Introduction
Florence, Tuscany‘s regional capital, is located on the banks of the River Arno in the centre of the Italian Peninsula. Considered the finest product of the Italian Renaissance, Florence's historic city centre is filled with countless monuments, works of art and inhabited by some of Italy's most cosmopolitan and glamorous residents, Italian designer Gucci included.
Highlights in Florence include the Galleria degli Uffizi, with its artworks by Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci; the Duomo Cathedral, topped with Brunelleschi's extravagant dome and the bustling Piazza della Signoria, where some of the city's finest dining can be found.
The Tuscan countryside surrounding Florence is ideal for self-drive excursions to the neighbouring towns and cities of Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano and Pisa, as well as for further exploration of the Chianti Wine Region, all of which are just a short drive away.
It is also possible to combine a visit to Florence with a twin-centre holiday in a one of Italy's other city gems such as Rome or Sorrento.
