Where to stay in Florence: best boutique hotels, luxury hotels and trendy holiday flats

Best hotels and villas in FLORENCE

Why Florence? For its museums, for its fashion brands, for the unbeatable Tuscan gastronomy, for enjoying the sunsets on the Ponte Vecchio or for its impressive sculptures and works of art. There are many reasons that make Florence the ideal destination whether you are looking for a romantic getaway or a cultural holiday.

We have put together a selection of the most beautiful places to stay in Florence. Not many, but a hand-picked selection of beautiful holiday flats , wonderful boutique hotels in Florence, luxury hotels and romantic bed & breakfast. Our accommodations are perfect to spend a romantic weekend or a city break here, and to discover the wonderful architecture and museums. From our hotels, the main attractions are just a stone's throw away and the best restaurants are just around the corner - we've visited them all ourselves. It is especially nice to enjoy the sunset over the rooftops of Florence with a good glass of wine - in general, we love Florence.

Florence – what to do

For centuries, the beautiful Tuscan capital was the centre of culture in Italy and Europe. Its numerous museums, palaces, churches and monuments, which are still exquisitely preserved today, bear witness to this. Situated between two hills and crossed by the river Arno, Florence is a city that has been able to preserve its historical and artistic heritage and at the same time become an emerging centre of modern culture. The cradle of the Renaissance, named a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. A city full of monuments, museums to visit, streets to walk, villas and palaces to admire. The list is endless when it comes to Florence: who can resist the Florentine charm?

The symbol of Florence is, without a doubt, the Ponte Vecchio. However, its attractions do not end with a visit to this mythical construction. Florence has a multitude of unmissable tourist sites such as the Piazza del Duomo, the civil and religious centre of the city; the Cathedral; Giotto's Campanile; the Battistero; the Piazza della Signoria and the Church of Santa Croce.

Although the best way to get to know this city is to get lost in its charming streets, right out of a postcard. We invite you to walk along the famous Via de Pecori and the busy Via Brunelleschi to Piazza della Repubblica, one of the most important squares in the city. Afterwards, you can reach the Fontana del Porcellino by following Via Pelliceria. Through Via Porta Rossa and past Piazza della Signoria, you will end up in the famous Piazzale degli Uffizi, from where you can admire the views of the Ponte Vecchio.

You cannot leave Florence without visiting the Accademia Gallery and admiring Michelangelo's David. After enjoying the fabulous sculptures in this museum, you can go to the Duomo via Via Ricasoli, where you can climb up to the dome for a close-up view of Brunelleschi's beautiful works. Near the Duomo is the Battisterio; stop for a moment to admire the original Gates of Paradise, you won't regret it.

From Via Giuseppe Verdi you can reach the Church of Santa Croce, a spectacular architectural ensemble and the largest Franciscan church in the world.

For art lovers, Florence is a real paradise. Don't miss the impressive Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important art galleries in the world, where you can admire works by geniuses such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian. From here you can easily reach the Palazzo Vecchio, the former residence and workplace of the court of Florence.

Florence also has the Museum of the Costume and the Museum of the Carriages; the beautiful Italian gardens can be admired in the Giardino di Boboli. In the Museum of the Opera del Duomo one of Michelangelo’s "Pietà" can be admired. Then, there are the Bargello museum and the Accademia with the original of David.

Florence is ideal for exploring – it is completely flat and cars are banished from almost all of the city centre so wander in undisturbed peace. If you want to take a day trip, Pisa is easily reached by train, Siena by coach and local buses drive up to Fiesole, a beautiful town above Florence with a wonderfully preserved Roman theatre. Rome too is easy to get to – just one and a half hours on the Eurostar.

You are in a very beautiful city in the centre of a very beautiful country, enjoy it!

Buon Viaggio

Best hotels and villas in FLORENCE

Gastronomy in Florence

Florentine gastronomy makes use of the fresh food provided by the agricultural areas around the capital of Tuscany. Basic ingredients are fused into elaborate recipes, full of tradition and mastery, giving rise to an exquisite cuisine.

You cannot travel to Florence and not try its antipasti. Among the most popular are the crostini di fegato, fried bread covered with a mixture of meat (veal, chicken, goose or duck) mixed with chopped anchovies, onion and capers.

Bread is also very important in the Florentine diet. Tuscan bread (also called 'pan sciocco') is distinguished by its thick crust and total absence of salt. The original recipe dates back to the Middle Ages, when a war between Florence and Pisa cut off the supply of salt to the Medici city and bakers had to find an alternative to the traditional recipe. It is usually served with local olive oil or a few slices of Tuscan ham.

Among the highlights of Florentine cuisine are soups such as ribollita (made with a local variety of black cabbage, cannellini, tomatoes and reheated stale bread) and pappa al pomodoro (with tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil and stale bread).

Meat dishes are also a staple of Florentine cuisine. The pappardelle al sugo di lepre (pasta cooked with hare meat, served with or without tomato) stands out; bistecca alla fiorentina (a thick-cut beef tenderloin, served rare), tagliata con rucola (a roast cut of beef cut into strips and topped with rocket, rosemary, parmesan, oil and pepper), and stracotto (a stew of beef, tomato, celery and carrots).

When it comes to desserts, the Italians are masters when it comes to ice cream. However, if you fancy a typical Florentine dessert, you can try cantuccini (almond biscuits) with a glass of vin santo (one of the region's liqueur wines) or enjoy them with an espresso coffee. You can also try the exquisite schiacciata alla fiorentina, a lemon-flavoured sponge cake covered with vanilla and sugar. These are real pastry gems.

Best hotels and villas in FLORENCE