Explore Florence

A guide to Florence
So beautiful is Florence, so bursting at the seams with breathtakingly gorgeous architecture and works of art that you'd be forgiven for succumbing to Florence Syndrome – the documented phenomenon of visitors being overcome with dizziness or fainting from the sheer surfeit of choice when contemplating all the city has to offer.

Florence lies on the Arno River in the heart of Tuscany, of which it is the capital, and has its place firmly marked in history, first as a centre of trade and finance in medieval Europe, and more famously as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.

At the city's historic heart
With such a rich history, it seems only natural that Florence should house so many exquisite churches, palaces, monasteries, museums and galleries. Possibly the most famous of all its treasures is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, the cathedral church designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and referred to by most as the Duomo, known for its iconic domed cupola, which is to Florence what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.

Start at the Piazza del Duomo and make your way south to the Arno. In this small space you will find breathtaking examples of remarkable art, architecture and engineering, such as Giotto's Campanile, which you can climb for spectacular views of the city.

Art lovers are truly spoiled for choice in Florence's abundance of museums and galleries. If you cannot choose or have very little time, the one place you must see is the vast collection of Italian Renaissance art at the Galleria degli Uffizi, which came into being as Europe's first modern museum when the influential Medici family installed its art collections in this 16th Century building.

Another must-see is Ghiberti's bronze doors at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, copies of which are in place at the Battistero. Lovers of science and technology will want to make time to visit the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, which houses Galileo's own instruments and other reminders of the Renaissance's contribution to our modern world.

The dark and narrow streets in the historic town centre are complemented by the many wide-open and welcoming piazzas that proffer the perfect antidote to art overload – sitting back with a drink to watch the world go by.

North, south, east, west
Florence offers beauty in every corner. North of the Duomo, you will find the superb Galleria dell'Accademia, home to Michelangelo's David, which has be seen to appreciate its sheer majestic scale. The Museo di San Marco and the Cappella dei Magi in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi offer lavish frescoes to linger over, while in San Lorenzo, the unmissable attractions are Michelangelo's Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, and the Cappelle Medicee.

South of the Duomo, you will find the Ponte Vecchio, one of the oldest bridges in Europe. Cross the bridge to the Arno's southern bank and you're in the Oltrarno, which brings together more testaments to the grandeur of the Medici in the form of the Palazzo Pitti and the sprawling Giardino di Boboli. Other sights to see in the south of the city are the church of Santo Spirito, also designed by Brunelleschi, and the frescoes in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine.

Southeast from the historic center you will find the Santa Croce quarter, which has its origins in the Middle Ages. The basilica of Santa Croce is a centerpiece of the area and houses the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and numerous other heroes of the Renaissance. It is also home to the most important collection of art of any of Florence's many churches.

In the west, near the train station, you'll find the basilica Santa Maria Novella, which offers more beautiful frescoes to admire; the streets surrounding the piazza in this area are home to several of Florence's most tasteful palaces.

Sites with a View
The romanticism of a Florentine view has been immortalised in EM Forster's novel A Room with a View and the Merchant Ivory film of the same name. For a few splendid views over the city aside from that from your hotel window, you can climb to the top of the Duomo or the Giotto Tower, or head to Piazzale Michelangelo in Oltrarno from which point the city spreads out before you - perfect at sunset.