Florence
Few cities are as jam-packed with sights as Florence. The birthplace of the renaissance contains so many works by the Italian masters that a stroll through the centro storico is like walking through the pages of an art-history textbook. But Florence is also a city of the here and now, with some of Italy’s best shopping and dining. Put on your walking shoes and get ready to explore the romantic epicenter of Western art.
Activities and Attractions:
Michelangelo’s David is the first Italian many visitors to Florence meet. You’ll find him in the Academy Gallery, a museum packed with many treasures sometimes overlooked in the rush to see the famous marble. The Uffizi Gallery, with its unmatched collection of renaissance masterpieces, also warrants as much time as you can give it.
The centerpiece of the city is the Duomo, the magnificent cathedral capped by Brunelleschi’s famous 295-foot dome. You’ll find it right next to the skyline’s other icon, the 276-foot Campanile (bell tower) di Giotto. Climb it for a postcard view of the whole of Florence. Also not to be missed is the Baptistery. The interior is studded with mosaics that are amazing by themselves, but the real attraction is Ghiberti's famed doors. It took the artist 48 years to complete them, and when he was done, none other than Michelangelo described them as something befitting the entrance to paradise.
Break with the past by exploring some of the city’s modern shopping districts. High-end boutiques—Gucci, Armani, Ferragamo—surround the Piazza Santa Trinita. Via Tornabuoni and Via della Vigna Nuova are the best places in the city to buy shoes, bags, and other leather goods. Via Maggio is the destination for antiques (and by antiques, we mean furniture that’s centuries old), and the historic Ponte Vecchio area is home to silver and gold jewelry markets.
It can be difficult to try to cram everything you want to see into your vacation, but avoid the temptation to gain time by skimping on meals. Sample as many of the local delicacies as you can. Tuscan food relies on grilled and wine-braised meats, especially from game animals such as boar, venison, and rabbit. White beans are a classic regional side dish. To accompany your meal, try a dry white vernaccia di San Gimignano, or a red morellino di Scansano, both local vintages.
Hilly olive gardens cradle Florence on two sides, beckoning you to explore the surrounding Tuscan countryside. Obviously you’ll cover the most ground in a car, but consider biking or hiking at least some of the scenic landscape—that way you’ll have really worked up an appetite by the time you stumble upon the perfect little village osteria. For a real indulgence, drift over vineyards and olive trees in a hot air balloon. However you discover Tuscany, seeing how Italians really live is a fascinating counterpoint to the art-history lesson that is Florence.
Insider Tip:
July and August are popular times to visit Florence—which is why savvy travelers avoid the city then. August is probably the worst time to visit, as it’s the hottest month, and most Florentines take their own vacations then, leaving Florence to overheated tourists. Mild weather makes late spring and early fall the very best times to visit.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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