Florence holidays
The cradle of the Renaissance, Florence is one of Europe’s most beautiful and romantic cities. Take in Brunelleschi’s bricked cathedral dome which dominates city and sky, and beside it, the marble-clad Baptistery. Wander around the medieval Ponte Vecchio as it rises over the Arno River and take in the ornate frescos that are sprinkled liberally around town.
Fall in love with Florence
Fall in love with Florence – no one is immune to this city’s countless charms. Estimated to have the highest concentration of art in the world, enjoy a glimpse of Renaissance riches.
Whether it’s San Lorenzo Basilica’s grand library, the marble statuary of the Cappelle Medicee and the Galleria dell’Accademia where you’ll spot Michelangelo's David, the decorated chapels of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella or the traditional trattorias serving Tuscan treats and wine, Florence is a song for the soul. Book flights to Florence and and stay in a hotel with Medici-levels of opulence.
Carefully selected Florence hotels
Best hotels in Florence for all types of traveller
Beside the Arno River and just steps from the city’s museums, Berchielli brims with character, from a lobby with antique stained glass to a rooftop bar. Centrally located by the Piazza di San Firenze, the opulent Bernini Palace is in a 15th Century castle that was once a meeting place for government. Set in a quiet pedestrian plaza, Brunelleschi overlooks the cathedral and is close to restaurants and museums. Inside you’ll find four-poster beds, a glass staircase and a museum. The romantic Hotel Calzaiuoli is located on a narrow and popular pedestrianised street, close to some of the best shopping and historic spots in Florence.
Florence holiday FAQs
- Dotted around Florence are tiny holes in walls called wine windows. Used as serving hatches for wine during the 1600s when the plague tore through Florence, they allowed people to continue buying their much-loved, tax-free wines. These days you’ll find many still serve wine and gelato.
- You can’t miss it in every sense of the meaning – it’s big, bold and beautiful and shouts from the skyline of Florence. Known locally as just Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is immediately recognisable by its red-brick cupola, still one of the largest church domes in the world.
- While at the Duomo, check out its museum, Opera del Duomo, which describes its incredible construction. For a closer look inside the dome, you can climb the 463 steps.
- Alongside the cathedral dome is the bell tower, the Campanile, which features bas-reliefs, carvings, figures of prophets and Sibyls, and more.
- The Uffizi Gallery is home to one of the world’s greatest collections of Italian Renaissance art and occupies a vast U-shaped Palazzo which was originally government offices. Its impressive collection was donated to the city by the Medici family on the condition it never leaves Florence. Its collection includes works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael and Caravaggio.
- The striking green and white marble Basilica di Santa Maria Novella dates from the 13th to 15th Century and encompasses a whole monastical complex of church cloisters and a chapel with frescos. The mesmerising basilica is packed with artworks, including by Brunelleschi and Giotto.
- Palazzo Vecchio, found in Piazza della Signoria, is the city hall. It’s immediately recognisable thanks to its crenellations and (almost) 100m tower. Completed in the 14th Century, it’s rammed with artworks. It also features a ‘secret’ passage into the palace, Dante’s death mask, prison cells as well as Michelangelo’s Genius of Victory sculpture inside its incredible painted halls.
- The Cappelle Medicee is a chapel with the second-largest dome in Florence and because of that, often gets overlooked. If you decide to head there, you’ll be rewarded with floor-to-ceiling marble, frescos, jewels and more – head to its smaller chapel to find statues by Michelangelo.
- San Marco Museum sits in the heart of Florence’s university area adjoining the 15th Century Dominican Monastery and today is one of Florence’s greatest museums. It contains frescos and religious paintings – some with scary demonic depictions.
- Galleria dell’Academia is known as the home of one of the Renaissance’s most iconic masterpieces, Michelangelo’s David. Expect queues, but it’s worth it as you make out the craftmanship that went into a statue crafted from a single block of marble – you can pick out details such as muscles and veins. Adjacent rooms contain works by Orcagna, Gaddi, Botticelli and Lippi.
- Head for San Lorenzo to find the Mercato Centrale with two floors of food stalls and eateries offering fresh ingredients and street food. Expect to find anything from truffles to gelato.
- With hundreds of years of well-preserved history, this UNESCO World Heritage city is as sublime as it is bedazzling, with achingly beautiful detail from its churches to its galleries. Here’s just a handful of Florence’s sweet spots:
- Centro Storico is the historic centre where you’ll find lots of medieval buildings and is understandably popular with visitors.
- On the opposite side of the Arno River, you’ll find the more relaxed, authentic and slightly bohemian feel of Oltrarno. It’s known for artisan workshops and lots of trattorias, osterias, and wine bars, plus the grand Pitti Palace and the gorgeous Boboli Gardens are based here. The time-themed L’Orologio Florence is close to the river. You’ll find horological details throughout, from the Rolex sign in the lobby to its watch-themed bathroom taps, and it’s just a ten-minute stroll to the Uffizi Gallery.
- Santa Croce, to the east of the historic centre, boasts the Basilica di Santa Croce, housing the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo. The area around Piazza Santa Croce is packed with eateries offering traditional cuisine, as well as some decent bars. A great riverside option is the boutique Hotel Balestri, offering stellar views from its small rooftop terrace that overlooks the city’s rooftops and domes.
- The perfect spot for an upscale meal is the bustling Piazza della Signoria. If you want an extra special candlelit dinner head to Via de’ Tornabuoni, which is also a great place for high-end shopping and chic bars.
- Few cities on earth sing romance quite like Florence. This UNESCO-inscribed historic city is crammed with Renaissance treasures and offers incredible traditional, earthy cuisine, and wonderful local wines making it perfect for a city break or a romantic tryst.
- Perfect for the hungry weekend explorer and lovebirds alike, the Anglo American Hotel Florence Curio Collection is just outside the city centre, meaning things are a little quieter at this upmarket stay. Inside, there are nods to art deco, while its bar and restaurant offer traditional Tuscan delights.
- If you fancy tarrying in Tuscany, why not book a Florence holiday and explore surrounding small towns like San Gimignano and Siena, while lovers of vineyards will enjoy a trip to the picturesque Chianti Hills. Tucked among paradisical gardens and boasting aristocratic splendour, Villa Cora is an opulent 19th Century noble estate, complete with frescos, gardens and a spa.
- Finally, don’t let the thought of Florence being too pricey put you off. If it’s a cheap holiday you’re after, why not consider the centrally located yet affordable Renaissance gem Botticelli? With its frescos and ribbed vaults, it’s just moments from the Duomo, Medici Chapels and Uffizi Gallery.
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