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Florence
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Florence combines Renaissance masterpieces, grand palaces, intimate lanes and Tuscan cuisine, with world-famous art and daily life unfolding beside the Arno.

Renaissance Foundations

Florence is a city in which the history of European art remains part of daily life. Built around the Arno in Tuscany, it developed from a Roman settlement into a powerful medieval commune and, under the Medici, became the centre of an extraordinary flowering of painting, sculpture, architecture, literature and political thought. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, crowned by Filippo Brunelleschi’s vast dome, dominates the historic centre, while the Uffizi Galleries, Palazzo Vecchio and the churches of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella reveal the wealth and ambition of the city’s civic and religious institutions.
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Streets, Squares and River Light

Florence is compact enough to explore largely on foot. Narrow streets open into grand spaces such as Piazza della Signoria and Piazza della Repubblica, and the medieval Ponte Vecchio crosses the Arno with jewellers’ shops occupying its historic arcades. Across the river, the Oltrarno has a more varied, neighbourhood-like character, with artisan workshops, palace gardens and steep lanes leading towards San Miniato al Monte. The city’s famous museums reward careful planning, but much of its appeal lies between major sights: worn stone façades, quiet cloisters, market stalls and cafés set beneath Renaissance porticoes.

Tuscan Culture and Contemporary Life

Florence’s cultural identity extends beyond its masterpieces. The city remains a place for Tuscan cooking, leather craftsmanship, design, opera and small-scale artistic production. Markets around Sant’Ambrogio and San Lorenzo provide a more everyday view of Florentine life, while evening activity gathers around aperitivo bars, wine windows and restaurants on both sides of the river. Beyond the centre, the hills of Fiesole and the countryside surrounding Florence offer wider views of the Arno valley and a reminder that this celebrated urban landscape is inseparable from Tuscany’s rural setting.

When is the best time to visit Florence?

Best: May–June, September · 25–29°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January1160
February1260
March1670
April2080
May (best)2580
June (best)2970
July3260
August3260
September (best)2670
October2180
November1580
December1270

Getting to and around Florence

How to get there

Florence is served by Amerigo Vespucci Airport, also known as Peretola, a short distance north-west of the centre. The airport is connected with the city by the T2 tram line, taxis and road transport. Florence Santa Maria Novella is a major railway station with high-speed services linking it to Rome, Bologna, Milan, Venice and other Italian cities, as well as regional trains serving Tuscany. Long-distance coaches use stops near the station or other designated points. Pisa International Airport is a useful alternative for some international journeys, with onward connections to Florence by train or bus.

Transportation

Florence’s historic centre is compact, and walking is generally the most practical way to move between the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Santa Croce and the Arno. The city has urban buses and two tram lines, including the T2 connection between the airport and Santa Maria Novella. Taxis are available at ranks and by telephone or app, while cycling can be useful beyond the busiest central streets. Much of the centre lies within a restricted traffic zone, known as the ZTL, so visitors using a hire car should avoid entering without checking the current rules and authorised routes.

Best attractions in Florence

Florence’s principal attractions are concentrated within a walkable historic centre. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, its Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile form one of Europe’s great architectural ensembles, while the Uffizi Galleries lead visitors through masterpieces of Florentine and wider Italian art. The Accademia Gallery is known for Michelangelo’s David, and Palazzo Vecchio combines civic history with richly decorated state rooms. Across the Arno, Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens introduce the scale and ceremony of Medici court life. The Ponte Vecchio offers a characteristic river crossing lined with historic jewellery shops, while Santa Croce brings art, memorials and a spacious piazza together. For broader views, the terrace at Piazzale Michelangelo and the hilltop Basilica of San Miniato al Monte look across the domes, towers and dense roofs of the city.

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Best landmarks in Florence

Florence’s landmarks express the changing balance between religious authority, civic government and dynastic power. Santa Maria del Fiore is defined by Brunelleschi’s pioneering masonry dome, while the Baptistery’s celebrated doors and Giotto’s Campanile complete the cathedral precinct. Palazzo Vecchio, with its crenellated exterior and tower, has served as a seat of government and remains the architectural anchor of Piazza della Signoria. The Ponte Vecchio has crossed the Arno for centuries and is one of the city’s most recognisable medieval structures. Santa Croce is both a Franciscan basilica and a place of remembrance associated with figures including Michelangelo and Galileo. Palazzo Pitti represents Medici court expansion across the river, and the elevated Basilica of San Miniato al Monte provides a Romanesque counterpoint to the more theatrical architecture below.

