information section that it will allow you to organize at the best your visit to Florence. You will find the things essential to carry with you and the deliveries of the main institutions and centers of ready participation for whichever situation.

More info

There are many fine hotels throughout Florence Italy. From budget accommodation to lavish five-star hotels, suitable accommodation is available for all budgets. Regional maps, hotel information and current weather information are available on this website. Use our handy search tool or site map to find information you need about the Renaissance city. In the section hotels in Florence we selected the best réreptives structures in Florence and province subdivided by type. For each accommodation exists the possibility of sending a free request reservation directly to the owner; in the 24 following hours you will receive a confirmation email about availability and prices of your stay. On the left column you will be able to select the bed and breakfast, 1 star hotels, 2 stars hotels, 3 stars hotels, 4 stars hotels, luxury hotels, the Farm holidays, the Residence, the apartments, the Holidays home and the Hostels. You will have moreover the possibility of making research of the Florence accommodations not only by type but even by selecting the zone (Hills of Florence, Campagne of Florence, Centre of Florence...) or by Area (Chianti, Periphery of Florence, historical Centre of Florence...). Finally you can consult the last minute offers or make a online florence hotel booking.

More info

Florence is not only art and museums. The enjoying in Florence never finishes: Theatres, Cinemas, disco clubs, pubs become animated life for all the night. The tradition teatrale fiorentina was always considerable, packs to name celebrates it Musical May Fiorentino which attracted downtown even of the famous characters. The cinemas in Florence are alternated between the modern ones and equipped with the rooms and multisalle and small independent cinemas. Between June and September, are opened cinemas and spaces under the stars, which reproposent successes 'of winter' together to new films of the season. Florence thank you with the great number of buildings and discos succeeds in making amuse and entusiasmare all in unspecified giorno of the week (especially in the week end) and offers many alternatives to make the small hours in company of friends. The offers are varied and enticing; Latin aperitifs, parties house, rates/rhythms, spuntini of midnight, coffee bars, pubs, bars, sexy discos, wine bars and disco clubs. Infinite varieties of good beer, music and spuntini always point out a elevé number of young people (and not) that is to say fiorentini that foreign. Florence offers a great quantity of night buildings, is possible to choose between commercial discotheques or rock'n'roll spirit. But there are many buildings (especially during the estival time) where will have fun by listening to music and while dancing, while drinking and while chattering with perhaps of the evenings with it fears. If you decide to pass one evening by drinking a beer in historical center of Florence will be able to find very much pubs and birrery. The principal zones are surely Santa Croce square, Santa Maria Novella square and the zone of the Dome. The pubs quickly become animated life after dining; the night buildings receive young people of one each part of the world. So on the other hand you prefer one evening with the sign of dance can go in one of very much discos and discopubs located is in historical center of Florence that in periphery. You will be able moreover to taste made aperitifs with rule of art or to taste a good coffee in one of the very famous places of the city in many the bars and coffee bars located in any Florence. So on the other hand you decided to pass one hot evening you will be able made with visit in night clubs of Florence: these buildings are not however in I center of Florence but you will be able to join them with few minutes by car.

