Florence

Arts & Culture

Museums/Galleries: Above all sits the Uffizi gallery and its stunning, world famous art collections, 13thC Bargello Museum, housing superb Renaissance sculptures, the Accademia including Michelangelo's David, Palazzo Pitti's modern art, and the city hall - Palazzo Vecchio.

In June for classical music in classical settings, the Tavernelle Val di Pasta concerts take place in a lovely monastery and Vaglia concerts in Villa Demidoff.

Night Club/Live Music: Truthfully, this is not really a club kind of place, and is discouraged by the city council. Florence doesn’t offer the best of the night time but in summer, you can try the Central Park set in a huge outdoor area enclosed by bamboos and bars, Anfiteatro, good value and hip Le Murate, set in an ex-prison.

One of Europe's most beautiful, walkable city centers and the capital of Tuscany, Florence contains some incredible artistic wonders and endless spectacular interiors, thanks largely to the Medici family.

Highlights

Florence is one of those cities that is so packed with sights that you shouldn't try to absorb it in one go. So relax, take little steps and explore this beautiful town.
Number one sight has to be the amazing, pink white and green Duomo cathedral and Giotto's beautifully decorated Campanile tower that offers great city views. Piazza della Signoria with its Palazzo Vecchio and the famous Uffizi gallery are not to be misses so is the nearby 14thC bridge—Ponte Vecchio with its jewelry shops.
Other great churches are Santa Croce, with San Lorenzo not far behind and palaces galore, from the largest and most colorful, the Strozzi, to the Pitti with an interior as lavish as its art collection. It has a stunning park, the Boboli Gardens, where you'll need to lie down for a while before going back for more.

Best of Italy

Things to do in Florence

Don’t Miss

Puccini Opera Festival happens on the shore of Lake Massaciuccoli July - mid August. An open theatre with a stage looking out onto a brilliant lake and the Appenin mountains in the background – is there a more ideal atmosphere for the enjoyment of an opera festival? Located just a stone’s throw from the villa and the mausoleum of the maestro himself, the Festival Puccini is a true atmosphere of inspiration. Puccini himself wrote of the Torre del Lago, “highest joy…paradise…Eden”. In fulfillment of Puccini’s last wishes, that here at one time his operas be performed, Puccini’s librettist Gioacchino Forzano organized a performance of La Bohème in 1930 and Madame Butterfly in 1931. This was the beginning of the Festival Puccini, as until today the stars of modern day opera wouldn’t miss this event for the world.

Cuisine

Naturally touristy locations are stuffed with poor value, poor quality food, so for a decent meal look for a place where locals are eating and eat traditional dishes - which should be decently priced.
Beware rip-offs. A certain trattoria beside the Ponte Vecchio, Lungarno, for example, posts an attractive menu outside then presents a totally different one inside.
Try Michelin-starred Enoteca Pinchiorri (expensive), or Il Pizzaiuolo for good value Neapolitan pizzas, and Da Ruggero trattoria for local food at local prices.

Shopping

A terrific shopping city, with the famous Italian brands at accessible prices, fake Italian brands at astounding prices and a gorgeous environment in which to window shop.
The starting point has to be Ponte Vecchio's jewelry shops, then, for designer shops just wander around Via Tornabuoni, Via Roma, Via della Vigna Nuova and Marcato Centrale along with all the Japanese travelers.

TIP: If you want to save money on designers labels visit the Mall Fashion Outlets with discount outlets, outside of Florence. You'll find fabulous designer clothing and pay up to 50% less for the world’s most prestigious designer labels.

Best Time to Visit

From May-June and Sept-Oct. In July and Aug is hot and crowded.

Recommended

Make a reservation for Uffizi Gallery The booking service is available at the two information desks in the Pitti Palace and in the reception area of the New Uffizi, and via a telephone booking centre.

The information and booking desks are open during the museum opening times (from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8.30 to 19.00); the telephone booking centre (+39 (0)55 294883) is open from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 18.30 and on Saturdays from 8.30 to 12.30.
Visiting either of the two information desks or phoning the booking centre, you will receive free information on opening times, exhibitions, admission charges as well as being able to book a visit in any of the Firenze Musei museums.
There is a booking and advance sales charge of Euro 3.00. Booking will only be considered confirmed after payment has taken place.
Booking means reducing waiting times to the minimum, and avoiding the queues that often characterize a visit to major museums and galleries. You can find more information at www.firenzemusei.it

More Information

Comune di Firenze The City of Florence official city portal with visitors information, city map, tourist attractions and more.

Galleria degli Uffizi, Firenze The Uffizi Gallery, Florence - shows artworks of Leonardo, Giotto, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Tiziano, Tintoretto, Caravaggio and many others.

Day trips

There are many beautiful views and villages out in the Tuscan countryside, exemplified by the Mugello region northeast of the city. Visit Medici's Villa della Petraia or Lorenzo's Villa di Castello, both just to the north.
South of Florence is the tranquil city of Fiesole. The Estate Fiesolana performing arts festival takes place in July and August. Pisa is only an hour away by train.

Festivals and Events

Florence, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Italy's oldest music event that focuses on contemporary and forgotten operas in visually dramatic productions. It now takes place between late April, May and into June, typically with four operas. Website: www.maggiofiorentino.com/

Other events include: Art and craft fair Fortezza da Basso, International Iris Competition in Piazzale Michelangelo, carpet of flowers covering the main square, Piazza della Signoria, and the area around the neighbouring Uffizi, Fabbrica Europa festival with dance, theatre, music, architecture and visual arts in old Stazione Leopolda, and many more.

Opera Festival in Florence and Tuscany It takes place in Florence at Boboli Gardens and Villa Medici of Cafaggiolo and in Siena at San Galgano Abbey. Website: Opera Festival Website

Florence and Tuscany – Culture, perfumes and wines

This month Florence offers something for every taste, from free Jazz in Piazza Annunziata (Jazz in Florence Website) , fragrances (showcases the most exclusive creations in the field of artistic perfumery and is the only event of its kind in Europe) held in the elegant gardens of Palazzo Corsini, Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Antiquariato, the oldest antiques show in Italy in Palazzo Corsini, Lungarno Corsini as well as the Festa della Rificolona (Festival of Lanterns), a cultural event that take place in Piazza Annunziata, along the Arno River and in all four quarters of the city.

Greve Chianti Classico Festival and Chianti Grape Harvest Festival (Festa del Uva in Impruneta, Italy in September (final Sunday of every September) are two wine festivals not to be missed.

La Giostra della Stella. Four neighborhoods in the nearby town of Bagno a Ripoli compete in a tournament that incorporates everything from a three-legged race to feats of skill on galloping horses. Citizens parade in Renaissance costumes. Fireworks conclude the festivities. Bagno a Ripoli is 15 minutes from Florence by car.

For more information about these and other events, please visit www.italiantourism.com.

NOTE: Before planning a trip around a festival, make sure that you verify the festival dates at the festival website.