Florence is a small city carrying an outsized art historical weight, the Renaissance effectively started here, and the concentration of masterpieces within its compact centre is unmatched anywhere in the world. It rewards slow, deliberate visits over rushed checklists.
The Duomo and Piazzale Michelangelo
Brunelleschi's dome, still the largest masonry dome ever built, is climbable via a narrow spiral staircase, book the timed-entry ticket weeks ahead, as it's one of the most restricted sights in the city. The view from the top, out over the terracotta rooftops to the surrounding hills, justifies the 463 steps.
For the classic postcard view of the whole city and the Arno, walk or take the bus up to Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset, it gets crowded, but the view of the Duomo's dome and the Ponte Vecchio catching the last light is worth sharing the space.
The Uffizi and Beyond
The Uffizi Gallery holds Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera along with an overwhelming survey of Renaissance masters, book tickets online for a specific time slot to skip the queue, which can run to two hours in peak season.
The Oltrarno, across the river from the main tourist circuit, has Florence's best artisan workshops (leather, paper, jewellery) still practising trades passed down for generations, plus a noticeably better and cheaper concentration of trattorias.
Recommended Stay · Florence · Near Ponte Vecchio
Portrait Firenze
A Ferragamo-family property on the Arno with rooms looking directly onto the Ponte Vecchio, the rooftop restaurant has one of the best dinner views of any hotel in the city.
