Florence Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, and Play in the Italian City
Florence, Italy, seamlessly merges its rich Renaissance heritage with contemporary energy. Once serving as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1871, it continues to be a premier destination in Europe. Among its distinguished hotels are Portrait Firenze and Hotel Lungarno, both owned by Ferragamo, alongside Collegio alla Querce, Villa San Michele, Helvetia & Bristol, The Savoy, and W Florence. Culinary experiences range from classic Tuscan trattorias to high-end dining establishments. Cultural highlights include the Uffizi Gallery, Accademia, Palazzo Pitti, Palazzo Strozzi, and the Ferragamo Museum. Visitors can craft personalized fragrances at Profumoir and purchase linens from Loretta Caponi, leather items at Il Bisonte, and jewelry by Carolina Bucci, as well as unique gifts from a historic apothecary and a family-operated bookbinder.
Key facts
- Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1871.
- Portrait Firenze and Hotel Lungarno are owned by the Ferragamo family.
- Hotel Lungarno has sketches by Picasso and Miro.
- Collegio alla Querce is a former boarding school turned luxury hotel.
- Villa San Michele reopened after an 18-month renovation with a Guerlain spa.
- Helvetia & Bristol was renovated in 2021 and includes a Cibrèo outpost.
- The Savoy is on Piazza della Repubblica and offers cuisine by Fulvio Pierangelini.
- The W Florence is in a modernist building near Santa Maria Novella station.
- The Uffizi Gallery houses Botticelli's Birth of Venus and works by Caravaggio and Titian.
- The Accademia displays Michelangelo's David.
- Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens represent the ideal Italian Renaissance garden.
- The Ferragamo Museum is dedicated to Salvatore Ferragamo.
- The Emilio Pucci Heritage Hub is in Palazzo Pucci and requires an appointment.
- The Leather School was founded in 1950 to train WWII orphans.
- Profumoir was founded by Daniele Cavalli with master perfumer Sileno Cheloni.
- Loretta Caponi has been selling embroidered items since 1967.
- Il Bisonte has been producing sustainable leather goods since 1970.
- The historic apothecary opened in 1842.
- Carolina Bucci is a fourth-generation jeweler.
Entities
Artists
- Salvatore Ferragamo
- Pablo Picasso
- Joan Miró
- Carlo Scarpa
- Fulvio Pierangelini
- Akira Back
- Fabio Picchi
- Leopoldo Procacci
- Giorgio Vasari
- Michelangelo
- Raphael
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Sandro Botticelli
- Caravaggio
- Titian
- Beato Angelico
- Mark Rothko
- Luca Pitti
- Cosimo I de' Medici
- Emilio Pucci
- Laudomia Pucci
- Daniele Cavalli
- Roberto Cavalli
- Sileno Cheloni
- Loretta Caponi
- Carolina Bucci
Institutions
- Leading Hotels of the World
- Ferragamo family
- Caffè dell’Oro
- Hotel Lungarno
- Picteau
- Borgo San Jacopo
- Collegio alla Querce
- Villa San Michele
- Guerlain
- La DoubleJ
- Helvetia & Bristol
- Starhotels
- Cibrèo
- Savoy
- Rocco Forte
- Bar Artemisia
- W Florence
- Marriott
- Zefiro
- Akira Back
- Collezione Em
- Uffizi Gallery
- Accademia
- Palazzo Pitti
- Boboli Gardens
- Palatine Gallery
- Royal Apartments
- Museum of Costume and Fashion
- Palazzo Strozzi
- Ferragamo Museum
- Emilio Pucci Heritage Hub
- Leather School
- Profumoir
- Loretta Caponi
- Il Bisonte
- Carolina Bucci
Locations
- Florence
- Italy
- Arno
- Ponte Vecchio
- Fiesole
- Le Cure
- Piazza della Repubblica
- Santa Maria Novella
- Oltrarno
- Sant’Ambrogio
- Uffizi
- Mercato Centrale
- San Lorenzo Market
- Lungarno