More info

Florence features some wonderful Italian restaurants. Not only do they offer great Italian cuisine, many are situated in picturesque piazzas and other attractive locations. The Tuscany cooking is famous for its simple flavours prepares with great attention. In passed the difficult living conditions imposed to the Tuscany population to prefer the use of poor alimony as the bread without salt that is present still today with thousand shapes and flavours: in every part of the Tuscany exist vary type of bread, from the tradition to the wheel, from the crostoni to the focacce, from the crushed with the oil to the bread with the ramerino, until arriving to the round loaf with grape. Just the bread is one of the main ingredients of most famous Tuscany prescription like the panzanella (made with bread softened in the water, with vegetables), the pappa al pomodoro (to cook itself with bread, garlic, prezzemolo, basil, salt, oil and tomato), the ribollita (born from the tradition peasant who heated the remainders of the foods already cooked the day before). Florence is very famous for the bistecca alla fiorentina, the ribollita, the trippa, the donuts, the schiacciata con l'uva, the cenci, the lampredotto, the fagioli all'uccelletto. The Tuscany is famous for being between the italian regions in which you can tasted the better plates. In this section of the website a wide directory of the best restaurants in which you will be able to savour the specialties From Tuscany and Florence and to taste valuable wines of the chianti area: restaurants, trattorias, taverns, pizzerias, wine bars and international restaurants. The Tuscany is famous all over the world for its valuable and precious wines. Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano, Chianti classic, Barco reale of Carmignano, Vernaccia of San Gimignano, Morellino of Scansano, Pomino, Montescudaio white, Montescudaio red are only some of the valuable wine produced in Tuscany. The Tuscany region in fact is rich of large vitigni is scattered on hills and of visitable wine cellars in whichever period of the year. The Tuscany evokes one images of great beauty; a rich and unique place of historical, cultural and natural treasures. A territory that in the time has been evoked from poets and writers. A territory with colors, smells and flavours unique. The Tuscany is rich of Medieval Castles and villages, palaces, villas, churches, works of art fascination and history. The Tuscany is characterized from a varied landscape; greens hills, beauty sea, high relaxant mountains and terme. Just for these characteristics many tourists every year choose routes in lands of Tuscany to the search of the traditions and in order tasting, wine cellar after wine cellar, the great from Tuscany red wines. Between the more known localities we can name the Chianti zone, the Orcia Valley, Montepulciano, San Giminiano, Montalcino and the zone of Tuscany Maremma. Delicious wines, typical Tuscany foods, traditional plates, typical specialties of fish, international plates… You must only choice...

More info

Italy is between the main world-wide leaders for the fabrication of design, fashion and is therefore very easy to find some souvenir. Many visitors to Florence Italy like to spend a little time shopping. Popular items include Italian shoes, clothes and jewelry. There are lots of small shops and boutiques throughout the city. A number of jewelry shops can be found on the Ponte Vecchio in the Signoria district of Florence. The city is famous for the shops and for its Jewels hand works with experience and following the tradition that the famous 'orafi fiorentini' using from hundreds of years. The street for the objects of handicraft is Via Maggio: in any case you can find work of art of the 16° century. In Via dei Tornabuoni (Tornabuoni street) in Florence, we find storees of appareal where you will find the best companies like Armani, Gucci, Versace, Coveri, Ferragamo and moreover. The central market in Florence Italy (Firenze) is called the Mercato Centrale. It operates near the San Lorenzo church in the Duomo district of Florence in a two-story building. Visitors can buy fresh fruits and vegetables on the second floor of this market. In the section shops in Florence you'll find the principal shops in the historical center and province sort by category.

More info

Florence Italy is conveniently located just two hours north of Rome. Two major airports serve this premiere tourist destination. Florence is the most important art city in Tuscany, in the Italy center. Florence is easy reachable by Car, by train, by bus and by airplane. The city is equipped in fact of the airport Amerigo Vespucci, (zone of Peretola), situated to least kilometers from Florence Historical Center, in the district of Rifredi. There aren't directed international connections to Florence, in any case the airport covers many European drafts and often with flights low cost. The airport is approximately 5 km far from the center and it's very connected by taxi and shuttles bus. Moreover the airport of Pisa is to 50km from Florence and it is connected to the railway station of Santa Maria Novella by appropriate train. Florence is moreover easily reachable in Train from all Italy and from abroad. There are various railway station in Florence. The more important are: Florence Rifredi, Florence Santa Maria Novella and Florence Campo di Marte. Who wishes to travel by car, Florence easy is easy catched up by the A1 freeway or the A11 freeway. In the historical center of Florence are present many payment parkings where to be able to leave the own car. If you arrived by train or by airplane and you wish to rent an car you can do it easy in one of the car rentals of Florence. The Historical center of Florence has an extension of approximately 4 Kmq, the entire city of Florence approximately 100 Kmq. To the inside of the historical center (seen the reduced dimensions) it is possible to move easy by foot, by bicycle, by bus or to use of one of the numerous taxi in every angle of the city. For morer information on like catching up Florence visits the pages present in this section of the website: how to reach Florence.