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Explore Florence on the map

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Neighbourhoods in Florence

Best restaurants in Florence

Florentine cooking is rooted in Tuscan ingredients and an economical rural tradition that makes beans, bread, vegetables and good olive oil central to the table. Ribollita is a hearty soup of bread, beans and seasonal vegetables, while pappa al pomodoro uses tomatoes and stale Tuscan bread; bistecca alla fiorentina is the city’s best-known meat speciality, traditionally cut thick and cooked over charcoal. Lampredotto, made from a cow’s fourth stomach, remains a distinctive street-food choice often served in a bread roll with green sauce. Look to the Sant’Ambrogio area, the streets around San Lorenzo and the Oltrarno for trattorie, cafés, bakeries and informal food counters. Mercato Centrale offers a broad indoor food setting, while wine bars and small enoteche showcase Tuscan wines alongside crostini, cured meats and local cheeses.

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Best bars in Florence

Florence’s evenings are shaped more by wine bars, aperitivo and live cultural events than by a large-scale club scene. The streets around Santa Croce, Santo Spirito and Sant’Ambrogio have concentrations of bars where students, residents and visitors gather over Tuscan wine, cocktails and small plates. In the Oltrarno, Santo Spirito’s square and surrounding lanes offer relaxed places to sit outdoors, while the area near Santa Maria Novella includes hotel bars and late-evening venues. Seasonal cultural programming may include concerts, opera, theatre and performances at established institutions such as Teatro della Pergola. Small live-music and jazz venues appear across the centre, although the city’s nightlife remains relatively intimate and can be affected by local noise and outdoor-seating regulations.

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Best nightclubs in Florence

Florence’s evenings are shaped more by wine bars, aperitivo and live cultural events than by a large-scale club scene. The streets around Santa Croce, Santo Spirito and Sant’Ambrogio have concentrations of bars where students, residents and visitors gather over Tuscan wine, cocktails and small plates. In the Oltrarno, Santo Spirito’s square and surrounding lanes offer relaxed places to sit outdoors, while the area near Santa Maria Novella includes hotel bars and late-evening venues. Seasonal cultural programming may include concerts, opera, theatre and performances at established institutions such as Teatro della Pergola. Small live-music and jazz venues appear across the centre, although the city’s nightlife remains relatively intimate and can be affected by local noise and outdoor-seating regulations.

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Best shops in Florence

Florence’s shopping districts range from historic market streets to independent artisan workshops. San Lorenzo is associated with leather goods, clothing stalls and the Mercato Centrale, while the nearby Mercato di San Lorenzo occupies a long-standing place in the city’s commercial life. Around Via de’ Tornabuoni and Via della Vigna Nuova, international and Italian fashion houses occupy elegant historic streets, whereas Oltrarno is known for smaller workshops working in leather, paper, jewellery, wood and other crafts. Visitors can also browse Florentine stationery, marbled paper, ceramics, scarves, Tuscan olive oil and packaged regional foods. Quality varies considerably in busy souvenir areas, so traditional shops and established artisan studios offer a more informative way to understand the city’s craft heritage than treating all leather or paper goods as identical.

