{"id":7699,"date":"2020-01-24T11:27:08","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T11:27:08","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=7699"},"modified":"2022-11-17T15:43:55","modified_gmt":"2022-11-17T15:43:55","slug":"the-ultimate-florence-city-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journal.slh.com\/journal\/the-ultimate-florence-city-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The ultimate Florence city guide"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

From must-see sights to must-try foods<\/h2>\n

Small and perfectly formed, Florence is the perfect city break destination. You\u2019ll encounter some of the world\u2019s finest art on every piazza. Some of the best food you\u2019ll ever eat. And lost-in-time streets full of romance. From what to see to where to stay, here\u2019s our guide to rocking the cradle of the Renaissance.<\/p>\n

A short round-up of Florence\u2019s must-see sights\u2026<\/h2>\n

Galleria degli Uffizi<\/strong>: The Grand Masters flash \u2013 Botticelli\u2019s Venus and da Vinci\u2019s anatomical drawings under one, spectacular roof.<\/p>\n

The Duomo<\/strong>: The skyline-dominating red dome (cupola, to those in the know) and the city\u2019s high point, with views to sigh for.<\/p>\n

Ponte Vecchio<\/strong>: The bridge over the Arno is the jewel in Florence\u2019s crown.<\/p>\n

Galleria dell\u2019Accademia<\/strong>: David. Michelangelo\u2019s masterpiece. Enough said.<\/p>\n

Boboli Gardens: <\/strong>Alfresco art in this glorious garden-meets-gallery behind the Medici\u2019s Pitti Palace.<\/p>\n

Basilica di Santa Croce:<\/strong> Marble magnificence, incredible frescoes and the final resting places of Florentine figures Galileo and Michelangelo.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2026 and a longer look at Florence\u2019s lesser-known spots<\/h2>\n

Amazing art \u2013 minus the crowds<\/h3>\n

Some see graffiti as a scourge. But not when the artist is the Banksy of the Renaissance: Michelangelo. Look out for L\u2019importuno, his carving of a face outside Palazzo Vecchio. Continuing the street art legacy, CLET uses stickers to turn street signs into witty artworks. They pop up around the city\u2026 briefly.<\/p>\n

San Marco Museum is another breath of fresh air. A Dominican monastery turned gallery, it\u2019s usually free from the Uffizi-length visitor queues.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Magical mementoes<\/h3>\n

For a shopping experience straight from the 1600s, step into Officina Profumo Farmaceutica. Said to be the world\u2019s oldest pharmacy, its beautiful botanical lotions and potions are hand-made just as they were thousands of years ago by Dominican friars. It\u2019s worth the trip alone to see the atmospheric interiors of the magnificent old building, which even has a museum and tearoom (the Tisaneria<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Green spaces<\/h3>\n

Getting lost in the crowd is half the fun of Florence. But when you need time (and space) to rest and reflect, make a beeline for the city\u2019s green areas. Boboli is the big draw (and it\u2019s easy to see why), but Giardino Bardini is lesser-known and has views that\u2019ll have you switching your camera to its panorama setting. The iris and rose gardens are fragrant highlights.<\/p>\n

What \u2013 and where \u2013 to eat in Florence<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For coffee\u2026<\/h3>\n

Go straight to Caf\u00e9 Gilli. Order milky coffee if it\u2019s morning or short and straight the rest of the day. Drink it at the bar.<\/p>\n

For gelato\u2026<\/h3>\n

Classicists, look for the neon sign of Vivoli, possibly Florence\u2019s oldest gelateria. Modernists will love the market-fresh creations at My Sugar in San Lorenzo.<\/p>\n

For pasta\u2026<\/h3>\n

Go for restaurants serving cinghiale<\/em> pasta dishes \u2013 rich ragu made from wild boar \u2013 and tartufo<\/em>, a Tuscan truffle hit.<\/p>\n

For carnivores\u2026<\/h3>\n

Bring a friend. Tuck in a napkin. And enjoy bistecca alla Fiorentina<\/em>, the city\u2019s mammoth sharing steak that\u2019s served rare \u2013 and only<\/em> rare.<\/p>\n

For those with a sweet tooth\u2026<\/h3>\n

Look for a fleur de lys. It\u2019s the traditional sugary stencil topping for schiacciata alla Fiorentina<\/em>.<\/p>\n

For when it\u2019s cold outside\u2026<\/h3>\n

Ribollita<\/em> is next-level soup made from veg, beans and torn bread. In Florence, \u2018peasant food\u2019 is the richest in flavour.<\/p>\n

For Michelin Star spotters\u2026<\/h3>\n

Florence has its fair share of fine dining restaurants, but none as celebrated as Enoteca Pinchiorri. Three Michelin stars. And it\u2019s in a palace.<\/p>\n

A room with a view*<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Where to stay in Florence for boutique hotel flair and Tuscan style:<\/p>\n

HOTEL LUNGARNO<\/strong><\/a>\u2026 interior design by Michele Bonan and Michelin-starred dining on the banks of the Arno.<\/p>\n

HOTEL REGENCY<\/strong><\/a>\u2026 a 19th<\/sup>-century hideaway in the heart of it all with its own private urban garden.<\/p>\n

IL SALVIATINO<\/strong><\/a>\u2026 escape to the country with a 15th<\/sup>-century villa in private parkland.<\/p>\n

PALAZZO VECCHIETTI<\/strong><\/a>\u2026 one for the art-lovers (and their four-legged friends). A luxurious and pet-friendly former palace that\u2019s an artful mix of classic and contemporary.<\/p>\n

*Did you know, E. M. Forster set part of his much-loved novel in Florence? <\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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