From the artistic glories of the uffizzi gallery to civic jewels like the Ponte Vecchio, Florence is a city where history and culture permeate every aspect of life.
Modern temptations are close at hand, too. Like the stores on Via Tornabuoni and Via della Vigna Nuova, offering luxuries from the likes of Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Fendi.
Siena, Florence’s arch-rival for centuries, is home to equally striking architecture, including its famous, undulating sea of red roof tiles. With cars banned from its main arterial roads, it’s a city for walking, filled with enchanting alleyways and cobbled streets.
These two cities alone could provide a lifetime’s exploring, but there’s much more to see. You can also visit Pisa, a city so ancient even the Romans called it old, and which has much more to discover than just the famous Tower. There are over 20 churches, as well as palaces and a host of bridges.
Nearby Lucca is famous as the birthplace of Puccini, and for its medieval city walls that still stand today. And San Gimignano is another must-see. This fairy-tale city is best known for its extraordinary towers, built by competing families in the Middle ages. The tallest, Torre Grossa, climbs 177 feet into the sky, giving breathtaking views of the city and countryside.