So many reasons to visit Florence

History and artistic heritage.

We all know that the period of greatest splendor of the city of Florence was the Renaissance, a period that had as protagonists personalities such as Filippo Brunelleschi, to whom we owe the famous dome of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, Cosimo de 'Medici, Lorenzo the Magnificent, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Raffaello Sanzio. Painting, sculpture, and architecture were just some of the disciplines that made the city of Florence of this period so famous, disciplines that probably gave rise to the most recognized part of the Florentine artistic and cultural heritage. Heritage whose value was also recognized during the Second World War, where Hitler himself gave orders not to bomb Ponte Vecchio or the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore. Ever heard of the Vasari Corridor and the Pitti Palace? Or the Uffizi Gallery or the Accademia Gallery? Take note because I could go on for hours. 

The historic center of the city retains the same road map made up of small and narrow alleys and red roofs, here there are not many newly built buildings but mostly buildings that, even if renovated, retain their Renaissance structure. In short, walking through the streets of Florence is like taking a trip to the past.

Photo of Piazza della Signoria and its statues.

The cuisine and the wine.

It is not new that Italy stands out from other countries for its cuisine and for the infinite variety of food and wine that the territory and the purely Mediterranean climate have given it. Throughout Tuscany, grapes and olive groves are grown, from which some of the most popular wines and olive oils are obtained. Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Vermentino, Ansonica and so on. Then there is the local production of cured meats and the cultivation of truffles. You can not travel to Florence and not try the famous Florentine steak, or the ribollita, or the pici with wild boar sauce, and not finish the meal with cantucci and Vin Santo. And if you happen to go to Florence in the autumn months, you must try the focaccia with grapes!

Photo of Brunello Wine in San Gimignano.

Privileged location in a multi-purpose region.

Florence is located in a truly strategic point of Tuscany. In a few minutes by car or train, you can reach the Livorno coast, and therefore also the beautiful beaches of San Vincenzo, Vada, and Castiglioncello, or take a ferry and arrive on the island of Elba, a Tuscan pearl with the most crystalline sea. Or moving south you can reach San Gimignano, Volterra, and Bolgheri, and even further south Siena and Montalcino, passing through the best vineyards and tasting the wines of the best estates, up to Scansano where you can taste the famous Morellino.

Tuscany is a region with a thousand opportunities because it offers many scenarios depending on the experience and attention you want to give to your holiday. Hiking and trekking routes; farmhouses and estates for food and wine tours; spa and natural thermal baths for those who just want to relax; beaches and nightlife for those who also want to have fun; artistic tours for those more interested in the historical and cultural aspect are just a few that can be carefully curated. 

Photo of Island of Elba, Tuscany.

In conclusion, Florence is now a destination for young people from all over Italy and the world, students and workers who discover a second home in this city, a place with a thousand resources, full of hidden treasures and wonderful views. If you have the opportunity to visit Italy you absolutely must see Florence, it will be love at first sight as it was for us at The Travel Collab.