More info

Without doubt when we plan a travel to Florence we make it first of all in order to admire its beauties, its monuments and in order to breathe an atmosphere that seems is stopped in the time. But many tourists reach Florence in order to learn the limbs that characterize Florence and the Tuscany for hundred of years. In the time artisan, generation after generation, have realized many work: gold work, ceramics work, painting work, design work, sculpture work. Florence is also this: an open museum with realizate works of art from the greatest artists, sculpture, painters and Fiorentini craftsmen. Just for this reason are been born many schools with Italians and foreign students, coming from every part of the world. In Florence therefore are been born the art schools specialized in course of Visual Limbs, course of design, course of photography, course of art, course of design and painting, of frescoes and workshops. Much diffuse also the italian language schools with language course specialized with expert instructors and much available with the students. Exist also many dance schools with course specialize in dances of every kind and type: 'Tango Argentino', 'Liscio', 'Modern dance' 'Dance', etc. In this section are also listed the primary schools, the elementary schools and the university in Florence.

More info

Florence became the city of art that all the world knows thanks to the great artists who built big monuments, churches, and sculptures during the years. Nearly all the famous artists of the Renaissance came from Tuscany and Florence became the centre of the Arts, artists like Donatello, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Giotto, Galileo Galilei, Dante, Botticelli and Masaccio are only a few of those who have left signs in the monuments or Florentine works of the xv century. A plunge in the past to admire the beauties of the present...

More info

The foundation of the city dates back to the Etruscan period, was born around 200 BC as a colony of the most important city of Fiesole. During the period of the Roman Empire (Florentia) became a Roman colony used to control the Via Flaminia, but the real cultural, linguistic, social, political and artistic took place in the fourteenth and fifteenth century. In this period when the city has greatly influenced the progress of Italian culture through periods of great splendor such as Humanism and the Renaissance. The most important literary figure born, grew up and lived in the Tuscan capital is undoubtedly Dante Alighieri. The city is located in central Italy in a wide valley surrounded by hills and mountains, is the capital of Tuscany and has a population of about 400,000 inhabitants. The Arno river flows through the city, passing through the historic center of the city and passes by the old bridge creating a truly impressive especially at sunset. In just 30 minutes you can walk through the historical center, in the heart of the city are located on the main tourist attractions and is therefore not necessary to own a car or public transport services. There are more than 400 bed and breakfasts, hostels and hotels in Florence well distributed throughout the country, even if you arrive in the city without knowing where to sleep most likely within a few hours you find an accommodation. In any case, however, especially during the high season, it is advisable to book in advance so you can choose the type of your hotel that does suit your needs, without having to walk too much once on site. There are accommodations for every budget, you will find facilities ranging from small budget hotels up to the luxury hotel with every comfort. Florence has always been considered the cradle of the Renaissance in Italy, thanks to the work of great artists such as Leonardo, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Raphael is able to offer tourists a unique atmosphere as it still retains the appearance of a strong cities of the late Middle Ages. Getting to the city is very easy by any means of transport thanks to the good rail and road links exist, and because of Amerigo Vespucci. From Florence, you can go hiking along routes of the details of one or more days, and visit very beautiful city such as Rome, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Versilia and Viareggio, Montecatini, Chianti, Perugia, and many other tourist destinations truly enjoyable. The climate is fairly temperate but at the same time highly variable, with fairly cold winters and hot, dry summers. The best time to visit Florence is undoubtedly the spring from March to June and from September to October, when the days are cool and sunny, when you can walk to the historic center of the city fully breathing the atmosphere that only this wonderful city is able to convey. Precisely for this reason, spring is the period with increased inflow of tourists. During the summer it is warm enough and many Florentines move from the city to the coolest places such as the countryside or the surrounding hills. If you decide to visit the city you'll want to spend at least one day in the rolling hills of Chianti or Fiesole, here, in addition to savor the delicacies of the area (such as steak and Chianti Gallo Nero) you will have the ability to regenerate and make up your energy . During the winter the temperature is mild enough, a visit during the winter so it is quite recommended. The craftsmanship Fiorentino is famous all over the world; especially gold processing has a great tradition and ancient origins. Even today we can see the old bridge (the only one left intact after the bombings of World War II) Florentine goldsmiths' workshops which maintain their appearance and often still work the material with the techniques of the past. Florence, after Rome, is the most important art cities of Italy and that is why every year more than 11 million tourists from all over the world visit the city. Among the main tourist attractions is undoubtedly one of the most famous museums in the world: the Uffizi Gallery. Our guide will take you to discover the capital of Tuscany, you will find information to help you organize your holiday and to discover every hidden corner of the city. Who can best describe Florence and give you tips if not the people who live there and who love her?

More info