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The center of the Italian Renaissance, the birthplace of modern politics, the source of today's banking – Florence is all of these things and more. No trip to Italy is complete until you’ve explored the streets, palaces, art museums, and gardens of this Northern Italian city, filled with some of Western civilization’s greatest architecture, paintings, and sculpture.
For some of the world's greatest Renaissance art – think Giotto, Masaccio, Donatello, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Da Vinci – with the feel of an open-air museum.
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Florence has been courting tourists for centuries, so lodging options abound. In the last few years, a number of homey B&Bs and boutique hotels have further widened the city's portfolio of accommodations. High season prices may be steep, but attractive moderate and budget options are also available if you know where to look.
Antica Dimora Johlea
Small, friendly, beautifully decorated and reasonably priced, this is the most conveniently located (though slightly more...
Hotel Loggiato dei Serviti
Located within five minutes' walk of the Duomo, this hotel feels like a step back in time. The Renaissance building dates from...
Palazzo Galletti
Officially classified as a "Residenza d'epoca" (tourist accommodation in a period setting), the recently renovated...
Pensione Alessandra
Two-star Alessandra is a 27-roomer occupying the second floor of a palace built at the start of the 16th Century by Baccio...
Porta Rossa
It occupies a medieval palazzo near the Ponte Vecchio and is loaded with ornate frescoes, parquet floors, chandeliers, gold...
Gallery Hotel Art
When it opened in 1999, this 74-roomer made history in Florentine hoteliering: the city had never known such a sleek and...
N4U Guesthouse
Located halfway between the Duomo and the Bargello in a 14th-century building, this stylish new guesthouse has five themed...
Una Hotel Vittoria
Located in the Oltrarno just steps outside the massive San Frediano gate of the old ring of city walls, this unconventional...
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
It took seven years to convert the Renaissance-era Palazzo della Gherardesca, its 12-acre private park, and a nearby...
Grand Hotel
Located right by the Arno in an elegant 18th Century palace, the hotel shares a Renaissance square with the French Consulate...
Grand Hotel Baglioni
Dating from 1903, this traditional Tuscan hotel was once home to Carrega Bertolini princes. Corridors lined with historic...
Hotel Azzi - Locanda degli Artisti
Since 1948 the two-star Hotel Azzi has occupied the former printing premises of one of the city's most important publishers,...
Hotel Constantini
An unpretentious two-star hotel, but in such a prime position in an old building right by the Duomo that its 14 rooms are in...
Hotel Dalì
While you can't expect luxury from a one-star hotel, here you can at least count on a warm welcome and genuine attention by...
Antica Dimora Johlea
Small, friendly, beautifully decorated and reasonably priced, this is the most conveniently located (though slightly more...
Hotel Loggiato dei Serviti
Located within five minutes' walk of the Duomo, this hotel feels like a step back in time. The Renaissance building dates from...
Palazzo Galletti
Officially classified as a "Residenza d'epoca" (tourist accommodation in a period setting), the recently renovated...
Pensione Alessandra
Two-star Alessandra is a 27-roomer occupying the second floor of a palace built at the start of the 16th Century by Baccio...
Porta Rossa
It occupies a medieval palazzo near the Ponte Vecchio and is loaded with ornate frescoes, parquet floors, chandeliers, gold...
Antica Dimora Johlea
Small, friendly, beautifully decorated and reasonably priced, this is the most conveniently located (though slightly more...
Gallery Hotel Art
When it opened in 1999, this 74-roomer made history in Florentine hoteliering: the city had never known such a sleek and...
N4U Guesthouse
Located halfway between the Duomo and the Bargello in a 14th-century building, this stylish new guesthouse has five themed...
Palazzo Galletti
Officially classified as a "Residenza d'epoca" (tourist accommodation in a period setting), the recently renovated...
Pensione Alessandra
Two-star Alessandra is a 27-roomer occupying the second floor of a palace built at the start of the 16th Century by Baccio...
Una Hotel Vittoria
Located in the Oltrarno just steps outside the massive San Frediano gate of the old ring of city walls, this unconventional...
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
It took seven years to convert the Renaissance-era Palazzo della Gherardesca, its 12-acre private park, and a nearby...
Gallery Hotel Art
When it opened in 1999, this 74-roomer made history in Florentine hoteliering: the city had never known such a sleek and...
Grand Hotel
Located right by the Arno in an elegant 18th Century palace, the hotel shares a Renaissance square with the French Consulate...
Grand Hotel Baglioni
Dating from 1903, this traditional Tuscan hotel was once home to Carrega Bertolini princes. Corridors lined with historic...
Una Hotel Vittoria
Located in the Oltrarno just steps outside the massive San Frediano gate of the old ring of city walls, this unconventional...
Hotel Azzi - Locanda degli Artisti
Since 1948 the two-star Hotel Azzi has occupied the former printing premises of one of the city's most important publishers,...
