Luxury Apartments in Florence

About Florence

We would argue that Florence needs no introduction. Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy. It is also Italy’s most populated city and is widely considered by academics to have been the birthplace of the Renaissance. Since 1982, it has also been one of Italy’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is famous for its culture, art, architecture, museums, and monuments.

What to see and do in Florence

There is no shortage of things to see and do in Florence. Even if you had a week in the city, you couldn’t do it justice. However, a good starting point for any visit to Florence is its central square – the Piazza del Duomo. This is home not just to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore but also to Giotto’s Campanile and the Baptistry, famous for its bronze doors. We recommend you head either to the top of the Campanile or the Duomo as both offer incredible views over the city below.

Next on your list of things to do in Florence must be visits to some of the many museums that the city is home to. In total there are over 70 museums in Florence if you include galleries, church and private collections. Some of the most famous include the Uffizi, Museo dell’ Opera, Palazzo Vecchio and Galleria dell’ Accademia. We would also recommend visiting the most stunning reading room at the Laurentian Library. There are a number of monuments and statues to admire outdoors to such as those in the Piazza della Signoria. And many of the churches in Florence are home to incredible paintings, frescoes and other works of art. Some of our favourites include the Basilica di Santa Croce, the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella and the Basilico di Santo Spirito.

As with any city, there are lots of opportunities to enjoy some shopping in Florence too. Head to the markets in Florence to enjoy the best of Tuscan food and crafts. The Mercato Centrale is the largest. But there are many others including the Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio and the Porcellino market. Or discover one of the markets that the locals use such as the one in Santo Spirito.

Alternatively, enjoy a stroll along the Ponte Vecchio, home to a number of jewellery businesses. Or check out the designer stores on the Via de’ Tornabuoni. Whatever you do, don’t miss a trip to our favourite pharmacy in the world – the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella – which is also the world’s oldest pharmacy.

If the weather is nice, then it’s also well worth visiting the many parks and gardens in Florence too. The Boboli Gardens, the Giardino delle Rose and the Giardino Bardini are our favourites. The latter is particularly worth a visit for the views over the city thanks to its elevated position in the Oltrarno district of the city.

Our Florence travel guide will provide more inspiration if you’re planning a trip to Italy’s most beautiful city as will our 48 hours in Florence guide.

When to visit Florence

Just as there is no shortage of things to see and do in Florence, there is no bad time to visit the city either. After all, even if the weather isn’t on your side, there are plenty of things to do in Florence when it’s raining.

That said, if you do visit in the peak Summer months, be prepared to have to cope with soaring temperatures. Average temperatures in the city in July and August may be 25 degrees, but this will feel much hotter. And in reality, the city frequently sees those numbers exceed 30 in the peak Summer months.

We would instead recommend visiting Florence in the Spring, Autumn and even Winter months. Sightseeing is more pleasant when it’s that bit cooler. And you’ll also typically find visitor numbers are fewer too so you will have less need to queue.