Florence may be small, but the bucket-list worthy Italian city is packed with can’t-miss sights and attractions. If you’re interested in art, culture and history, Florence should be near the top of your must-visit list.
The capital of the Tuscan region of Italy, Florence is easily accessible from other parts of Italy as well as from Europe. Once you’re there, getting around is easy – the city’s main historic centre is fairly compact so you can see a lot on foot. Public transportation is also an option and the buses are widely used throughout the city.
There is so much to see in Florence, it’s best to leave yourself time to appreciate it all, rather than having to rush. Make a stop at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the top art museums in the world, and the most visited in Italy with 1.5 million coming through the doors each year. Here you’ll find several important works including Botticelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus, and Filippino Lippi’s Madonna and Child with Two Angels. See Michelangelo’s Davidat the Accademia Gallery, and take in the impressive collection of renaissance and baroque art in the Palatine Gallery at the Pitti Palace.
Everywhere you look in Florence you’ll find beautiful architecture, making it an ideal city for walking. Have your camera ready as the city is often referred to as an open-air museum. Other must-dos include taking a cooking class and doing some shopping. You can find everything from contemporary fashions to antiques to food markets worth a visit.
Get a feel for Florence with some photos that help show off its beauty.
Featured image: Jiuguang Wang used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license
