Florence: A Lover’s Paradise - Our Guide
Florence - the Cradle of the Renaissance - is blessed with one of the most concentrated collections of art and architecture on the planet, and is perfect for a romantic city escape.
The entire central area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, indicating just how culture and history-rich the Tuscan capital is.
With your lover in hand, climb the Duomo for sublime views over the city, explore the vast Uffizi gallery, then ascend the Piazzale Michelangelo and witness the sun set behind the enchanting Ponte Vecchio.
It's an open-air museum wonderland augmented with fabulous Tuscan food and a plethora of shopping opportunities.
For couples in particular, there is quite simply nowhere else like it.
Getting Around Florence
Florence has a good bus system, but if you're relatively fit you'll find most of the city walkable. Indeed, walking hand-in-hand as you navigate the fabulous tangle of old alleyways is surely the most romantic way to get around.
Cars are not permitted in the centre, unless they are owned by residents - although taxis are allowed.
The lack of traffic makes the city perfect for pedestrians.
When is the best time to visit Florence?
Arrive between March and September for the most agreeable weather, but be warned temperatures can rise to 40 degrees in mid-summer.
Winters can see the mercury plummet to below zero.
Main attractions in Florence
Piazza del Duomo
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Since Florence is a rather modestly-sized city, you'll probably end up passing through the Piazza del Duomo numerous times. But as well as being a natural crossroads, it's a wonderful place for couples to canoodle over a coffee at a pavement cafe - or over an evening glass of wine.
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
The square's main attraction is the Duomo - or Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore - with its mighty red-tiled dome.
Access to all monuments of the Great Museum of the Cathedral costs 18 euros, and you must book a specific time range to visit Brunelleschi's Dome.
If you or your lover get claustrophobic, give the climb to the top a miss.
Basilica di San Lorenzo
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The rustic - and unfinished - façade of Basilica di San Lorenzo is a far cry from the grandeur of the Duomo. Yet it has its own ancient allure, not least because it is steeped in Florentine history and was once the city's chief cathedral.
Santa Croce Church
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Many of the city's most famous sons are buried in this glorious church. But while paying homage to Michelangelo, Rossini, Galileo and Dante is an enriching - and thoroughly romantic - experience, so are the church's 16 chapels, adored with all manner of breath-taking artworks - not least of which are a number of frescoes by Giotto.
Romantic sunsets over the Ponte Vecchio
The first incarnation of the Ponte Vecchio was erected by the Etruscans and until 1218 it was the only bridge spanning the Arno. After being damaged by a flood in 1345, it was rebuilt.
As occupying Germans fled the city in World War Two, it was spared destruction - unlike all of its sister bridges.
Here you can peruse the many high-end jewellery shops on the bridge (engagement ring, anyone?), and later, before the sun wanes, take your lover to the south bank and up to the Piazzale Michelangelo.
Here, hand-in-hand, you can witness the sky being painted in hues of pink and orange, silhouetting Florence's oldest and best-loved bridge.
Piazza della Signoria
Not far from the Ponte Vecchio is the Piazza della Signoria, where you'll find Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Museum, the Palazzo Uguccioni and the Loggia de Lanzi.
Relax in one of the many cafés and admire sculptures such as a Statue of David replica (prone to get the amorous juices flowing); the Fountain of Neptune; Hercules and Cacus; and Perseus with the Head of Medusa.
Uffizi Gallery
Don't let the long queues put you off: the Uffizi is worth the wait.
101 rooms covering two floors are home to a vast assemblage of art and sculpture, the corpus of which is the Renaissance collection, bequeathed by the Medici family on the condition that it never leaves Florence.
The loss of billionaire collectors in New York and Tokyo is the gain of everyone who visits Tuscany's enchanting capital.
The art is laid out in chronological order, but if time is short you may want to make a beeline for famous works such as: the Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli; the Coronation of the Virgin by Fra Angelico; and Laocoön and his Sons by Baccio Bandinelli.
Avoid getting “Uffizi'd out” by limiting your artistic binges to three or four hours.
When the beauty gets too much, ascend to the rooftop café, affording predictably amazing views and some fresh air.