Hotel Constantini
An unpretentious two-star hotel, but in such a prime position in an old building right by the Duomo that its 14 rooms are in...
Hotel Dalì
While you can't expect luxury from a one-star hotel, here you can at least count on a warm welcome and genuine attention by...
N4U Guesthouse
Located halfway between the Duomo and the Bargello in a 14th-century building, this stylish new guesthouse has five themed...
You will of course find pasta and pizza, but it's Tuscan fare that rules the kitchens here (think bean and bread soups, steak, wild boar, duck, rabbit, and tripe). And if you think that Florence's culinary repertoire has something of a French flavor . . . that's because it was Caterina de' Medici who wanted her Florentine cooks to follow her to Paris when she became Queen of France in the 16th century.
'Ino
This classy deli and sandwich bar has carved for itself a devout niche among local gourmands. Formerly a fashion executive,...
Amon
This cheap yet delicious Egyptian, Greek, and Turkish take away shop has been in business since 1987, so one might well say it...
Carabe
For some truly original ice-cream flavors – like fennel, raisin, artichoke, or tomato – you can't beat this...
Ruth's
Located by the Synagogue, this reasonably priced Jewish restaurant (the only one in town) serves kosher vegetable and fish...
Salamanca
For good tapas and fun times, this Spanish bar/restaurant is hard to beat. Iberian specialties include bocadillos, sopas, and...
Borgo San Jacopo
Book one of the four tables on the tiny riverside terrace of this exclusive restaurant inside the Hotel Lungarno: the stunning...
Cantinetta Antinori
The perfect place to round up a shopping spree on via Tornabuoni. Antinori is the equivalent of Armani in the wine world, and...
Cibrèo
Creatively revisited Tuscan classics – including stuffed pigeon, one of their most celebrated dishes – are the...
Enoteca Pinchiorri
This is one widely regarded as one of Italy's epicurean temples, and the prices are in the same stellar league. You can order...
Terrazza Brunelleschi
The roof garden of the Grand Hotel Baglioni hosts this restaurant and bar which in summer becomes an alfresco nightclub. The...
Cantina Barbagianni
An intimate cellar with innovative Tuscan cuisine and a rotating menu featuring dishes like pheasant in white-wine sauce with...
Il Latini
Locals and visitors dine side by side at the communal tables of this busy eatery, popular for its excellent Florentine...
Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco
You'll find authentic Tuscan cuisine at fair prices, and a warm welcome. As the name implies, wild boar (cinghiale) is the...
Pitti Gola e Cantina
Opposite Palazzo Pitti, this is the perfect stop for some refreshment after an art overdose. Prices are higher than you might...
Ross' Restaurant
A new entry on Florence's culinary scene, this grill restaurant serves Chianina, Argentinian, and Irish Angus beef. This is...
'Ino
This classy deli and sandwich bar has carved for itself a devout niche among local gourmands. Formerly a fashion executive,...
Amon
This cheap yet delicious Egyptian, Greek, and Turkish take away shop has been in business since 1987, so one might well say it...
Carabe
For some truly original ice-cream flavors – like fennel, raisin, artichoke, or tomato – you can't beat this...
Ruth's
Located by the Synagogue, this reasonably priced Jewish restaurant (the only one in town) serves kosher vegetable and fish...
Salamanca
For good tapas and fun times, this Spanish bar/restaurant is hard to beat. Iberian specialties include bocadillos, sopas, and...
Borgo San Jacopo
Book one of the four tables on the tiny riverside terrace of this exclusive restaurant inside the Hotel Lungarno: the stunning...
Cantinetta Antinori
The perfect place to round up a shopping spree on via Tornabuoni. Antinori is the equivalent of Armani in the wine world, and...
Cibrèo
Creatively revisited Tuscan classics – including stuffed pigeon, one of their most celebrated dishes – are the...
Enoteca Pinchiorri
This is one widely regarded as one of Italy's epicurean temples, and the prices are in the same stellar league. You can order...
Terrazza Brunelleschi
The roof garden of the Grand Hotel Baglioni hosts this restaurant and bar which in summer becomes an alfresco nightclub. The...
Cantina Barbagianni
An intimate cellar with innovative Tuscan cuisine and a rotating menu featuring dishes like pheasant in white-wine sauce with...
Il Latini
Locals and visitors dine side by side at the communal tables of this busy eatery, popular for its excellent Florentine...
Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco
You'll find authentic Tuscan cuisine at fair prices, and a warm welcome. As the name implies, wild boar (cinghiale) is the...
Pitti Gola e Cantina
Opposite Palazzo Pitti, this is the perfect stop for some refreshment after an art overdose. Prices are higher than you might...
Ross' Restaurant
A new entry on Florence's culinary scene, this grill restaurant serves Chianina, Argentinian, and Irish Angus beef. This is...