Among the most famous Italian cities in the world, with a history and cultural heritage that make most cities of art pale in comparison, Florence, despite its small size, capital of Tuscany, (yes! Tuscany is a region, and Chianti, a region in Tuscany!) is known for being the cradle of the Renaissance.

Home of the famous Medici dynasty, who transformed it into the vital center of the Peninsula at the beginning of the 15th century thanks to the incredible talent for politics, patronage, trade, art and culture of Lorenzo the Magnificent, it is also the birthplace of Caterina de Medici, Queen of France between 1547 and 59.

Caterina brought to Castelo de Bois many elements of her homeland, such as Tuscan cuisine and the introduction of the use of the fork and tablecloths. She was also very interested in fashion and introduced many innovations such as the first stiletto heels and corsets.

Florence has an indissoluble bond with an astonishing series of characters such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Amerigo Vespucci, Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Botticelli, Dante, but also others, in recent times, loved by the latest generations such as the actors and directors Roberto Benigni, the stylists Roberto Cavalli, Ferragamo and Scervino.

A city that has managed to maintain its brand image even in modern times, here we find not only medieval history, but countless fashion museums such as the Gucci and Ferragamo museums, very modern bars and restaurants located in ancient buildings such as towers!

Despite what you might think, Florence is a very small city, on a human scale, whose historic center can be entirely (and easily) visited on foot, especially because a large part of it is pedestrian.

A trip to Florence takes more than a lifetime, but you can make the most of it, in two or three days, by planning a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, the famous gallery where you can admire extraordinary works such as Botticelli’s Venus, the Accademia Gallery, to see Michelangelo’s wonderful David, without forgetting to plan a free day to walk and get lost in the beautiful medieval streets of this enchanting city!