Vacation Packages to Florence

General Information of Florence

Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region, is a city located in the north of central Italy, where it shares proximity with Milan, Rome, and Venice. It is considered by many travelers the cradle of the Renaissance since this artistic movement originated within it. Today it has more than 378,239 inhabitants. During medieval times it bordered as a center of trade and culture for all of Italy.

For this reason, its historic center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982, since it is possible to find works such as the Santa María del Fiore or the Palazzo Vecchio. In fact, tourists often depend on Florence as a living museum, due to the large number of works of art that are housed in its buildings.

In addition, the history of the city of Florence does not begin in the Middle Ages but was founded by Julius Caesar in the year 59 BC.

Main Attractions of Florence

Here we mention the main attractions and monuments of Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance:

1. Piazzale Michelangelo: It is located south of the Arno River. Thousands of tourists come to its top to contemplate the city from above or enjoy a beautiful sunset.
2. Florence Cathedral: This cathedral is a world-renowned building for its dome, the work of Brunelleschi, which is the highest point in the Tuscan city.
3. Piazza della Signoria: The most important square in the city, which functions as an open-air museum due to the sculptures and monuments that stand there.
4. Uffizi Gallery: One of the most important art galleries in the world today, it has paintings such as the Birth of Venus.

What to See and Do in Florence

Florence is a city characterized by offering travelers multiple options for entertainment and learning. Here we will mention some of them:

1. Florence city tours: There are multiple ways to tour this Tuscan city. Among them, it is possible to find half-day guided tours that will take you to the main attractions.
2. Visit the museums: Without a doubt, if you visit the cradle of the Renaissance, you should go to its different museums. We can mention some such as the Galleria dell’ Accademia, where the famous statue of David is located, or the Palazzo Pitti, a specialized art museum.
3. Wine tasting on the outskirts of the city: One of the alternatives to the city of Florence is to take a tour of the outskirts in search of top-quality gastronomic experiences, among which we highlight wine tasting (remember that the Italian countryside is a specialist in this drink).
4. Visit the cathedrals and basilicas: The religious monuments are undoubtedly part of the typical landscape of the cradle of the Renaissance. Among them, we highlight the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Flor and the Basilica of Santa Croce, famous for their peculiar and striking architectural style. The latter, inside, houses the so-called pantheon of artists, where you will find paintings by personalities such as Donatello or Giotto.

How to Get to Florence?

Here we will mention to you how to get to Florence.

You can get to Florence by plane: The Tuscan city has the Florence Amerino Vespucci Airport, located 4 km from the city center, and the Pisa Galileo Airport, 80 km away.

Besides, you can go to Florence by train: Traveling to Florence by train is the most preferred way among tourists since the city is located in the center of the Naples-Milano railway line. The main train stations there are Firenze Santa Maria Novella and Firenze Campo di Marte.

Moreover, you can get to Florence by car: To go to the city, you must take the A1 or A11 motorway. In case you do not want to pay tolls, you can use the state highways, which are in a good state of conservation.

Best Time to Travel to Florence

The best time to visit Florence is between April and May or mid-September. If you suffer from hot weather, we recommend that you do not go between July and August due to the high temperatures in the area. From November to March there is a low season, so you can find more accommodation offers, but more closed businesses.

How to Get Around in Florence?

To get around Florence, we recommend doing it on foot or by public bus, since the monuments of historical and cultural interest are just a few meters away. It is possible to buy subscription tickets to pay for transport, which guarantees discounts and time of use from their validation. General tickets cost around €1.20 and €2.

What to Eat in Florence?

We recommend you eat the typical dishes of Tuscan cuisine, one of the most important in Italian cuisine. It is characterized by its ingredients from the Mediterranean, sausages, meats, and flours. Some of the traditional Florentine dishes are the trippa alla Florentina, the bistecca alla Florentina, the antipasto of the area, the crostini di fegato, and the Tuscan bread, among others. We also recommend that you try the ice cream in Florence, notable for its flavor worldwide.