Florence’s present glory is its long past. Once home to cultural giants like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Machiavelli, and Galileo, today, it is home to renaissance-era architecture and 370,000 people. The architecture of the city appears to be in constant flux, with ancient Roman architecture, Medieval Renaissance architecture, and elements of modernist architecture from the 1950s. The city is a visual treat for art lovers and a must-visit if you’re in Italy.
In Florence, you can dress casually and put on your comfortable cotton outfits. You can explore the city in a midi skirt or cotton trousers, paired with cotton tops or shirts. Spring dresses and Bohemian style tops are also ideal.
Yes, summer is ideal because of rain-free days and numerous outdoor activities in the city. However, summers can get crowded. Late summer or late spring is a good idea to escape the heat and the crowd.
On hot days, temperatures may increase up to 35℃. The average temperature is 22℃ to 25℃ (72℉ to 77℉) during the summer months.
The average temperatures of Florence in summer is 22℃ to 25℃ (72℉ to 77℉)
Yes, daylight hours during summer can range from 13 to 15 hours.
Florence is encircled by hills on 3 sides, thus Florence is not windy.
No, Florence experiences typical Mediterranean dry summers and wet winters.
Light cotton or rayon clothes are ideal for Florence to beat the heat.
Summer witnesses a flood of tourists. Thus summers are expensive due to an increase in demand.
Florence is a small city. The transport inside can be managed on foot. The city also has numerous budget hotel options.
The history of Florence dates back to the 12th century. The therefore has a lot of renaissance architecture and paintings attributed to all the bigwigs in the art world. Visiting numerous museums, art galleries and Florence Duomo is worthwhile.
Florence has very low crime rates. You’d feel safe in the city at any time of day or night.
Apart from Renaissance architecture like Florence Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio and others, you can also visit the numerous open air hotels and bars to enjoy the local delicacies.
The Piazzale Michelangelo- a square on a hilltop, south of the Arno offers panoramic views of the Florentine skyline for free. You can also take a stroll down the banks of the Arno river and visit the local markets to have a glimpse of the local lifestyle.
The temperature in summer can increase to 35℃ (95℉) on hot days. Its location, encircled by hills, makes it humid and unpleasant. The low wind speeds add to the heat. However, during late summers or late spring, the temperature is pleasant for outdoor activities.
The months of June to August are summer breaks in much of the northern hemisphere. This attracts a lot of crowds in and around Florence. Exploring the prime attractions and appreciating the art of Florence gets hard due to the crowd.
The increase in demand increases the costs. With the high flow of tourists, everything from hotels to airplane tickets get expensive. To beat the price, it's recommended that you try to book everything in advance.
Date: June 24 every year
Following fireworks and parade from the Piazza Santa Maria Novella to Piazza Santa Croce, witness the Calcio Storico- a football match. The game played between the 4 neighborhoods of Florence symbolizes a similar match played by a soldier trapped in the city in 1560.
Dates: August 10th
Savor the rich taste of free lasagna and indulge yourself in live music at Piazza san Lorenzo. The event is held on 10th of August every year at 7pm. Food is served here at 9pm.
Dates: September 7th
Feel like a local by getting yourself a paper lantern. Light up the candle within and walk around the city with others. The tradition dates back to the renaissance period when pilgrims holding lanterns would gather in front of the Santissima Annunziata. The festival is held on the eve of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary every year.
Dates: 6th to 10th of September; 14th to 18th of September
The festival involves the leading Jazz artists from around the world. It is played in villas, renaissance era buildings, cloisters, clubs and halls. Both Jazz enthusiasts and newcomers can come and enjoy the festivities.
Dates: June 22nd to July 24th
The festival is attended by world renowned artists. It first began with a mission to promote the art of dancing, and contribute to the revival of public venues that host these events.
This is an international festival of contemporary circus held in the month of September. This 10 day festival was aimed at bringing Florence to the forefront of circus art. It hosts dance performances, live music and theater.
The typical Mediterranean summer in Florence offers rainfree days, ideal to move around the city. However, from mid July to mid August, the heat can become unbearable. It is therefore advisable to visit Florence in early summer or late summer. Nevertheless, summers are the best bet because, during winter, rains often pose a hindrance to exploration, open air dining and other attractions.
