Florence City Breaks

Florence is one of the world's greatest artistic cities. A focal point for the Renaissance, one of history's most dramatic periods of creative endeavour, its churches, galleries and museums are filled with some of the finest art ever created. Florence is not entirely devoted to the arts, however, and visitors who restrict themselves to paintings and sculptures will come away with memories of an indoor city. It's essential to leave the rather gloomy streets and broody palaces for the city's gardens, bridges and half-hidden corners, and more so to join the Florentines - some of the most chic of all Italians - in their pursuit of outdoor pleasures, whether it's window shopping in Via dei Tornabuoni or sipping drinks in the city's elegant old-world cafés.

Florence is compact and easily explored on foot, and the historic heart of the city conforms to the grid of the old Roman colony with its principal points of interest lying on and around the two main squares: Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. The simple charm of the city's medieval and Renaissance streets enchant each visitor, with excellent shopping, from designer stores to lively markets, to quaint bars and traditional restaurants on every corner. Florence truly is a magical city and it's eagerly awaiting your arrival.