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Florence, Italy

Florence is often called the ‘birthplace of the Renaissance,’ and when you think of the art and scholarship which was produced here you can understand why. The city is still brimming with art, and some people say they have spent more than a week straight in Florence and still felt like they had not seen it all. The famous Michelangelo ‘David’ is in Florence – twice. The original now lives in the Accademia and a copy is in the place where the original once stood. The Uffizi Gallery contains a room full of giant Botticelli masterpieces. The Bargello has Donatello’s ‘David.’ And the list goes on. Outside museums, there are the remnants of the time when the Medici family ruled Florence – from the Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace and the bridge over the Ponte Vecchio in between.

Florence is a must-see city for any art lover, but its delights reach far beyond the museums and galleries. According to some, the city itself is a piece of art. Have you heard of Stendhal syndrome, that supposed illness that causes sufferers to grow faint at the sight of great beauty? It also goes by the name ‘Florence syndrome,’ as it was first coined after 19th century visitors to Florence were overcome. These days, you’re just as likely to see unbalanced tourists stumbling through the city on a pub crawl as you are visitors taken aback by the sheer volume of art Florence holds, but whichever side draws you more, Florence is one of the big three stops in a tour of Italy.



Be aware that Florence is one of those cities that’s busy year-round with foreign tourists and Italian visitors, so expect plenty of people around whenever you are there, and don’t be surprised if you have to queue to get in to see some of the more popular places of interest.

Rail Travel Times:

Milan to Florence: 1 hr 37 mins (booking required); 6 hrs
Rome to Florence: 1 hr 32 mins (booking required); 3 hrs 36 mins
Venice to Florence: 1 hr 3 mins (booking required); 4 hrs 13 mins



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Florence: See and Do

Florence is one of the few cities around the world whose entire historical centre is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its museums, palaces, and churches house some of the greatest artistic treasures in the world. The most popular and important of these include the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Bargello, and the Accademia. The churches of Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce are veritable art galleries, and the library of San Lorenzo is a magnificent exhibition of Michelangelo’s architectural genius. If all this sounds up your street, be sure to set aside time to see the vast and varied art collection housed in the Pitti Palace. When you grow weary of museums and monuments, you can head outdoors. Spend a day at the Boboli Gardens or climb the hill to the church of San Miniato al Monte to experience an enchanting view of Florence.

The main railway station is in the north west of the city, it takes around 15 minutes to walk into the central city area from it. Maps of the city are avaible at the railway station. The historic centre of Florence is easily walkable, so as long as you stay in the centre you’ll be able to get to all the main sights on foot. Whether you are a first timer or you’ve visited Florence before, we recommend a wander through some of the oldest streets in the city until you reach the Arno River, cross the Ponte Vecchio, and experience the newest area of Florence, the Oltrarno.

What we’ve listed here are the key activities and places that will give you a taste of what Florence is all about. If your time in Florence allows you to see more, we recommend you check out the Visit Florence website for itineraries and further suggestions.

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