Why go à FLORENCE - FIRENZE?
The good reasons to go à FLORENCE - FIRENZE
The prestigious Uffizi Gallery
The most valuable collection of Renaissance art in the world is housed here.
In the footsteps of the Medici family
Discover the treasures of a dynasty that succeeded in imposing itself at the head of Florence.
The beauty of architecture
A paradise of forms, between Renaissance palaces and the balancing stalls of the Ponte Vecchio.
A great gastronomic reputation
A destination for any self-respecting epicurean, Tuscany is renowned for its cuisine.
Florence, cradle of the Renaissance
The Stendhal syndrome is there to remind us of the profusion of masterpieces in Firenze.
The Italian way of life
La dolce vita, with a glass of Chianti in hand, is the perfect expression of the Florentine atmosphere.
Rich, domesticated nature
Away from its capital, the refined charm of Tuscany doesn't fade - quite the contrary.
Tuscany as an image of Epinal
Let yourself be enchanted by the gentle hills scaled with vines and the green of the cypresses.
An initiatory route for the aesthete
With a pilgrim's staff, follow the Via Francigena in search of spirituality or Chianti.
A warm welcome like the sun
In Florence or elsewhere, you will be welcomed with a lot of heart, joy and warmth.
Good to know when visiting FLORENCE - FIRENZE
Timetable
Museums are often open free of charge on the first Sunday of the month (closed on Monday or Tuesday). It is best to visit during the week, even if Florence is always very busy, to avoid the weekend tourists.
It is best to avoid an accumulation of visits, preferring to visit museums and churches in the morning (some of them are only open at this time), and to go for walks, excursions in the area and shopping in the afternoon.
To be booked
In order to facilitate your visit, it is recommended that you purchase a pass for the Santa Maria del Fiore complex in advance on the official website: duomo.firenze.it. Three passes are available: Brunelleschi 30 €, Giotto 20 € and Ghiberti 15 €, valid for three days. Entrance to the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral is free.
Remember to book your visit to the Uffizi Gallery online(www.uffizi.it); the €4 surcharge will save you the long wait in line. Tickets can be picked up ten minutes before your entry time at Gate 3.
The institution "Firenze Musei" administers the Florentine public museums and has a website (www.firenzemusei.it) with a lot of practical information. It is possible to buy tickets online to avoid the frequent queues.
Budget & Tips
Tickets for the monuments and museums of Florence are often combined. Remember also that admission is generally free on the first Sunday of the month (from October to March), for EU residents under 18, and reduced for those under 25.
Don't forget the "Firenze Card": this personal card, valid for 72 hours, gives access to the main museums and churches of Florence with priority entry, without reservation (except for the dome : it is necessary to reserve a slot in advance). Price: €85. Points of sale: museums, tourist offices or online(www.firenzecard.it).
Main events
The public holidays are January1(Capodanno), January 6(Epifania), Easter(Pasqua) and Easter Monday(Pasquetta), April 25(Festa della Liberazione), May1(Festa del Lavoro), june 2(Festa della Repubblica), August 15(Ferragosto), November1(Ognissanti), December 8(Immacolata Concezione), December 25(Natale) and December 26(Santo Stefano).
In addition, each city in Tuscany has a holiday on the day of its patron saint. In Florence, it is June 24(Festa di San Giovanni Battista). Last but not least, do not confuse giorno festivo (holiday) and giorno feriale (working day)!
Guided tours
The main tourist office of Florence (www.feelflorence.it) is located in Piazza della Stazione, in front of the Santa Maria Novella train station. It is here, from Monday to Saturday 9am-7pm and Sunday 9am-2pm, that you can book a guided tour, accommodation or the Firenze Card. There are three other less formal addresses: via Camillo Cavour 1 (north of piazza del Duomo, a stone's throw from Palazzo Medici Riccardi), piazza di San Giovanni 1 (right next to the Baptistery of San Giovanni) and, finally, at the Florence airport.
As everywhere, the red buses (www.firenze.city-sightseeing.it) allow you to visit the city in comfort. It is also possible to tour the city by bicycle or on the Arno River (www.florencetown.com), or even by Segway (www.italysegwaytours.com).
Tourist traps
Beware of touts near the museums who will offer you discounted tickets: always buy your tickets on the official website. Also, avoid buying counterfeit tickets or you will be fined heavily. Indeed, in the vicinity of tourist sites and in the main squares, stalls of bags and clothes imitating famous brands abound.
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Discover FLORENCE - FIRENZE
At the heart of a cirque of hills interspersed with cypress trees, Florence, the Tuscan capital and city of art par excellence, continues to exert an unrivalled fascination on the collective imagination. Its marvels have stood the test of time, earning it the nickname Florence the Magnificent. Aesthetically, the Florentine city is an absolute and undisputed benchmark, inscribed on Unesco's World Heritage List. So, after being deprived of travel for so long, what better choice than Florence?
But Tuscany, between tradition and modernism, also boasts a strong identity, a dynamic diversified economy, refined craftsmanship, age-old festivities that are still very much alive today and, of course, world-renowned oeno-gastronomy. Here, we'd like to introduce you to all these different facets, not forgetting the modern Florence of the 21st century.