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Florence essentials

Currency and Payment
Italy uses the euro, with the currency code EUR. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, museums, larger shops and many restaurants, although small cafés, market stalls and some independent businesses may prefer cash or have minimum spending requirements. ATMs are available throughout the centre, but using machines operated by established banks is sensible and visitors should check their own bank’s foreign transaction charges. Keep some small euro notes and coins for modest purchases, public transport tickets and places where card terminals are unavailable.
Safety
Florence is generally manageable for visitors, but crowded sightseeing areas, railway stations and public transport require ordinary precautions against pickpocketing and bag theft. Keep valuables secure, especially around Santa Maria Novella, the Duomo and busy market streets, and avoid leaving phones or bags unattended at outdoor tables. Uneven paving and traffic around central streets can create hazards for pedestrians. At night, use well-lit routes and licensed taxis when travelling beyond the walkable centre. In hot weather, carry water and allow for shade or rest, particularly when climbing to elevated viewpoints.
Emergency Situations
The single European emergency number in Italy is 112, which can connect callers with police, fire and medical assistance. Give the operator the exact location, remain calm and follow instructions; hotel staff, museum personnel and transport employees can often help visitors communicate with services. For urgent medical problems, request an ambulance through 112. Pharmacies display a green cross, and some provide information about out-of-hours services. International visitors should carry identification, travel insurance details and relevant medical information, while non-urgent health concerns can be discussed with a local pharmacy or doctor.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly when entering churches, basilicas and other religious buildings, covering shoulders and avoiding very short clothing where required. Do not sit on monuments, enter restricted areas or touch artworks, and follow photography instructions in museums and chapels. In restaurants, service charges and tipping practices vary, so check the bill and leave a modest amount for good service rather than assuming a fixed percentage. Queue patiently at museums and transport stops, validate paper bus tickets where required, and avoid eating or drinking on steps and around historic monuments where local restrictions may apply.
Local Tips
Santa Maria Novella is convenient for transport and central sights, while Sant’Ambrogio offers a more local market atmosphere and Oltrarno is well suited to artisan workshops, gardens and evening walks. The historic centre becomes quieter before the main museum opening period and during the traditional lunch break, although individual establishments vary. Florence’s viewpoints are more rewarding in clear weather, and the walk to Piazzale Michelangelo involves a steep climb. For a broader sense of the city, combine major Renaissance collections with smaller museum rooms, cloisters and neighbourhood markets rather than concentrating only on the headline monuments.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloCiao[chow]
GoodbyeArrivederci[ah-ree-veh-dehr-chee]
YesSì[see]
NoNo[noh]
Please/You're welcomePer favore/Prego[pehr fah-voh-reh/preh-goh]
Thank youGrazie[grah-tsyeh]
Excuse me/SorryScusi/Mi dispiace[skoo-zee/mee dee-spyah-che]
How are you?Come stai?[koh-meh stah-ee]
Fine. And you?Bene. E tu?[beh-neh. eh too]
Do you speak English?Parli inglese?[pahr-lee een-gleh-zeh]
I don't understandNon capisco[nohn kah-pee-skoh]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseVorrei vedere il menu, per favore[vohr-eh-ee veh-deh-reh eel meh-noo, pehr fah-voh-reh]
I don't eat meatNon mangio carne[nohn mahn-joh kahr-neh]
Cheers!Salute![sah-loo-teh]
I would like to pay, pleaseVorrei pagare, per favore[vohr-eh-ee pah-gah-reh, pehr fah-voh-reh]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Aiuto![ah-yoo-toh]
Go away!Vai via![vah-ee vyah]
Call the Police!Chiama la polizia![kyah-mah lah poh-lee-tsya]
Call a doctor!Chiama un dottore![kyah-mah oon doht-toh-reh]
I'm lostSono perso[soh-noh pehr-soh]
I'm illMi sento male[mee sehn-toh mah-leh]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Vorrei comprare...[vohr-eh-ee kohm-prah-reh]
I'm just lookingSto solo guardando[stoh soh-loh gwahr-dahn-doh]
How much is it?Quanto costa?[kwahn-toh koh-stah]
That's too expensiveÈ troppo caro[eh trohp-poh kah-roh]
Can you lower the price?Puoi abbassare il prezzo?[pwah-ee ab-bah-sah-reh eel preh-tsoh]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Che ora è?[keh oh-rah eh]
It's one o'clockÈ l'una[eh loo-nah]
Half past (10)Sono le dieci e mezza[soh-noh leh dyeh-chee eh meh-tsah]
MorningMattina[maht-tee-nah]
AfternoonPomeriggio[poh-meh-ree-joh]
EveningSera[seh-rah]
YesterdayIeri[yeh-ree]
TodayOggi[oh-jee]
TomorrowDomani[doh-mah-nee]
1Uno[oo-noh]
2Due[doo-eh]
3Tre[treh]
4Quattro[kwah-troh]
5Cinque[cheen-kweh]
6Sei[seh-ee]
7Sette[seht-teh]
8Otto[oh-ttoh]
9Nove[noh-veh]
10Dieci[dyeh-chee]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Dov'è...?[doh-veh]
What's the address?Qual è l'indirizzo?[kwahl eh leen-dee-rit-soh]
Can you show me (on the map)?Puoi mostrarmi (sulla mappa)?[pwah-ee mohs-trar-mee (sool-lah mahp-pah)]
When's the next (bus)?Quando passa il prossimo (autobus)?[kwahn-doh pahs-sah eel prohs-see-moh (ow-toh-boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Un biglietto (per ....)[oon beel-lyet-toh (pehr)]

History of Florence

Roman Florentia and the Arno

Florence began as Florentia, a Roman settlement traditionally dated to 59 BC and established near an important crossing of the Arno. Its street plan followed the ordered grid typical of Roman towns, traces of which survive beneath parts of the modern centre. The river supported movement and trade, while the surrounding plain connected the settlement with routes through Tuscany. After the decline of Roman authority, the town’s fortunes fluctuated, but its location remained significant. The surviving urban fabric is therefore layered: medieval streets and Renaissance palaces occupy ground first organised for Roman civic life.

