In the heart of a circus of hills interspersed with cypress trees, the Tuscan capital, a city of art par excellence, continues to exert a fascination without equal in the collective imagination. Aesthetically, Florence is an absolute and undisputed reference, inscribed on UNESCO's list of heritage sites. A cultural and gourmet getaway that will delight all hedonists. And to make the most of the Tuscan city, what could be better than to let yourself be guided by locals? Cooking lessons, hiking or shopping trips, Airbnb Experience offers many ideas for taking ownership of the city. Buon viaggio a tutti!
The cradle of Western culture
It must be recognized that Florence is famous throughout the world for a reason. All the greatest of each language and art - or almost - have measured here what binds them to each other. Fine arts, literature, political thought, spirituality... Western culture would be very different from what it is today if Tuscany and Umbria had not seen the birth of Dante, Giotto, Saint Francis, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Puccini or Modigliani... These great men have all deeply influenced the places where they lived and revolutionized their fields of action. It is easy and so fascinating to follow in their footsteps in these regions where time sometimes seems to have literally stopped...
Florence is therefore a true masterpiece capital. City of the Medicis and capital of Tuscany, Florence is full of art and architectural treasures. According to UNESCO, nearly 60% of the world's most important works of art are in Italy, half of them in Florence. Without doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the whole peninsula, Florence never stops making its many visitors dream. It's hard to resist him! Because the harmony of the buildings, the fusion of ages and styles, the history of each worn pavement, the soothing shadows and the play of light on multi-centenary walls make Florence a city apart
Nature and gastronomy
And as soon as you get away from Florence, the charm of Tuscany and Umbria does not fade away, quite the contrary: nature would dazzle even the most urban of us. From the bare hills of the Siena region to the pearls of the Tuscan archipelago, from the tranquility of Lake Trasimeno to the snow-covered peaks of the Umbrian Appenine (Mount Vettore still rises to 2,476 m!), the traveller is spoilt for choice to recharge his batteries far from the traffic jams.
And when it comes time to sit down to dinner, we think that the locals are lucky. It must be said that they have been spoiled, as the sea and the mountains offer good surprises in terms of gastronomy. Destinations for every self-respecting epicurean, Tuscany and Umbria are renowned for their refined cuisine, prepared with tasty local products. Fresh fruit and vegetables, high quality olive oil, refined cured meats and tender meats are the precious ingredients of any good recipe. The land and sea menus will be at your disposal in the evening, after a trekking in the Garfagnana, a mountain bike ride on Mount Subasio or a long sunbathing in Orbetello or Elba..
A timeless atmosphere
A city whose atmosphere seems timeless. The horn of a Vespa, the passage of a Florentine business-girl mounted on Ferragamo heels, a look hidden behind D&B glassesG, or that of a beautiful "boy from Italy" with timeless charm will soon plunge you into a contemporary and plural reverie, that of a dolce vita mystified by Italian cinema and its icons (the beautiful Umbrian Monica Bellucci, Beatrice of modern times in the lead), that of the playful melodies hummed by pizzaioli and workers (very different tunes from Madame Butterfly's tragic complaint !), that of idleness and sunshine, a glass of Chianti in your hand - or a negroni... To hell with the clichés, as long as you enjoy the present moment.
So take your pilgrim's staff and, whatever your quest - the thirst for spirituality, discovery or Chianti - take the Via Francigena, one of the many mountain or woodland trails, or one of the wine routes (the Chianti route is not the only one!) and get ready to return from this transformed initiatory experience. The magnificent landscapes you will pass through, the Romanesque churches whose doors you will cross, the direct contact with history and culture, the enormous vitality of the inhabitants of Tuscany and Umbria, are all elements that will make your trip unforgettable. And if you are not enthusiastic about traditional pilgrimage routes, you are free to discover these two regions on two wheels (the very popular bicycle or the famous Vespa?), by car, boat or... from the terrace of a bar. Another alternative, finally, is to wait patiently for the illumination on a deckchair rocked by the sound of the waves or the chirping of small birds on the poolside of an agritourism... An introduction to the simple pleasures of life could very well start there, after all!
Smart info
Useful. To immerse yourself in the local atmosphere and discover Florence with locals, there is nothing like organizing your activities with Airbnb Experience.
AIRBNB EXPERIENCE - More information on the site
