Florence Hotels : Country Houses

Florence lies on the Arno River and has a population of around 400,000 people. A center of medieval European trade and finance, the city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and was long ruled by the Medici family. Florence is also famous for its magnificent art and architecture and is one of Italy's most atmospheric and pleasant city, retaining a strong resemblance to the small late-medieval centre that contributed so much to the artistic and political development of Europe. The historic Centre of Florence was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1982.

The best-known site and crowning architectural jewel of Florence is "The Duomo", built by Filippo Brunelleschi. At the heart of the city in Piazza della Signoria is Bartolommeo Ammanati's Fountain of Neptune, which is a masterpiece of marble sculpture. During a visit to Florence you cannot miss the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), the San Lorenzo Church who contains the Medici Chapel, and the Uffizi Gallery, one of the finest art galleries in the world.

• Uffizi Gallery

A handful of European and domestic flights serve Florence's Amerigo Vespucci airport, but, flying into Florence for most people actually means flying into Pisa's Galileo Galilei airport, 80 minutes away, connected by direct train. A city bus runs every half-hour from the main train station to Amerigo Vespucci airport. Buses service the city centre and Fiesole in the hills northeast of town. Traffic is restricted in the city centre, so it's best to park a little out of town and walk around - parking in the more central areas is very expensive.

• Airport Florence
• Pubblic Transport
• Airport Pisa

Florentine food grows out of a tradition of peasant eating rather than rarefied high cooking. Starters include crostini toscani (sliced bread topped with a chicken liver-based paté) and bruschetta, the typically saltless Tuscan bread with garlic and olive oil. Very famous are the soups, ribollita and pappa al pomodoro and the panzanella, a salad of bread and fresh vegetables usually served in summer. The most famous main course is the bistecca alla fiorentina, a huge steak of Chianina beef cooked over hot charcoal and served very rare.

Tourism is unquestionably the most significant industry within the center of Florence. On any given day between April and October, the local population is greatly outnumbered by tourists from all over the world. Florence is also home to the Italian haute couture establishment Gucci, Prada and Roberto Cavalli have large offices and stores in Florence or its outskirts. The monumentale complex of the Fortezza da Basso, built on the outskirts of a medieval city from a design by the great architect Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, is now the main exhibition centre in Florence, where all the most important trade fairs and shows are held (from Pitti Immagine to the International Exchange of Congress Tourism, Florence Gift Mart to Eurocamper, the International Exhibition of Crafts to Prato Expo...).

• fairy Florence
• PITTI IMMAGINE