Florence, Italy is one of the most gorgeous places on the planet. It is the birthplace of the Renaissance. It is also a massive contributor to the fashion world with Roberto Cavalli and Gucci but to mention a few whose headquarters are in Florence. The city is also the setting for the Dan Brown book Inferno, in which the protagonist searches for Botticelli's map of Inferno. If you are an avid fan, you can even take in a tour of the books main places in the city.
Piazzale Michelangelo
One of the first places, you will want to visit when you get to Florence is the Piazzale Michelangelo. It is up a relatively steep climb that will take you around 20 minutes to arrive at your destination. If the walk is a little tough, you can catch a taxi for a few Euros, or there is a bus that runs the route fairly regularly. Once you have reached the summit you are greeted with possibly the best panoramic view of the whole city, so make sure you have your cameras at the ready. It is hard to describe just how beautiful this really is.
Food
The Italians are well known for their food are rightly so. What better way to experience Italian life than with a food tour. Again a few places offer this, and you are whisked around the city trying various delicacies. If however, you would prefer to do it under your own steam there is a fantastic market, filled with fantastic foods and aromas. You can then take these back to your apartment – you can use Venere.com to find one and then gorge on the finest foods Europe has to offer.
Bike Tours
One of the best family-friendly ways to see the city is via bike. There are quite a few tours available that can rent you the required gear, such as your bike and safety equipment. They typically have a short safety brief beforehand and are on hand to help anyone, especially the young and the older members of the group. Once underway you will be treated to some of the best views the city has to offer, before stopping off midway for a hearty lunch. Just be aware that the summer heat can be quite excessive, so remember to stock up on water and sunscreen.
Art
The city is full to the brim with amazing artworks. One of the best ways to see some of the most impressive works of art available in the world is in the Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi houses works by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Michelangelo and Da Vinci. This was never intended to be a gallery so it is worth noting that you will probably have to queue for quite some time to get in. It is worth reserving your tickets the previous day or going to the gallery as the doors open. However, this does not always guarantee fast entry.
