My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Italy. We had a wonderful time while there. I recently published two blogs about the trip: Five Reasons I love visiting Italy and five reasons I love visiting Rome. In this blog, I will share five reasons I love visiting Florence Italy. Read to the end for some bonus content – best practices and lessons learned about visiting this wonderful Italian city.
A little context about our time in Florence
We spent three days in Florence and went on multiple tours there. Our first night we took a food tour which was simply amazing. We explored the city and went to the Tuscan Countryside for Thanksgiving day. I highly recommend going on tours if your budget allows.
Reason #1 – History
The Renaissance was born and thrived in Florence. The Medici ruled this city and funded many of the most famous artworks from that era. If you are a history fan like me and you like Renaissance history specifically you need to visit Florence.
Reason #2 – Duomo of Florence
Probably the most famous landmark in this city is the Duomo. You can see it from miles away. It was the largest church in Europe when it was built. The most miraculous piece of the Duomo is the dome. If you visit Florence, take some time to enjoy this architectural masterpiece.
Reason #3 – Sights
There is so much to see and do in Florence. Some of the major attractions include the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi and Accademia museums, several churches, and many piazzas. Who doesn’t want to visit this beautiful capital city of Tuscany? It is my favorite city in Italy.
Reason #4 – Florence Art
This city is ridiculous when it comes to artwork. You see art everywhere you go. There are world-famous museums, the piazzas, the fountains, and statues throughout the city. If you love art you surely need to get to Florence. There is no better City for Renaissance art in the world than here.
Reason #5 – Food and Wine
Italy is known for its world-class food. Who doesn’t love Italian food? We ate a lot of great food during our entire trip and some of the best was found in Florence and Tuscany. Of course, pairing your food with the proper wine is important. Kim and I went on a day trip all over Tuscany. We ate our Thanksgiving meal there which was so good. We also sampled a bunch of wines. If you love food and wine you need to go to Tuscany. It is one of the best regions In Italy for food and wine.
Bonus Reason – Tuscan countryside
If you visit Florence I recommend exploring other Tuscan cities and villages that are not far away like Sienna which is only an hour away. There are many others. I am confident you could spend a week in this region and not be bored.
One thing you may not like about Florence
It’s hard to think of one thing you may not like about Florence. If you want to get the best views of the city you will likely have to go up a lot of stairs. Also, some hotels do not have elevators and many have tiny ones. You may have to carry your luggage up several flights of stairs, depending on which floor your room is. It helps to be in shape before you go there. Lots of stairs and hills, but 6every step is worth it.
Three of my favorite things in Florence
- My favorite sight is Palazzo Vecchio.
- Sunset view – Piazza Michelangelo.
- Gelato – the best I found was in San Gimignano.
Best practices and lessons learned from our visit to Florence
Thanks for reading to the end. Here are some best practices and lessons learned from our time in the capital city of Tuscany. Florence is fantastic. I highly recommend you visit there whenever you can.
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to my sons.