Florence

Arguably Italy’s most beautiful city, Florence is the cradle of the Renaissance, home to more than half of Italy’s most important artworks and several of its most breathtaking buildings. It’s almost impossible not to gravitate towards Il Duomo, beckoned by Brunelleschi’s extraordinary dome, which dominates the skyline in a way unmatched in any other Italian city. Other architectural wonders include the Basilica of Santa Croce, the final resting place of Michaelangelo, Machiavelli and other famous Florentines; and the shop-lined Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge across the Arno, whose jewelers sell everything from museum-quality heirlooms to more affordable mementos.

Art lovers should book ahead for tours of the Uffizi Galleries, home to the largest collection of Renaissance paintings anywhere in the world, and for entry to the Accademia, built to house Michelangelo’s iconic statue, David. For a break from art and architecture, we recommend retreating to the sprawling Boboli Gardens, or to the nearby town of Fiesole, whose hilltop position offers wonderful views of Florence as a whole.