Holiday lettings in Florence

With a number of grocery stores and food markets, renting an apartment is really the best way (culturally and budget wise) to experience the city as a Florentine does. The historic centre of the city is the best place to stay. It is quite small, easily walkable from one end to the other in under 30 minutes, and home to the city’s top attractions. To ensure that you are in the very centre of the city, book an apartment between Piazza San Marco to the north, Piazza Santa Croce to the east, Ponte Vecchio and the Arno to the south and Piazza Santa Maria Novella to the west. Those looking for a more traditional and residential feel will find themselves at home in Oltrarno. Here, there is more local culture and less crowds. Ponte Vecchio can be easily reached in less than 15 minutes.

Florence’s main focal point is the Duomo, which rises above the heart of the city, providing the perfect place to explore the Baptistery, Campanile and Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. To the east is the church of Santa Croce, which features frescoes by Giotto. South of the Duomo is the Piazza della Signoria, the city’s political center with Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s town hall, the Uffizi, one of Italy’s top art galleries, and Ponte Vecchio. Santa Maria Novella is the city’s other great church, featuring chapels adorned with frescoes. Florence is a shopper’s paradise. It is renowned for its high quality shops, featuring shoes, bags and other leather goods. The centre of Florence is filled with all sorts of shops as well as street carts selling everything from souvenirs to leather jackets. For jewelry enthusiasts, Ponte Vecchio is the place to go.

Cafe culture is alive and well in Florence, especially around the main piazzas and Duomo. However, if you want to escape the crowds and higher costs, look for cafes along the city’s narrow corridors, just off from the popular squares. Boccadama in Piazza Santa Croce is an excellent choice for good, affordable Tuscan cuisine. Head to Pizzeria Toto for some of the best pizza slices in Florence. Right next to the pizzeria, there is a grocery store and an Irish pub if you find yourself in need of a beer fix. When it comes to desserts, especially cannoli, there is no better place than Caffe Paszkowski in Piazza della Repubblica. Florence also has several food markets. The main food market is Mercato Centrale; however, produce can also be found at the Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, and on Tuesdays, at the Parco delle Cascine.

Florence is best seen on foot or by bicycle. However, taxis can be found around the city and can be useful when traveling with luggage to and from the city’s main train station, Santa Maria Novella. The train station is located in the centre of the city, approximately a 10-minute walk from the Duomo, and is the main national and international train station in Florence. The city also features a good bus service. Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport is located approximately four kilometres from the city centre. The SITA/ATAF "Vola in Bus" bus shuttle operates between the airport and Santa Maria Novella train station. This journey takes about 20 minutes. It is recommended to avoid using your car to explore Florence. Parking places are rare and it's full of one-way streets. Also, come central areas are off limits to non-resident cars.