Peretola Arpt

Join them on Florence holidays and see for yourself what impact Florence has made on the arts and continues to make today on fashion, food and culture. The centre of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Piazza della Signoria is a good place to start a tour of the city on your Florence city breaks. Stroll through this, one of Florence’s most important squares, to visit the Uffizi Museum. Walk through the Piazzi San Giovanni and visit the cathedral, one of the most eye-catching jewels in Florence’s crown. Don’t miss the view from the Ponte Vecchio, an ancient bridge overlooking Florence’s jewellery quarter. Visit Santa Croce, the Gothic church which boasts frescoes by Giotto and Gaddi as well as sculpture by Donatello. The church is surrounded by a lovely courtyard. San Lorenzo Chapel is designed by Brunelleschi and is home to Michelangelo’s Laurentian Library. The Basilica de San Lorenzo is the oldest church in Florence and is a perfectly symmetrical and regular building. The Medici Chapels are part of the complex of San Lorenzo and are the tombs of the Medici family with sculpture by Michelangelo. Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, a Renaissance plaza, is home to several important buildings - Brunelleschi's Ospedale degli Innocenti and Michelozzo's Church of the Santissima Annunziata among others. Visit the medieval Palazzo del Bargello which is home to the Bargello Museum, packed with sculptures by Donatello and Michelangelo and other greats. Other top sights are the Palazzo Vecchio and the Palazzo Rucellai. The Palazzo Vecchio is an important civic building and now a museum with several important works of art. Sample some rich Italian delicacies on your Florence holidays. Local specialities include fine cheeses and grilled meats along with white beans cooked with olive oil. Thick, hearty soups are staple Tuscan fare and the Chianti wine is served in most restaurants in Florence. Eat in one of Florence’s simple family-run restaurants or visit a designer eaterie for a gourmet feed. Florence is also home to numerous bars and cafes for sitting and watching the world go by. In the evening time, smartly-dressed locals parade through the elegant streets and get ready for their evening meal.

About Florence

Find hotels in Florence in every price range, from the super-luxurious to the budget choice. There’s a choice of hotels in Florence in the historic centre, close to the main sights, bars and restaurants, making Florence an easy city to navigate by foot. Take some time to explore the shops and boutiques down Florence’s narrow streets. If you have time, Florence is the ideal gateway for trips into the Chianti area and the stunning Tuscany countryside with its hill towns and vineyards. Attractions: The cathedral, or the Duomo, is an imposing building covered with coloured marble. The cathedral’s Cupola dome is one of the most striking features on the Florence skyline and a picturesque stop for photographs. Admire the structure from the ground or climb the many steps to reach the top and an amazing view over Florence. There are some important sculptures inside the cathedral and the stained glass windows also draw admiring visitors. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most famous museums in the world, and a must-see on Florence city breaks. The museum houses collections of masterpieces from the 13th to the 18th century, by such artists as Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Goya. Visit the Vasari Corridor that connects the Uffizi Museum with the Pitti Palace. This corridor boasts a strong collection of self-portraits by famous artists. The corridor takes you over the Ponte Vecchio, the Old Bridge, with its view over the jewellery shops. Palazzo Pitti is famous for its gardens and its museums. The palace houses the Palatina Gallery, the Silver Museum and the Modern Art Gallery. Its Boboli Gardens are intricate and expansive and were used as a basis for royal gardens in Europe, including the gardens at Versailles. Another gallery highlight is the Academy Gallery which boasts the famous “David” sculpture by Michelangelo as well as many other important sculptures and paintings. The National Museum, or Il Bargello, is set in one of Florence’s oldest buildings and is famous for its sculpture collection that fills its courtyard and interior. The Museum of San Marco is a former convent and a good example of 15th-century architecture.

When to go

If you visit Florence at the height of summer you’re likely to experience high temperatures and high humidity – July and August are the hottest months and the average high temperature reaches 31 degrees C. The afternoons are sometimes punctuated by thunderstorms. Many Italians escape the city heat for properties in the countryside and some businesses are closed in high summer. Winter in Florence is cool and can be wet and the average temperature in January ranges between 1 and 10 degrees C. It doesn’t often snow in Florence. Spring and autumn are good times to visit Florence if you are prepared for a little rain.