Tuscan last minute

Last Minute and Special offers in Florence

Florence is the chief town of Tuscany, it is surrounded by the green hills of Settignano, Fiesole, Careggi, Arcetri and Bellosguardo. Florence has got an enormous amount of sculptures, paintings and architectural works of art of great importance. Unesco statistic say the Italy houses the 60% of the entire world art heritage, and the 30% of it is in Florence.

In the past Florence was an important meeting point for all the most important Italian artists, such as Masaccio, Brunelleschi, Dante Alighieri, Boccaccio, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Today Florence is a very attractive tourist destination that accomodates, every year, millions of tourists who want to visit this wonderful, unique city.

Thanks to Last Minute Tuscany you will find special offers and last minute, hotels, agritourism estates, bed and breakfast, restaurants, tour guides, wine tasting.

Florence: warm welcome and hospitality in Florence’s hotels

The cathedral, “Duomo" is typical of Italian Gothic architecture, was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and finished in around 1367. It was completely covered with coloured marbles. Inside there are several important works of art, of primary importance the two frescoes by Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno. Filippo Brunelleschi started in 1420 with the construction of the cupola; the Cupola's interior has been decorated by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari with a huge fresco representing the Last Judgement.
The "Cupolone" or huge dome remains, with the cathedral bell-tower, known as the "campanile di Giotto" is the most striking feature of any view of the city. Giotto, although at his death in 1337 only the lowest part was complete. Work was continued under Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti who completed the structure.
In the center of Florence Palazzo Vecchio is the most important civil building in the city. The entire palace is now a museum, especially the so-called "Monumental Quarters". It is worth seeing the "Salone dei Cinquecento, the study of Francesco I de' Medici, the room of the Elements and the Hall of the Lilies. The Loggia dei Lanzi overlooks the big square Piazza della Signoria in front of the palace; there are several important statues, including "Perseus"by Cellini and "the Rape of the Sabine Women" by Giambologna.
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most important museums in Italy and in the world. Today the Uffizi contains masterpieces by Italian and foreign artists, such as Cimabue, Giotto, Masaccio, Beato Angelico, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Piero della Francesca, Raphael, Caravaggio, along with Rubens, Rembrandt, Dürer, Goya and many others.
The Ponte Vecchio, the "Old Bridge" is the oldest bridge in the city, famous for its many jewelery shops.
The Boboli gardens designed by Tribolo called by the Medici The park was enriched with many Mannerist inventions by Buontalenti , like the Grotta Grande, fountains and statues by Ammannati, Giambologna and Tacca and completed by Giulio and Alfonso Parigi. The last additions, like the Coffeehouse, the Lawn of the Columns and the Lemonary, were installed by the Lorriane family. The design of the Boboli Gardens was used has been an example for all the royal gardens in Europe, including Versailles. Pietro Leopoldo decided to open the garden to the public in 1776.

Markets

MERCATO CENTRALE: Stalls inside the San Lorenzo central market, in Via dell'Ariento you'll find the best food market of the city. Walk in and discover. It opens every morning from 7.00 to 14.00, except for Sunday and public holidays. In winter, it is open only on Saturdays and days before holidays.
In San Lorenzo market, all around the Basilica of San Lorenzo, you will find the most important market of the city. Just walk around searching for clothing, articles in leather, souvenirs, etc. It is Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
The famous Flea Market of Florence is located in Piazza dei Ciompi and it's opens every day from 9 to 19.30. On it you can find furniture and objects from the past, prints, coins and jewellery.
In the beautiful Parco delle Cascine, each Tuesday morning opens from 7 to 14, you’ll find the biggest and cheapest market in town! Fruits, vegetables, clothing, general groceries, antiquities, shoes and whatever you can need come here! And after shopping don't forget to take a walk on this beautiful park.
Florence: agriturism estates, bed and breakfast near Florence
Florence is located in the center of Tuscany, for this reason is a good starting point for visiting other Tuscan cities such as Prato, Pisa, Lucca, Montecatini Terme or the Tuscan hinterland: hotel, bed and breakfast, agritourism estates, restaurants where taste the typical Tuscan’s cuisine.
Visit the wonderful villages of San Gimignano, Montefioralle, or Carmignano e Artimino, finding Etruscan finds.

Events

Easter Sunday - "The Explosion of the Cart"
This is the first major folk festival of the year that dates back to the days of the first crusade.
On Easter Sunday a cartload of fireworks is pulled by a string of white oxen from Porta Prato to the Cathedral.The whole cart is set ablaze by a mechanical dove descending by wire from the top of the high altar.
Typical Florentine dishes and typical products: restaurants and trattorias in Florence for tasting the best of Tuscan cuisine
Florentine cuisine is linked to a tradition of simple dishes prepared with genuine, tasty but plain ingredients such as cereals, bread, vegetable, game, beans, and extra-virgin oil are the basis of many Tuscan dishes, tasted with Chianti, one of the most famous wines in Tuscany.
When we speak about Florence cuisine, one of the first things we think is "fiorentina" a cut of meat from the Chianina cow.
Crostini and bruschette, finocchiona and soprassata, then carabaccia, ribollita and crespelle, continuing with ossobuco, trippa, the soups are some of the delicious dishes you could try in one of the several Florentine’s restaurants.
The wine list includes all Tuscan wines from Chianti.

So you have what you need for your Holidays in Florence .

Reach Florence

By car: from the North of Italy take the motorway A1 Milano-Bologna-Firenze-Roma.
If you arrive from Venice you can take the A13 as far as Bologna and then get the A1.
If you arrive from Genoa the A12 will lead you to Pisa and then you will reach Firenze onto the A11.
By train: links with fast trains from Milan and Bologna. Santa Maria Novella, the train station of Florence, is in the center of Florence, just few steps from the center.
By plane: the airport A.Vespucci, a few km far from Firenze.

Province of Firenze