Move over Rome! According to travelers, this is the most incredible city in Italy

If you think of Italy, Rome is probably the first destination to come to me.

As the capital of the country and a cultural powerhouse, it is the home of some of the most iconic attractions of Europe, such as the mighty Colosseum, the graceful Fontana di TreviAnd the Vatican, just to name a few. With so much to see, It is no surprise that many tourists make their first stop in Italy.

Despite all his unmistakable charm, it is not always Rome that leaves a lasting impression.

According to more than 657,000 votes cast Travel + Leisureannual The world’s best pricesIt’s just as beautiful FlorenceIn the Tuscany soaked by the sun, that was both crowned Italy And Europe’s best city:

Florence is the best city in Italy

The historic capital of Tuscany, Florence (or as Italians call it, Sealant) is in fact one of the strongest offers in Italy on the culture front, despite the fact that it is much smaller than Rome, and demonstrably more picturesque.

Make no mistake, Florence is a considerable city with more than 700,000 inhabitants, and it can be quite busy. Despite the crowds, Life here moves in a slower, much more relaxed paceAnd for many it even has a hint of that charm of a small city.

That is partly the reason why it scored an impressive 90.08 out of 100 in the research of Travel + Leisure, most from every European city mentioned, but the idyllic attraction of Tuscany is not the only reason why visitors come from widespread.

Have you ever seen how beautiful the Fiorentina Skyline is?

Explore the medieval old city of Florence

This classic postcard from Florence that you see above comes from Piazzale Michelangelo, a public square on the top of a prominent hill overlooking the historic city. In addition, you can see several of the most striking sights of the city.

There is Ponte Vecchio, A medieval covered bridge This has been serving for centuries as Marktplaats, the rapidly flowing Arno-River itself, cuts through the heart of the city, and of course the unmistakable red dome.

That big dome, locally known as the Cupola del Brunelleschitowers above a pastel -colored cityscape, and it belongs to the Catedrale di Santa Maria del FioreThe imposing cathedral of the city. At one point this dome was considered The largest in the world.

It was built at a time when Florence turned to be an obscure medieval congregation, to a flourishing center for science and art during the Renaissance, and in case you did not know it, the much -referred cultural awakening was produced here.

Back to the cathedral itself, it is even more impressive from close and from the inside, with frescoes painted on the dome and a spooky, but Nice Gothic interior.

A maze -like historic center

Beautiful as the cathedral is, it is not the only miracle made by man from Florence. Still on Cathedral Square, you will find a Zole bell tower.

With the same polychormatic, pattern marbles, they form the most easily too recognized architectural ensemble of the city, and the historic cafés and museums that ring the old square, only contribute to the overall charm.

A short walking distance of 4 minutes, Palazzo Vecchio Is again one of the medieval treasures of Florence, and a fort -like town hall that is built all the way back in 1299.

Walking distances here are quite short, but given the historic center of Florence is like a maze of winding alleys, it can take a little longer to get where you go. Not that you are sorry, because there is always a picturesque Piazzetta To photograph.

Now, Florence is a city of a lot of BasilAnd you could easily spend weeks here and still not see them all, but if you are only in the city for a few days, you should definitely not skip:

• Basilica of Santa Croce” The cemetery of three by Michelangelo, Galileo, And Machiavelli
• Basilica di San LorenzoThe oldest overwhelming church in Florence, inaugurated in the year 393
• Badia Fiorentinaan abbey and ecclesiastical home base of the monastic communities of Jerusalem

Did you know that Dante Aleghieri grew up here?

If you want to know a little Fiorentino secret, Dante Aleghieri grew only a few steps away from Badia FiorentinaOn a stone house across the street, now open as a museum that describes the life of one of the most celebrated writers of Florence.

Looking for more hidden gems that tourists often skip when visiting the best city in Europe? Check out Torre della PagliaszzaNow pressed between a few modern apartment buildings, but probably one of the oldest structures in Florence, dating from the Byzantine period.

There is another one about 500 feet from the cathedral Fiorentino Secret place to be discovered: Orsanmichele is a 14th-century building that has been very use through history. It was a church, a grain shed and more recently a guild room.

Finally, if you are just as much an oenophile if you are a culture fanatic, look for the world famous Van Florence Buchetta del Vino: A small ‘wine window’ with a view of a paved alleyWhere you can get a glass of the good stuff that is poured by mysterious hands.

The exact address is Via Dell’Isola delle Stinche, 7RA few minutes walk from Basilica di Santa Croce.

Museums of World Class in abundance

Of course there is no Florence without its world -class museums, and trust us when we say that you would need a lifetime to the capital of the Renaissance to take on all old world allure.

The Uffizi Gallery However, is a good place to start with its wide selection of Renaissance paintings and sculptures, from Botticelli’s The birth of Venus to Da Vinci’s AnnouncementAnd many other masterpieces signed by Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Raphael.

Perhaps the most admired carving in Florence, the monumental David By Michelangelo is housed in another gallery, Galleria dell’AccademiaAnd it is even more impressive in the meat than on the pages of your history book.

For a look at the myths of Florence-grown aristocratic life in the Middle Ages, then go to Palazzo Pitti (and the adjacent bobo gardens), and wander opposite rooms and lush laid out Giardini who were once reserved for the legendary doctors family.

Although not as popular as the other, Museo Galileo is just as fascinating to visit. You know, it’s not every day you see some of Galileo Galilei’s really Original telescopes and countless scientific instruments from the Renaissance period.

Florence has an unparalleled food scene

We could write an entire article about the unparalleled food scene of Florence, but we will do our best to keep it short.

If you like to try the traditional Bistecca Alla FiorentinaMake sure you add Trattoria Sostanza to your list. A relaxed restaurant owned in the heart of historic Florence, it serves tasteful T-bone steaks and earthly Tuscan wines.

Instead, crave a good old pasta? Trattoria AnitaLocated near Piazza Santa Croce, is your best gamble at Tuscan home -made pasta dishes. Don’t forget to try their local Pappardelle Al CinghialleA ribbon-shaped pasta in wild boar ragù sauce.

For those classic, no-frills pizza place that is not only cheap, but also of good quality, Pizzeria O’vesuvioupwards Via the ‘BenciAnd La Divina Pizzadown Via Dei NeriBoth have great toppings, oven-baked dough and most pizzas cost less than $ 14.

In short, Florence has the old world charm, the beautiful dome, narrow, winding streets in abundance to be explored, fascinating museums and the great food to finish it.

Talk about the typical Italian city break.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior leader at Travel Off Path, has more than 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving stories from Paris!), And a talent for converting the images-path experiences into informative stories with which you can pack your bags.