Florence

Florence is a town of 358,079 inhabitants in the province of Florence, in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of Tuscany.

The municipality covers 102.41 km², with a density of 3,497 inhabitants per km².

The nearest airport is Florence (FLR), about 6 km away as the crow flies. Read our guide to the airport.

The cradle of the Renaissance

Florence is where the Renaissance was born, under the patronage of the Medici family, and its historic centre is a UNESCO site packed with masterpieces. Compact and walkable, it can be explored in a few days, but it takes a lifetime to know it.

What to see

The Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore, is crowned by Brunelleschi's dome: climb its 463 steps for a view over the red roofs. Next to it stand Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery with its golden doors. Piazza della Signoria, with Palazzo Vecchio, is the political heart of the city.

The Uffizi Gallery holds Botticelli's Birth of Venus and works by Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael, while the Accademia shows Michelangelo's David. Cross the Ponte Vecchio, lined with goldsmiths' shops, to reach the Oltrarno, Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. At sunset go up to Piazzale Michelangelo.

Food

Florentine steak, ribollita and pappa al pomodoro, lampredotto sandwiches from street stalls, cantucci with vin santo and the Chianti wines of the hills.

Around Florence

Fiesole on the hill, Chianti, Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lucca are all easy day trips. Florence has a small airport, but most visitors fly to Pisa or Bologna and arrive at Santa Maria Novella station.

Florence on the map

Nearby towns

All towns in the province of Florence →