Florence

On the banks of the Arno River in Tuscany, you’ll find a city that has shaped almost every aspect of modern Western civilization. Florence is the home of the Renaissance, a city bursting with cultural, historical, and political significance. One could spend a lifetime here and come away yearning for more.

Between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, Florence was perhaps the most significant city in the world, and certainly in Europe. This is where opera and ballet were first performed. Dante, Galileo, Machiavelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinco are just a handful of the figures whose lives revolved around Florence. Florentine banks financed an age of exploration into the New World, and families like the Medicis laid the foundations for new ways of doing politics.

On your trip to Florence, you’ll visit a cascade of museums, art galleries, churches, and basilicas. The iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, centuries-old, is just one of a countless number of striking buildings that cobble together to form Florence’s facade. The Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s best-attended art museum, commands a few hours of your attention, if not a full day. The Piazzale Michelangelo in the Oltrarno district offers views across the entire city. If fashion is your thing, the houses of   Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Emilio Pucci, Gherardini are sure to keep you occupied. 

All this exploration requires good fuel, and this is one area where Florence truly shines. The coffee here is unparalleled, and along with incredible sandwiches and gelato, you’ll be all set for hours of sightseeing.

After a day of wandering Florence’s streets, gazing at sublime architecture, and taking in Renaissance masterpieces, there’s no better way to wind down than with a glass of Tuscan wine. Florence is a city where culture is distilled, condensed, and packed tightly into the winding streets and enchanting piazzas. Once you see Florence, you’ll never forget it.

Read More