Florence

About
Climate
Getting there
Getting around
Things to do
Food
Shopping
National Holidays

Florence

Florence General Information

One of the most famous cities in Italy and a hotspot for tourists, Florence is full of Renaissance architecture, winding streets, and a hub for art lovers. Florence was the heart of medieval European trade and one of the richest cities of that time. It has a complicated history including periods of rule by the Medici family and many revolutions as well as serving as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1871. The Historic Centre of Florence was declared a World Heritage Site in 1982 by UNESCO and the city attracts millions of tourists annually due to its prominence in commerce and the arts, particularly. Florence is the capital city of Tuscany and is a great base for winery and food tours in neighbouring provinces such as Siena and Lucca. Many visitors take a day trip from Florence to Pisa to see its infamous Leaning Tower or to the medieval town of San Gimignano, encircled by 13th century walls. Florence is a unique city and a perfect destination for a romantic holiday filled with delicious food and culture.

Climate

Climate in Florence

Most travellers visit Florence from June to September to take advantage of European summer where temperatures go from warm to hot. Be prepared to expect rain in November before the temperature drops in the colder months including December and January where you see less tourists. Spring is a beautiful time of the year to visit Florence when the weather is cool to mild between March and May and there is less congestion. Keep in mind that locals enjoy their summer holidays in August.

Getting there

How to Get to Florence

From Australia/New Zealand: There are only connecting flights which depart daily from Australia or New Zealand to Florence. Florence’s airport is named Amerigo Vespucci and is located away from the city centre in Peretola. No direct flights operate from Australia or New Zealand to Florence due to the small size of the airport which is used mainly for domestic flights.

Connections to other cities: If you are planning to visit other cities in Italy, the train is an excellent mode of transport with train connections from Florence to Rome, Turin, Verona, Bologna, Milan, Venice, Genoa and Naples. The main train station is Firenze Santa Maria Novella, located in the city centre and is only 15 minutes by foot from the Duomo. Florence’s airport is named Amerigo Vespucci and is located away from the city centre in Peretola. This airport is used mainly for domestic flights, most commonly used to reach Sicily. There are also many train connections with other European cities outside of Italy.

Getting around

Getting Around Florence

Florence has a very walkable city centre where you can reach between all the top sights in a 10-minute walk. Florence’s historical centre is very concentrated and is closed off to monitor traffic which makes walking on foot the best way to see Florence. If you require public transport to get around, Florence’s buses are very reliable, and you can purchase a bus ticket on board or 24-hour, 3 day and 7 day passes at any newsstand and tobacconist. Considering Florence is mostly flat terrain, you will see many locals riding their bicycles around the city.

Things to do

What to do in Florence

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: Florence’s cathedral is named in honour of Santa Maria del Fiore and is a magnificent Gothic structure built on top of the 7th century church of Santa Reparata, the remains of which can be found in the crypt. This cathedral took two centuries to be deemed finished and is most recognisable by its Renaissance dome. The exterior façade of the cathedral is breathtaking, covered in white marble and pink, red and green polychrome designs. Entry is free of charge however expect long queues, especially in Summer months.

The Baptistry of St. John: Another religious building in the Florentine Romanesque style, is this octagonal baptistery that stands across from the Florence Cathedral and was constructed between 1059 and 1128. The building’s three sets of bronze doors are of most interest due to their religious depictions.

Ponte Vecchio: Spanning over river Arno, the Vecchio bridge is an extremely old and famous bridge decorated with a plethora of boutique shops that line the walkways. You will find jewellers, artists and souvenir stores on this bridge except in the middle of the bridge where it opens up and you can enjoy a magnificent view down the river with house-like attachments lined along the river banks.

Palazzo Vecchio: The most important administrative building in Florence is the Palazzo Vecchio which was the palace of the Signoria during the Republic of Florence and then became the Town Hall in later years. When you come across this building, you will think it looks like a castle with its large bell tower and square design.

Piazzale Michelangelo: Located in the Oltrarno district, Piazzale Michelangelo is a plaza that offers a grand panoramic view of Florence. It is best to make a day out of your visit to Piazzale Michelangelo and immerse yourself on Oltrarno which is full of trendy restaurants, bars and Renaissance buildings. Guiseppe Poggi designed this monument base in honour of Michelangelo in 1869 and offers an enchanting skyline of Florence.

Basilica di San Lorenzo: The Basicila di San Lorenzo claims to be the oldest in Florence, having been consecrated in year 393, and is now considered to be a milestone in the development of Renaissance architecture. The unfinished façade of the San Lorenzo Church makes it hard to believe that it was once the cathedral of Florence. The Medici family stepped in to take over financial responsibility of the Basilica di San Lorenzo’s construction in 1442 which then became the family’s parish church and is now the burial place of all the principal members of the Medici family including Cosimo II Vecchio and Cosimo III.

Food

What to Eat in Florence

The traditional dishes of Tuscany include the infamous Florentine Steak which is traditionally served rare and is a must try when visiting Florence. If you are looking to try traditional food, eaten by locals, you should try Crespelle alla Fiorentina, a typical pasta dish filled with ricotta cheese and spinach and covered in a bechamel sauce.

