Florence is best discovered slowly, starting in Piazza della Signoria, where you’ll find Michelangelo’s David (a replica) standing near the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, Neptune’s Fountain, and the open-air Loggia dei Lanzi filled with Renaissance sculptures like Cellini’s Perseus with the Head of Medusa. Visit the Uffizi Gallery with a private guide to see Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Caravaggio’s Medusa, Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo, da Vinci’s Annunciation, and Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch, masterpieces displayed in a gallery once used by the Medici family to move between their palace and government offices.

 Just beyond the historic center, step inside the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David in its original form. It is housed beneath a domed skylight, every detail carved from a single block of Carrara marble. Afterward, leave the crowds behind and cross the river to the Oltrarno district. Here, you’ll find a quieter side of Florence, artisan workshops, family-run trattorias, and scenic climbs. Stop in Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina for a glass of wine and admire the Pitti Palace in front of you. Head up to Piazzale Michelangelo or the Romanesque San Miniato al Monte for sweeping views of the city’s red-tiled rooftops and the Arno curving through its heart, especially breathtaking at sunset.

 But Florence isn’t only about what’s framed on walls; it’s a city alive with artisanship. Watch leather being cut by hand in a Santa Croce workshop, visit a paper marbler in Oltrarno, or browse a goldsmith’s studio nestled behind the Ponte Vecchio. These traditions aren’t preserved, they’re practiced.

 Florentine food reflects the city’s balance of simplicity and refinement. Try ribollita, a rich vegetable and bread soup, or bistecca alla fiorentina, a thick-cut T-bone grilled over coals. Visit Mercato Centrale to taste regional cheeses, cured meats, and Chianti wines. A cooking class with a local chef can take you from a market stall to handmade pasta in just a few hours.

 Florence’s neighborhoods each offer something distinct. Stroll the quieter lanes of Santo Spirito, enjoy live music near Piazza Santa Croce, or relax in Boboli Gardens, once the private playground of the Medici family. Visit historic perfumeries, artisan boutiques, and rooftop terraces that open onto Brunelleschi’s dome, one of Europe’s most admired architectural feats.

 Beyond the city, Florence is the perfect base for day trips. Explore the medieval towers of San Gimignano, the vineyards of Chianti, or the marble quarries of Carrara. Lucca and Pisa are just a short drive away for those drawn to design and history.