by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:9th March 2018

Tuscany’s Renaissance charm …

Our spring break in 2011 was to the beautiful city of Florence in the heart of Tuscany. The lure of the ancient cobbled streets, the imposing Duomo, and the medieval Ponte Vecchio were sights I couldn’t wait to see and experience. And yes, of course, the delicious Italian food.

Not only were Gary and I going to discover Florence during our long weekend, but we also knew that Pisa was just a short train journey away, so we were definitely going to include a visit there as well.

After sitting down together and browsing through our travel books, we made a hit list of places in Florence we’d like to visit. Since this is Italy, we wanted to dig deeper into the historical stories it holds.
 
We knew we were in for a treat.

The pin image for our post - 'The elegance of Florence, Italy
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The Ponte Vecchio in Florence at night with the green, white and red of the Italian flag projected onto it
The Italian flag projected on the Ponte Vecchio

How to get to Florence

- By Air
Florence is served by Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR), which is just 3.6 miles or 5km as the crow flies from the Duomo.

Discover Florence

And its history & culture
Florence, like Rome, is oozing with history. Although this wonderful city was established in 59 BC by Julius Caesar, the Renaissance is what Florence is most synonymous with and is considered its birthplace.
A striking bronze equestrian statue of Cosimo I de' Medici stands proudly in Piazza della Signoria, Florence, beneath a vibrant blue Tuscan sky. This iconic Renaissance monument captures the grandeur of Medici power and is a must-see for visitors exploring Florence’s historic centre.
Equestrian Monument of Cosimo I

Stay informed

You will find us across many forms of social media. You will find our latest posts, some throwbacks, links to historic events with our 'On this day' posts, across Facebook, X, Bluesky & Threads. Each week, themed visual content on Instagram, and our narrated travels on YouTube. Collections of the images in our posts are also collated into boards on Pinterest.

Explore Florence

and marvel at it's architecture

As so often with our mini breaks, we are drawn to a city by its intriguing architecture, and Florence and Pisa were no exception.

Florence Cathedral, or Il Duomo di Firenze, as the locals would say, is a stunning cathedral and a true centrepiece for the city. I recommend taking a look inside, but you must also try to get to Giardino di Boboli (gardens) to catch the iconic city view across the rooftops.

The crowds in front of the ornate Duomo in Florence, Italy
Il Duomo di Firenze
The Giotto's Campanile is an intricate Gothic bell tower that stands proudly within the Piazza del Duomo. It is quite a fantastic structure and is a towering 84.7 metres (277.9 ft.) tall.
Giotto’s Campanile soars above Florence’s skyline with its intricate white, green, and pink marble façade. A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the bell tower is part of the Florence Cathedral complex and offers panoramic views over the historic city.
Giotto's Campanile
The Baptistery of Saint John in Florence stands proudly with its iconic green and white marble façade and gilded bronze doors known as the "Gates of Paradise." This historic religious site is one of the oldest buildings in the city and a must-see for visitors to Florence.
The Baptistery of Saint John

Another eye-catching building within the same piazza is the octagonal Baptistery of Saint John. It’s one of the oldest buildings in the city, dating from 1059. Take a wander around to the east doors to see the “Gates of Paradise”.

The Ponte Vecchio is the famous bridge that straddles the River Arno, and was one of the sights that I was particularly looking forward to seeing. I’d often seen it on TV or in books; however, it was fascinating to walk across the medieval bridge in the footsteps of so many others.

a view of the ponte vecchio, as seen from the river banks of the arno in florence, tuscany
Ponte Vecchio
From the outside of the bridge, the little shops almost appear to be just clinging on.
a street scene of people passing the shops on the ponte vecchio in florence, italy
The shops on the Ponte Vecchio

If you're lured by beautiful Renaissance architecture and the incredible Ponte Vecchio, I urge you to visit Florence. I found this DK Top 10 Pocket Travel Guide invaluable, they're extremely informative, easy to follow, and the pictures and maps tempt you into a voyage of discovering.

We used a previous version of this book to plan our mini-break to Florence, now you can grab the revised copy.

DK Florence Cover

Discovering Florence on foot

The piazza’s & fountains

Florence has some beautiful piazzas, both large and small, and it’s so heart-warming to listen to families and friends enjoying the hustle and bustle of these communal places.

Sit back, relax and enjoy all the fountains and statues dotted around the squares and dream of that well-earned Prosecco.

The ornate marble façade of Florence’s Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, dominates Piazza del Duomo with its elaborate Gothic design and rose windows. This architectural jewel is a landmark of the city and a centrepiece of Renaissance Florence.
Piazza del Duomo
The Fountain of Neptune in Piazza della Signoria, Florence, features dramatic sculptures and mythological figures set against the backdrop of the Palazzo Vecchio. This ornate Renaissance fountain is a captivating highlight of Florence’s artistic heritage.
A fountain in Piazza della Signoria
Florence is such a lovely city to wander around, so many little lanes to be discovered, turning one corner after another into a little piece of history.
The stunning marble façade of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence showcases classic Renaissance architecture in a peaceful piazza. This Dominican church is a cultural and artistic gem, home to masterpieces by Masaccio, Ghirlandaio, and Giotto.
Piazza di Santa Maria Novella
Piazza della Repubblica is a grand square in the heart of Florence, framed by elegant neoclassical buildings and bustling with life beneath a deep blue sky. Featuring the Arcone and a vintage carousel, it blends history, charm, and vibrant street culture.
Piazza della Repubblica

Did you know?

That the Historic Centre of Florence has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.

Beautiful Florence

Renaissance art
The Uffizi Gallery, established in 1581, is probably the most well-known gallery in Italy. Full of some fantastic ancient masterpieces, particularly from the Italian Renaissance period
a black and white shot of the exterior of the uffizi gallery in florence, italy
Strolling around the Uffizi Gallery

The tastes of Florence

The food & drink
We all know Italian cuisine, so a visit to Florence means you get to try proper gelato, tucking into a tasty pasta and of course a charming Chianti (now I’m beginning to sound like Hannibal Lecter!)
The long counter of an Italian gelateria offering a fine selection of ice-creams
The gelato shop
Remember to look out for regional favourites featuring wild boar, and the Tuscan beans are famous the world over. For those with a big appetite, the Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a must (a huge T-Bone steak), but there will be something for every taste and budget.
A vibrant display of traditional Italian products in a delicatessen in Florence, featuring colorful pasta, olive oil, cheeses, wines, and cured meats. This rustic market stall captures the essence of Italian culinary culture and artisanal food.
A typical stall at the market

On Florence's doorsteps

and just a little further afield
I was so pleased we visited Pisa, and it’s only around 50 minutes by train from Florence. While the main attraction is the bell tower, or the ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’ as it is better known (which is pretty amazing), Pisa’s Duomo and Baptistery in the Piazza del Duomo are equally attractive.
The domed battistero di san giovanni in front of the cathedral of pisa with the iconic learning tower of pisa in the background
Battistero di San Giovanni
It’s such a pleasant place to stroll around.

UNESCO

The Piazza del Duomo and the buildings within it, were inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.

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