Open air bars at the Lake of Swans, the deck chairs and live music in the banks of the Arno river, and the numerous street food corners, are best experienced in summers. The summers in the city are different from the rest of the seasons. The local Florentines are on vacation and the vibe of the city shifts away from the regular routine.
The dry Mediterranean summer is ideal for exploring the city’s renaissance era architecture and appreciating the numerous outdoor eateries, art galleries, gardens, museums and monuments. Apart from this, cultural shows in the historical Estate Fiesolana happen only in summer. The long sunshine hours and rainfree weather gives you a good time to thoroughly explore the rich, long history of Florence.
Summer is the prime tourist season in Florence. The large number of people means a lot of interactions. If you’re traveling solo and looking for some much needed interaction, head to the local bar, cafe or even a museum to find a good match. The person across the room is just as likely looking for human interaction.
The Florence Duomo (Dome) or the Florence Cathedral which defines the skyline of the city is worth a visit. The 13th century monument is an embodiment of Gothic and renaissance sensibilities. Back in its time, with a capacity for 30,000 worshippers, it was the largest church in the world. The exterior and the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi is intricate and unmissable.
Established by the Medici family, the Boboli is an Italian styled garden, which later on inspired many European courts. The entire garden is dotted with renaissance era statues, caverns and large fountains like the fountain of Neptune. The Garden is a mix of ancient, renaissance style and 18th century architecture. The 11 acre garden is situated close to other attractions like Palazzo Pitti, Piazza de Pitti and Piazza del Duomo.
Built by Florentine industrialist Lucca Pitti, the palace was home to the Medici family, the house of Habsburg- Lorraine and the Kings of Italy from the House of Savoy. Today it has been developed into 4 museums- The treasury of the Grand Dukes on the ground floor, the Palatine gallery and the imperial and royal apartments on the first floor, the gallery of modern art and museum of costume and fashion on the second floor. The building itself maintains an old worldly charm and retains the atmosphere of a royal palace.
The Museo del Bargello or the Bargello Museum is located in an historic fortress- Palazzo del Bargello. While the building itself is noteworthy, the museum was the first museum in unified Italy. The building was built in the 13th-14th centuries, with medieval sculptures like the 14th century sculpture by Nicola Pisano in the courtyard. The hall also houses important works by Michelangelo, Giambologna, Cellini, Ammannati and Sansovino.
Famous for its renaissance era art and sculptures, the gallery is home to works of great Italian artists like Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Pontormo, Andrea del Sarto, Allessandro Allori and Orcagna. Most of these paintings were commissioned by the Medici family. The gallery was founded by Grand Duke Leopold in 1748. It is a must visit, while in Italy to appreciate the art history of the place.
The gallery is housed in a large building designed in the 16th century by Giorgio Vasari. It is known for its 14th century sculptures and paintings. It houses works by Giotto, Simone, Martini, Piero della Francesca, Beato Angelico, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio. The building was formerly a home of the Medici family. The art curated by the family over the years, eventually gave birth to the gallery.
Apart from the famous Florence Duomo, one other thing that defines the Florentine skyline is the tower at Palazzo Vecchio. Built in the 14th century, it was a government building of the Florentine republic. It is today a museum and the city’s town hall. On the terrace, the building has many sculptures- Donatello’s “Judith and Holofernes” and Michelangelo’s “David”.
The Leaning tower at Pisa is only an hour and half away by train or car- a perfect opportunity for a one day trip. With a reputation of being one of the 7 wonders of the world, the tower was initially designed as a bell tower in the 13th century. It is today known for its four degree lean, despite its height. The construction of this tower went on for several centuries, with each engineer trying to find a solution to the “leaning problem”.
The Chianti region of Italy is known for its wine. The wine is synonymous with Tuscany cuisine, served alongside sliced prosciutto or pasta al Pomodoro. Made from Sangiovese grapes is a type of red wine authentic to this region of Italy. Only an hour away, Chianti is a quick ride from Florence.
Guess what! Florence is a small city and you can go around most parts of the city on foot. You can also try out Vespas, trams, and buses.
Taxi: If you have too much luggage, book a cab. The minimum fee for the cab is €5 on weekdays, €8.30 at night, and €7 on Sundays and holidays.
Florence offers you a range of hotels to choose from.
The long history of Tuscany and Florence shapes the rich tastes of the region and Italy as a whole.
