Red Travel - Italia in Ferrari

Florence

Birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is a jewel in Italy's crown with architectural treasures literally around every corner. An exciting and exuberant city, Florence plays host to some of the world's most beautiful museums and galleries housing works of art by da Vinci, Michelangelo, Giotto and Botticelli. This city of Lorenzo the Magnificent, Dante and Brunelleschi is full of magic.

Among the many places to visit, be sure not to miss the Piazza del Duomo, whose tiny space is bounded by the Duomo (Cathedral) itself topped by Brunelleschi's mighty cupola and flanked by Giotto's lofty campanile and the nearby Baptistery, where the "scoppio del Carro" (explosion of the cart) ceremony, a reminder of the city's mediaeval history, is held on Easter Sunday.

Another must is a stroll over the Ponte Vecchio, the city's oldest bridge (1145), which is flanked by arcades and small shops reserved for goldsmiths since the end of the 16th century, followed by a walk through the delightful Boboli Gardens laid out à l'italienne with broad alleys, panoramic views, lakelets, grottoes, statues and fountains.

And for a superb view of the whole of Florence and its marvels, you should set out on the pleasant promenade along the tree-lined avenue that runs up to the parvis before the Romanesque San Miniato church.

Moreover, you can get theatre ticket to attend an Italian opera, or you can easily reach world-renowned places in Tuscany, such as the Chianti area, for a wine tour, as well as beautiful towns such as Siena, with its Piazza del Campo, and Pisa, with its Leaning Tower and Baptistery.