Medieval Commune and Merchant Wealth

From the eleventh century, Florence grew as a self-governing commune whose prosperity rested on wool manufacture, banking and long-distance commerce. Political life was frequently divided between rival factions, yet expanding wealth financed churches, bridges and public buildings. The city’s relationship with the papacy and with other Tuscan powers, including Siena and Pisa, shaped its diplomacy and conflicts. Guilds played a central role in civic administration, and their influence can still be read in the patronage of religious and public works. By the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Florence had become one of Italy’s most influential urban centres.

The Medici and Renaissance Florence

The Medici family gradually dominated Florentine politics through banking, alliances and cultural patronage. Cosimo de’ Medici returned from exile in 1434 and established an informal authority that was strengthened by his grandson Lorenzo the Magnificent. Artists and architects including Brunelleschi, Donatello, Botticelli and Michelangelo found commissions in a city where wealthy families, guilds and religious institutions competed to display prestige. Brunelleschi’s dome for Santa Maria del Fiore, begun in the fifteenth century, became the defining achievement of this period. Florence’s influence extended through humanist scholarship, literature and political thought as well as visual art.

Republic, Principality and Grand Ducal Rule

Florentine republican traditions were challenged by Medici power and by periods of exile, most famously during the preaching and government of Girolamo Savonarola in the 1490s. The Medici returned, and in 1530 imperial support ended the republic’s independence in practice. Cosimo I de’ Medici became Duke of Florence in 1532 and Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569, centralising authority and expanding the family’s territorial power. The Uffizi complex, the Vasari Corridor and the remodelling of Palazzo Vecchio belong to this era of dynastic government, when art and architecture expressed both civic inheritance and princely authority.

From Tuscan Capital to Modern Italy

After the extinction of the Medici line in 1737, Tuscany passed to the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty before being absorbed into the political reorganisation of Italy. Florence served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865 until 1871, a role that brought demolition, street widening and new civic construction to parts of the historic city. The capital then moved to Rome, while Florence retained its importance as a centre of art, scholarship and tourism. Its museums, libraries and historic buildings helped establish the city as a key site for understanding Italy’s national cultural heritage.

Flood, Recovery and Cultural Preservation

On 4 November 1966, the Arno flooded Florence, damaging homes, churches, libraries and artworks across the city. The disaster prompted an international rescue and conservation effort, with volunteers known as the ‘mud angels’ helping to recover books, paintings and other cultural objects. Restoration continued for decades and influenced modern approaches to the preservation of historic collections. The flood remains part of the city’s modern memory, visible in commemorative plaques and in the continuing attention given to the river, its bridges and the vulnerability of Florence’s artistic heritage.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Florence

Discover Florence with Evendo, your 100% free app-based travel guide. Explore attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more, all in one place.

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Maximize your Florence experience with Evendo, the comprehensive and free travel guide app. Discover attractions, book hotels, and experience the city like a local.

  • Comprehensive history and travel essentials for visiting Florence
  • User-friendly navigation through the app and the city
  • 'Near me' feature to discover nearby attractions and amenities
  • Curated local tips for an authentic experience
  • 100% free to use with no in-app purchases or additional costs

Planning a trip to Florence, Italy? With Evendo, your journey through the cradle of the Renaissance becomes an unforgettable adventure. Evendo is a 100% free app-based travel guide designed to help you explore Florence's rich history, iconic landmarks, and hidden gems effortlessly. From the majestic Florence Cathedral (Duomo) to the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery, and the picturesque Ponte Vecchio, Evendo provides detailed information, local tips, and high-quality images for every attraction.

Imagine strolling through the bustling streets of Florence, seamlessly navigating from the historic Piazza della Signoria to the serene Boboli Gardens with the help of our easy-to-use maps and 'Near me' feature. Craving authentic Italian cuisine? Evendo's curated list of top restaurants, including the famous Trattoria Zà Zà and All'Antico Vinaio, ensures you indulge in the best local flavors.

Booking hotels, tours, and tickets has never been easier. Whether it's a romantic stay at Hotel Lungarno, a guided tour of the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's David, or an immersive wine-tasting experience in the Tuscan countryside, Evendo has it all – in one place. No more endless searching or planning; Evendo simplifies your travel experience, allowing you to focus on making memories.

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