Florence is the capital city of the Italian Tuscan region. This city was the center of European trade and finance during the medieval period. Most critics consider Florence as the birth place of the Renaissance (a period in the European history between 14TH and the 17TH centuries) and is sometimes dubbed as the cradle of renaissance for its churches, monuments and the buildings. Florence houses the famous Historic Center of Florence which is a world UNESCO heritage site. Florence is world renowned for numerous museums, renaissance art & architecture, art galleries and monuments. Occupies a pivotal position in the Italian fashion and is ranked in the top 15 fashion capitals of the world. If you are a US citizen you don’t need a Visa to get around Italy as a tourist, all that’s required is a valid Blue passport and a TSA document such as a US Driver’s license to land in this country for the purpose of tourism, allows stay for up to 90 days without a visa.When you are flying into Florence you will be either landing in Florence Airport (FLR), only international airport in Florence also known as Amerigo Vespucci Airport, or in Pisa International airport, also known as Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa (PSA).
Must-see Landmark attractions
When you are in Florence we have a bucket list of things for you to do. To get the best out of your holidaying in Florence you must visit the Piazza della Signoria market square and take a close up of its fountain of Neptune and the statue of Perseus. We also recommend visiting the Basilica of Santa Croce and the popular Urfizi gallery. The two things that you cannot miss in Florence are crossing the Ponte Vecchio Bridge and experiencing the evening sunsets at Piazzale Michelangelo. If you have time then consider visiting the Palaza Borghese which is considered as one of the most important palaces of the neo classical era. Take snapshots of all the attractions to treasure picture perfect memories of your trip to Florence.
Climate
Florence has a transitional Mediterranean climate with relatively mild winters and hot summers. The peak season to visit Florence is Summer time: June, July and August, this season records a maximum tourist footfall in Florence when compared to other seasons.
Food & Wine
The Italian cuisine is highly dominated by three regional cuisines originating from Tuscany, Piedmont and Sicily. Food in renaissance Tuscany is characterized by simple food without any sauces and the intriguing thing is in Tuscan cuisine olive oil is used instead of butter and while making salads olive oil is used for dressing it.
The popular food items that are a must-try when you get here are
- Lampredotto sandwich- a regional food item, it is the fourth stomach of the cow which is cooked in a broth and served with sauce
- Crostoni Toscani- a bread similar to a baguette
- Panzanella – a bread salad
- Ribollita (soup)
The wines in Florence
Florence is popular for its famous sangiovese based red wines originating from three major wine producing regions: Chianti region (in South of Florence), Carmignano region (west of Florence) and Bolgheri region (southwest of Florence). Your trip to Florence is incomplete if you don’t take a wine tour in one of the cantinas (wine cellar) of Florence to get an insight on the whole complex procedure involved in wine making, expect to sample free tastes of the various wines produced at these cantinas.
Getting around Florence
The best way to get around Florence is by foot, it only takes 30 minutes to cover the entire city by foot and the other option is to use the public transportation mode- ATAF bus. Considering the city’s small extent in area, most guided tours are done by walking and we recommend buying a Florence City Pass for your sightseeing activities which includes guided tour of Florence along with free entry to most iconic Florence attractions.