Hidden away in the centre of old Florence, there are infinite restaurants for wine lovers looking to grab a panini made of fresh produce and pair it with a fine wine. Do night fight the scent of freshly baked bread in the air! You will come across many bakeries offering baked goods such as grape and fig schiacciate, filled focacce, mini pizzas, fresh fruit tarts, mouth-watering apple strudel and more. Many food enthusiasts travel to Florence to dine at the infamous three-star Michelin restaurant with antique-filled décor and gourmet cuisine paired with the best suited wines.

Shopping

Shopping in Florence

San Lorenzo Market gives you the opportunity to practice your haggling skills to secure some unique finds from competing vendors who work like mad. This market is comprised of two separate sections, an indoor market for food and an outdoor market that lines surrounding streets selling clothing and souvenirs. Even if you do not participate, this market is a great addition to your sightseeing visits.

Santa Maria di Novella was founded around 1211 and is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world where it could be argued that Florence is the pioneer of fragrance. Once word got out about these innovate treatments made from medicinal herbs, the store opened to the public in 1612. Today, the store is still operating with a small café and museum inside dedicated to the history of the pharmaceutical industry.

La Rinascente has six levels of quality shopping from high-end luxury brands to specialty foods. It is recommended to visit their rooftop Caffe la Terrazza that provides a beautiful panoramic view of the city and a glimpse of the Duomo.

The Leather School of Santa Croce, Scuola del Cuoio, can be found behind the Gothic Church of the Holy Cross and has been training people in the art of leatherwork since 1945. Not only can find wallets, key rings, briefcases, purses, backpacks, travel bags, journals, and belts at the school but you can also attend a course and make your own piece.

National Holidays

National Holidays in Florence

March 25, Florentine New Year: On March 25, the traditional Florentine New Year starts in the Palazzo Vecchio with a parade of medieval dress and music. The festivities continue at the Piazza SS Annunziata where you can feat upon delicious Italian food at an outdoor market all day and enjoy a concert in the evening. This tradition comes from when the people of Florence gathered in the SS Annunziata to welcome Spring and celebrate when the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be the mother of Christ.

Historical Re-enactment of Holy Friday: A play of Passion of Christ occurs on Good Friday in a nearby town called Grassina which is located 15 minutes from Florence by bus. Florence city centre hosts its own Easter traditions annually just like rest of Italy. One of these traditions include the annual Passion Play where hundreds of residents join in the play, leading up to the Crucifixion and is a ritual that has been re-enacted over the past 300 years.

Scoppio del Carro, Easter Sunday: Also known as the “explosion of the cart”, this event dates back to almost 400 years, where an intricate wagon that was built in 1622 and stands almost three stories high and is packed full of fireworks and other pyrotechnics. It is paraded throughout Florence behind a fleet of white oxen which are decorated in garlands until the wagon reaches the square between the Duomo and Baptistry. Thousands of spectators await a dove-shaped rocket to be set off from the Cathedral altar and ignite the cart in the square on impact. This historic spectacle stems from an old tradition where a big bang meant a good harvest.

Maggio Musicale: May Music Festival is a series of world-renowned classical music concerts, opera and ballet across Florence. It is important to know that tickets should be purchased well in advance.

Patron Saint Fest Day: On June 24, fireworks mark the end of celebrations to St. John the Baptist who is the patron saint of Florence. A Renaissance football match known as Calcio Storico is played in Piazza Santa Croce which honours a similar style match played by a soldier trapped in Florence in 1530. This historical game is a combination of soccer, rugby and wrestling played by teams from the four neighbourhoods in Florence while wearing 16th century costumes.

Festa di San Lorenzo: The feast day of San Lorenzo is celebrated on August 10, after a celebratory Mass inside the San Lorenzo. Piazza San Lorenzo has market stalls lined throughout the streets of the square during the day before they are rolled away to make room for the night-time festivities. There is live music and free lasagne and watermelon for all visitors.

La Festa delle Rificolone: This religious festival of the Paper Lanterns is held annually on September 7 which is the eve of the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary where the locals carry their candlelit paper lanterns through Florence. This tradition dates to the Renaissance period when many pilgrims would arrive after sunset from outside of Florence to reach the Church of the Most Holy Annunciation, a Marian sanctuary, and needed a lantern to show the way.

Public holidays
Certain national holidays in Florence are noteworthy events such as Easter Sunday and Easter Monday on the 4th and 5th of April, Liberation Day on the 25th of April, Labour Day on the 1st of May, Republic Day on the 2nd of June, Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on the 29th of June, Assumption Day of Mary on the 15th of August, All Saints’ Day on the 1st of November, Christmas Day on the 25th of December and St. Stephen’s Day on the 26th of December.

Florence

Florence General Information

Climate

Climate in Florence

Getting there

How to Get to Florence

Getting around

Getting Around Florence

Things to do

What to do in Florence

Food

What to Eat in Florence

Shopping

Shopping in Florence

National Holidays

National Holidays in Florence

Log in

Register