What to do, where to stay, and where to eat in Florence
© Jasper James
There’s one overwhelming reason travelers flock to this tiny Italian city (pop. 365,000) amid Tuscany’s rolling green hills: Florence has more than one million works of Renaissance art—among them Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. A hub of Italian fashion since the 1950s, Florence is the birthplace of global brands like Gucci, Pucci, and Roberto Cavalli, and the city’s most influential fashion clan—the Ferragamo—has turned its renowned sense of style to four hip hotels across town, breathing new life into the previously staid lodgings scene. Add to that succulent Florentine steaks, some of the world’s greatest wines, the traditional artisan workshops of the Oltrarno, and Brunelleschi’s famous masterpiece dome, and it’s not so hard to see how Firenze remains as popular as top European cities five times its size.
T+L Editors' Picks
Florence Features
- Tuscany Insider’s Guide May, 2008
- Its appeal is unquestionable, but with 10 provinces, navigating this vast region isn’t easy. From exceptional restaurants and stylish hotels to artisanal treasures and renowned wineries, our complete guide brings you the best of Tuscany now.
- Hotel Rooms with a View October, 2008
- After a meticulous seven-year restoration, the 15th-century Palazzo della Gherardesca opens its doors as the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, with remarkable frescoes, expansive gardens, and artisanal cooking.
- Discovering Pietrasanta May, 2008
- For a taste of hidden Tuscany, look no further than this perfect coastal village.
- Villa Bordoni May, 2007
- Restoring this bucolic manor in rural Tuscany was the work of knowing Scottish expats. Discovering the villa's exquisite restaurant, and a few shaded spots to unwind, was a job for T+L.
- On Piero’s Trail March, 2007
- Tuscany’s Arezzo province is a treasure trove of works by Early Renaissance master Piero della Francesca. On the eve of a major retrospective, Jonathan Santlofer finds inspiring art, delicious food, and a timeless landscape.
Master Class March, 2006- Florence produced some of the world's greatest painters—from Masaccio to Michelangelo. Charles Maclean enrolls in one of its best-known drawing schools and discovers that it's never too late to become a Renaissance man
On The Tuscan Trail September, 2005- Guided by a culinary expert, Niloufar Motamed tracks down the best artisanal producers in northern Italy-from a cheese guru in Seggiano to a star vintner in Chianti.
The Art of War November, 2005- In the medieval castles of the countryside outside Florence, Ilaria Dagnini Brey explores
one of art history's thrilling wartime chapters
- ClubLand March, 2007
- Destination clubs offer the use of multimillion-dollar houses around the world, without the burdens of ownership. Shane Mitchell goes undercover to investigate. PLUS A look at other trends and projects changing the vacation-home world.
Florence=Fun? April, 2005- One clan comes up with the right equation
- 5 Cities on $250 a Day March, 2005
- Can you live it up in the world's most glamorous cities for less? T+L dispatched five intrepid correspondents to points around the globe. Their mission: Pack as much as possible into 24 hours. Their challenge: Do it all without breaking the bank
- Dario Cecchini, Chianti’s Dante-Quoting Butcher March, 2007
- T+L Reports: Under the Tuscan Sun May, 2006
- T+L Reports: The Toast of Italy November, 2005
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