Florence
Within its historic centre - declared a “UNESCO world heritage site” en bloc - Florence contains a unique concentration of historical and artistic attractions. Florence’s labyrinthine plan, made up of alleyways and sidestreets, derives from its medieval origins. Yet the city’s period of maximum splendour was undoubtedly the Renaissance, of which countless masterpieces remain.
With less than four hundred thousand inhabitants and covering an area of little more than a hundred square kilometres, Florence is practically impossible to tour by car, and in fact, the centre is to a large extent prohibited to vehicle traffic. We suggest, if possible, that you tour it on foot, to best enjoy its beauties, but you can also count on quite an efficient public transport network. Taxis and bikes can reach all the strategic points, whereas private cars are usually only allowed into the centre to load and unload your luggage. To find your way around the city, it is a good idea to keep well in mind that Florence is developed along the two banks of the River Arno. All the roads that run alongside the river, on both sides, are called “Lungarno” and it is only the second part of the name that changes. Lungarno degli Archibugieri, for example, is right in the centre: it is there that the Vasari Corridor passes and the Uffizi looks out over it.
The whole area on the other side of the river, to the south, is called “Oltrarno” by the Florentines. It was originally outside the historic centre, but today it contains important attractions, such as Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens and Borgo Santo Spirito, the city’s most bohemian neighbourhood. For decades the Florentine naming system has had a peculiarity that is gradually disappearing, but some traces of it can still be found: the civic numbers, in fact, were divided between “black”, which denoted the residences, and “red”, for businesses. The Tuscan regional capital is one of the cities with the highest tourist density on the entire planet: wherever you wish to visit, book in advance. You should also bear in mind that the serious overcrowding takes place around mid-morning, so if you are an early bird then that could give you a significant advantage.
Points of interest

Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence
indirizzo Ponte Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Firenze, FI, Italia
indirizzo Ponte Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Firenze, FI, Italia

Santa Croce, a monument of eternal fascination
indirizzo Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze, Piazza di Santa Croce, Firenze, FI, Italia
indirizzo Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze, Piazza di Santa Croce, Firenze, FI, Italia

Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence at your feet
indirizzo Piazzale Michelangelo, Piazzale Michelangelo, Firenze, FI, Italia
indirizzo Piazzale Michelangelo, Piazzale Michelangelo, Firenze, FI, Italia

Palazzo Pitti, a palace for three dynasties
indirizzo Palazzo Pitti, Piazza de' Pitti, Firenze, FI, Italia
indirizzo Palazzo Pitti, Piazza de' Pitti, Firenze, FI, Italia

Central Market, an agora for gourmets
indirizzo Mercato Centrale, Via dell'Ariento, Firenze, FI, Italia
indirizzo Mercato Centrale, Via dell'Ariento, Firenze, FI, Italia

The sublime beauty of the Giotto’s Bell Tower
indirizzo Campanile di Giotto, Piazza del Duomo, Firenze, FI, Italia
indirizzo Campanile di Giotto, Piazza del Duomo, Firenze, FI, Italia

The Duomo and the masterpiece of Brunelleschi’s Dome
indirizzo Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza del Duomo, Firenze, FI, Italia
indirizzo Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza del Duomo, Firenze, FI, Italia

Galleria degli Uffizi, great Western art
indirizzo Galleria degli Uffizi, Piazzale degli Uffizi, Firenze, FI, Italia
indirizzo Galleria degli Uffizi, Piazzale degli Uffizi, Firenze, FI, Italia

San Miniato al Monte, between heaven and hearth
indirizzo San Miniato al Monte, Via delle Porte Sante, Firenze, FI, Italia
indirizzo San Miniato al Monte, Via delle Porte Sante, Firenze, FI, Italia

Palazzo Vecchio, the palace of command
indirizzo Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Firenze, FI, Italia
indirizzo Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Firenze, FI, Italia
Go on dreaming
Discovering the Medici’s Landmarks
They are the family responsible for the birth of the Florentine Renaissance. Bankers and skilled politicians, they placed their wealth and power at the...
Museo del Bargello, a treasure chest of sculptures
The Bargello, the oldest public building in Florence, is a real pantheon of Renaissance sculpture where you can move among the masterpieces by Michelangelo,...
Galleria dell’Accademia, all mad about David
The Galleria dell’Accademia offers one of the most important collections of ancient Italian painting, but the long queues of visitors are mostly for Michelangelo.
It...
The Baptistery of San Giovanni, amid faith, art and history
Universally recognised as one of the locations symbolising the city, consecrated in 1059 in honour of its patron, Saint John, the Baptistery of San...
Strolling through San Frediano
The district of San Frediano stretches, broadly speaking, from Porta San Frediano to Ponte alla Carraia. It is here, over the last twenty years,...
Shopping at the artisans’ workshops in Oltrarno
From a recent census, it seems that there are around 800 artisans’ workshops in the Oltrarno. Via Maggio, in particular, traditionally a temple for...