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Florence

Travoley
Florence
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Florence Travel Guide

  • About Florence
Esteemed Florence isn’t just one of Italy’s greatest cities – it’s one of Europe’s cultural jewels. First-time visitors have a habit of being overwhelmed by the sheer depth of the place, spending their time dashing from one masterpiece to the next. It’s understandable: the cradle of the Renaissance houses some of the world’s greatest artistic treasures.It’s also incredibly beautiful: a cluster of russet roofs and late medieval splendours set amongst the wine-growing hills of Chianti. Its ancient palaces, curvaceous domes and lofty basilicas are stuffed with fine art and world-class galleries, most prominently the Uffizi. The whole of the city’s historic centre is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.Dominating this centre is the Duomo, the city’s Cathedral, a landmark of elegance and beauty. Nearby, the River Arno is crossed by the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge, still lined with shops and held up by stilts. Dating back to the 14th century, the bridge survived attacks during WWII. Standing by the river at night, with the city illuminated by twinkling lights, it remains an unforgettable sight.If you want to get away from the crowds (notably the millions who descend on the city in the summer), head to the city’s south where there are hills, gardens and churches. A walk up to San Miniato hill takes you to one of the highest points of the city, topped by a Romanesque basilica. Again, the views are superb.But for all its old-world splendour, to see the Tuscan capital purely through the prism of history is to do it a disservice. It’s also a dynamic and cosmopolitan 21st-century city, with its food and drink particular highlights. Gelato is a Florentine institution elevated almost to an art form.Retail therapy is another of its charms. Fashionistas head to Via de’ Tornabuoni for upmarket labels, while the city’s abundance of markets are also worth exploring for their riot of colours and smells. In particular, the San Lorenzo Market, stretching from Piazza San Lorenzo to Via dell’Ariento, is fun for meandering.
  • Florence History
Although there were settlements dating back to the Etruscans and beyond, Florence itself was founded in 59 BC by the Romans. ‘Florentia’ was established for war veterans and built in the grid-style of a military camp. It served as the main route between Rome and the north, which enabled it to rapidly expand as a commercial centre.Florence owes much of its wealth to the Middle Ages when banking boomed on the back of the city’s profitable cotton trade. In 1235, Florence minted the florin, the first gold coin to become standard currency across Europe.We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page.In the 14th and 15th centuries, Florence was a city republic governed by an oligarchy of elite merchant and banking families. However, popular revolts led to periods when public office was also shared among citizens from the middle and lower artisan classes.Although internal feuds were frequent, commissions from the rich resulted in a near-unparalleled era of art and architecture. The names Strozzi, Rucellai and Pitti can be found all over Florence, but it was the Medici family (who led the city for three centuries) that nurtured the likes of Botticelli and Michelangelo. This was also the period of Dante (the father of the Italian language) and Savonarola’s Bonfire of the Vanities.The culmination of the Medici line led to Austrian control of the city and other Tuscan territories in 1737. After a period of Napoleonic rule from 1797, Florence passed back to Austria, until the region was unified with the new Italian state in 1861. For a time it was the capital, before Rome superseded it. The city was modernised, with Piazza della Repubblica widened and a large triumphal arch constructed at the west end.In the 19th century the population of Florence doubled and then it tripled in the 20th century with the growth of tourism and trade. In 1944, nearly all the city’s bridges were destroyed by the Nazis in an attempt to stall the Allied advance.
  • Did you know?
The only bridge in Florence’s historic centre not to be destroyed by the Nazis during WWII was Ponte Vecchio. Hitler himself is said to have vetoed its destruction at the last moment because it was too beautiful. Florence was given to former soldiers as a settlement by Julius Caesar in the 1st century BC. In 1966, the city was flooded, damaging much of its precious architecture. It is said that the authorities had advance warning of the bursting of the River Arno’s banks but failed to tell the people.
  • Weather in Florence
To avoid the heat and the queues, it’s best to visit Florence in spring and autumn. During the peak summer months of July and August, the weather can be unbearably sticky and the prospect of trailing around museums becomes unappealing. Average temperatures in July hover around 35°C (95°F), but if you wait for autumn, the countryside glows with an abundance of wild mushrooms and just-pressed olive oil. If you venture to the city in winter, January temperatures average around 5°C (41°F).

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