Florence is the capital of the region of Tuscany, and has a population of around half a million. The city spans the banks of the Arno. It is a city which bustles with industry and craft, commerce and culture, art and science. Being on the main national railway lines, it is easily accessible from most cities in Italy. The main motorway, A1, connects Florence with Bologna and Milano in the North and Rome and Naples in the South. The climate is temperate but rather variable, with breezy winters and hot summers.

Florence lies in Tuscany which spans from Siena in the south to Luca and Pisa in the west. The Chianti area, between Florence and Siena, is one of the most beautiful countrysides in Italy and a famous wine production area. Tuscany offers so much for travelers, so it is good to consider adding a few days or a day trip to the rolling green hills lined with Cyprus trees. 

The main sites in Florence include the Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore) and amazing museums, like the Academia, where you can see Michaelangelo’s David and the Uffuzi. The city sites on the Arno with one of the most famous bridges, the Ponte Vecchio. For miles you can see the world’s largest masonry dome and a cathedral that contains art from over 600 years. Filippo Brunelleschi, a goldsmith and clockmaker, solved this figured out how to finish the dome in the 15th century. Four hundred sixty three steps were included to allow access to the top of the dome.  You can climb to the top of the dome or the bell tower for the best panoramic view of Florence.