Italy is such a wonderful country to enjoy and explore and I've truly never met anyone who hasn't fallen in love with this lovely place when they've visited it. I decided to focus an event on Italy at our Club since people haven't been able to travel much and certainly not to Italy with our current circumstances.
Italy has everything for people keen to travel including fantastic food, great wines, warm friendly people, fabulous scenery, and it also happens to be steeped in culture and history.
Florence is an exceptional place to visit and has often been at the center of Italy's history. As the capital of Tuscany, this charming city is easy to get around and offers visitors a wide variety of experiences.
Here are five of the top experiences in Florence to enjoy on your next visit.
1. Explore the Architecture
Florence perfectly showcases the brilliance of Italian architecture from the grand piazzas such as the Pizza della Signoria to the magnificent churches including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, better known as the Duomo. Also not to be missed is the "old bridge", namely Ponte Vecchio originally used by butchers selling their wares back in medieval times and now resident with jewelers and art dealers. The architecture in Florence is truly inspirational.
2. Appreciate the Art
Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and has an incredible amount of famous works of art including work by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, and Botticelli, to name a few. There are a number of great art museums in Florence including Galleria degli Uffizi and Galleria dell'Accademia, as just two of the many. You mustn't miss one of Michelangelo's greatest masterpieces, that is the Statue of David housed in the Galleria dell'Accademia!
3. Enjoy the Beauty of the Boboli Gardens
These impressive gardens located directly behind the Palazzo Pitti were designed for the famous Medici family. They represent one of the first and most impressive Italian style gardens. A wonderful way to spend some time in Florence would be to have a picnic, stroll through the gardens or simply appreciate some quiet time in a corner of this tranquil, beautiful site.
4. Experience the Stunning Tuscany Region
Florence is conveniently situated within a short drive to some of the best small towns and wineries in Tuscany. You can either use Florence as a base to spend time in and around the Tuscany region or else consider a villa in Tuscany and use that as your base for exploring Florence and the area. Villages including Siena, Pisa, Montalcino, Lucca, and San Gimignano, to name a few, all make for the perfect day trip from Florence. You can enjoy the Tuscan sun as you sample wines and great culinary experiences from the local vineyards throughout the region.
5. Indulge in the Culinary Delight
Of course, along with the great wines, you also can't miss indulging in some great, authentic Italian cuisine. Some wonderful regional favorites include gelato, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Lampredotto, papardelle and tagliatelle pasta dishes, pizza, panzanella, fettunta, and Crostini to name a few. Another great option to consider if you want to take your culinary experience to a higher level is to take a cooking class so that you can learn from the masters!
No matter what your desires for all things Italian, Florence and the surrounding Tuscany region is well worth a visit!