Hotel Botticelli

Things to see and do

• Uffizi Gallery: A must see attraction for any art lover. The world-famous Ufizzi Gallery is home to outstanding collections of paintings and sculptures from the middle ages to modern times.
• Accademia Gallery: Home to Michelangelo’s sculpture of David. Give yourself time to explore the other halls in the gallery too, they will be much less busy and hold some of the finest examples of painting, sculpture and even ancient musical instruments in Italy.
• Piazza della Signoria: Florence's main square is dominated by the towering Palazzo Vecchio, close to the Ufizzi, Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo - it’s the gateway to many of the city’s most famous attractions. There’s plenty to see in the square itself as its filled with sculptures and fountains, including a replica of the famed Michelangelo’s David.
• Museo di Palazzo Vecchio: Florence’s town hall is a symbol of its powerful past. Built in the style of a castle with a tower reaching 94 metres, the building stands tall in Piazza della Signoria. Take a look inside to discover Giorgio Vasari’s "Salone dei Cinquecento".
• Ponte Vecchio: Possibly the most famous bridge in the world and one of the few in Italy that survived WWII. The bridge makes up part of the Vasari Corridor, a passageway that connects Palazzo Vecchio with Palazzo Pitti and crosses the River Arno. The enclosed bridge is lined with artisan shops selling glittering jewels.
• Palazzo Pitti: Palazzo Pitti stands at the base of Boboli Hill. It was built in the mid 1400’s by the Florentine Banker, Paulo Pitti to challenge the Medici family and is thought to have been designed by the great renaissance architect Brunelleschi.
• Boboli Gardens: The green expanse was established by the Medici family in a layout that is now known as the Italian style, a model used in many European court gardens. Today it’s a lovely tranquil space in the city, it’s not just a garden but an outdoor museum where you’ll see beautiful examples of Renaissance sculpture.
• Oltrarno Craft Shops: The labyrinth of streets that surround Palazzo Pitti are home to lots of tiny artisan shops and workshops like shoemakers, bookbinders and ceramicists. It's great for those who want to explore off the beaten track.
• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: You can't miss Florence's iconic cathedral with its magnificent Renaissance dome. You can even climb the 463 steps to the top of the cupola where you can admire the frescos up close.

Food & drink

You can expect some fantastic food and wine in Tuscany's capital. We love bistecca fiorentina - a large t-bone cut steak seasoned with local herbs. The food in the city is hearty and locally produced. Stews, pastas and wild boar feature on most menus. After dinner, you need to try the gelato. Florence has some of the best in Italy.

For the most authentic dishes, we love mercato centrale. It's a large two-floor market with stalls selling fresh produce on the ground floor and pop up restaurants on the top floor - it's our favourite place for lunch.