As you sip your espresso with your favourite person, ponder that from this spot the Medici family would gather to enjoy musical performances in the square below.
At certain times of the year the Uffizi is open until 10pm. Fewer visitors make an evening visit appealing to many.
Boboli Gardens
As with so many attractions in Florence, the Medici family masterminded the alluring Boboli Gardens. This 16th-century wonder features many garden sculptures and is perfect if you need respite from the thronging masses.
It's also a thoroughly romantic spot and a great place for an amorous picnic together.
Galleria de Accadamia
Home to Michaelangelo's David, the Galleria de Accadamia should be an essential item on your Florence itinerary.
Queues can be very long, so it's a good idea to buy tickets by phone or online beforehand. You'll save money, but best of all, you'll be able to skip the main line.
Try to arrive early so you enjoy the sculptures and artwork in relative peace and quiet (at least for a while).
While Michelangelo created many stunning artworks, David is one of the most famous. When asked why he worked so furiously on David, Michelangelo replied: "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."
Alongside works by Michelangelo, the gallery also features originals and casts of sculptures by Giambologna.
Buy tickets: Florence Museum
Accommodation options in Florence
There are a variety of accommodation types in Florence, ranging from 5-Star hotels to convents (the latter sporting rigid rules that might not suit couples).
You'll also find bed and breakfasts (although despite the name, you don't always get breakfast); regular hotels (with star ratings based on services offered); agri-tourism farms in the surrounding hills; and hostels for those on a tighter budget.
However, for couples who don't want to break the bank, the regular mid-range rooms deliver the requisite privacy for an amorous few days in the Cradle of the Renaissance - without a hefty price tag.
Florence food
Like the rest of Italy, Florentines take their food very seriously.
If you and your other half are food lovers, there is no better place to be. Wonderful fresh bread, wine, olives and olive oil are a mainstay of eateries across the city.
Crostini di fegato
Sample delicious antipasti such as crostini di fegato: croutons loaded with liver spread (chicken; duck; goose or veal) and combined with onions, capers and chopped anchovies.
Bistecca alla fiorentina
The carnivorous delights continue, with Bistecca alla fiorentina - a thick porterhouse cut of beef.
The meat is sourced from the local Chianina cattle breed and can weigh between 800g and 1.2kg!
Ribollita & pappa al pomodoro
You'll soon discover that bread features in almost every Florentine meal. The locals even make use of dry or stale bread in soups such as ribollita, which usually features black cabbage, cannellini beans and tomato; and in pappa al pomodoro, in which the main ingredients are tomatoes, basil, garlic - and stale bread!
Vegetarian and vegan options
There are a host of vegetarian and vegan restaurants scattered across Florence. Girl In Florence does a great job of listing some of the best.
Regular eateries will have some vegetarian options, even if it's simply margarita pizza. The soups listed above are usually prepared without meat and you can ask for other meals to be made meat-free.
If you venture into the countryside, non-meat dietary needs may not be so well met, particularly if you're vegan.
Cheap eats
The most affordable restaurants are found in the streets between the railway station and San Lorenzo.
Costly restaurants
More expensive options lie around Santa Croce and south of the Arno River. Such establishments can get very busy on the weekend, so be sure to book ahead.
Shopping in Florence
While Florence is a joy for lovers of art and architecture, it's also a wonderland for shopaholics.
Myriad leather goods and locally-produced souvenirs are sure to keep you busy for hours.
Don't rush into a purchase since there are a great many shops and market stalls to explore. And when you do buy, be sure to haggle. Set aside time to visit the San Lorenzo markets, the central market and the Sant'Ambrogio market.
Things to be aware of when visiting Florence
- The unusual building numbering system - Black numbers are residential, red are business addresses. Be aware of the difference to avoid confusion when locating your accommodation.
- Don't hail a cab - They are not allowed to pick up random pedestrians. Instead, go to a taxi stand or order a cab by phone.
- Dress smartly - If you don't want to be regarded as a clueless tourist, dress smart. That said, you might want to give high heels a miss since the uneven pavements and roads of Florence could see you face-plant painfully. While the local ladies manage it, they have lots of experience.