I’d forgotten how beautiful the city of Florence is – a city nestling in the valley of the River Arno, with Brunelleschi’s dome towering above the medieval city. The city is surrounded by lush, green hillsides, across the river is Settignano where Michelangelo was born, next door is Fiesole where Boccaccio’s characters in The Decameron escaped the plague.

Florence is often referred to as the cradle of the Renaissance – it may be more accurate to describe the city as the hearth of European civilisation. A city that inspired writers, artists, thinkers and politicians. When Dante was exiled from Florence in 1302, he wandered from place to place, finally leaving this mortal coil in Ravenna in 1321, The Divine Comedy was the result. The first and finest epic poem in the Italian language.

It was here in the 15th century that Sandro Botticelli was painting masterpieces including Primavera and The Birth of Venice.

It was in Florence that the Medici family dominated the city for more than 300 years. Giovanni Medici established the Medici Bank in 1397, it was quite literally a licence to print money, although to start with the legal tender was the ‘florin’ a metal coin. The Medici were bankers to the pope in Rome and the family provided four popes to Rome over the centuries, consolidating their position as the most influential dynasty in the Italian peninsula.

Florence is a medieval city, a city of palaces, fortress-like buildings and beautiful architecture. The River Arno dissects the city from west to east. Inside the palaces and buildings there’s art, incredible art, everywhere there is art. Michelangelo’s David has pride of place in the Accademia – this Carrara marble statue has become the symbol of the city, a sculpture of such perfection and elegance that it sums up the genius of the artist and the elegance and refinement of Florence.

A dear friend and client of mine recently requested a week in Florence as a special birthday celebration, with just a few weeks notice, I created a week to remember in Florence. The photos below show just some aspects of this memorable week in Florence.

If you’d like to read a little bit more about Florence, I’ve written other articles – details below:

• Italy – enchanted gardens story-telling and survival… about Boccaccio and the plague in Florence.
• Dante – Italy’s greatest poet
• Florence – 15th century ‘Procession of the Magi’

_{A Room with a View (above) and Benozzo Gozzoli’s frescoes in the Medici Chapel (right)}

A useful time line:

• 1265-1321 – Dante Aligheri born in Florence, exiled in 1302, died Ravenna 1321
• 1313-1375 – Boccaccio was born in Florence and wrote The Decameron
• 1397 – The Medici establish their bank in Florence
• 1400-1700 – Medici Family dominate Florentine public life, politically and artistically
• 1445-1510 – Sandro Botticelli artist – lives in Florence and paints Primavera

• 1459 – Benozzo Gozzoli creates ‘Magi Procession’ fresco in honour of the Medici family in Medici Chapel.
• 1475-1564 – Michelangelo lived in the small village of Settignano as a child, over-looking the city of Florence.

A NOTE ON THE AUTHOR – Janet Simmonds is an Art Historian and a Geographer. A graduate of the University of Oxford, she has a special interest in Italy and the history of tourism – especially The Grand Tour. She works as a guest lecturer in Italy for university groups and private individuals. She also works in Oxford, London and throughout Italy.

Blog: www.educated-traveller.com

Janet offers specialist travel services in Italy and Greece especially relating to art, history and culture. Her company is appropriately named Grand Tourist. www.grand-tourist.com We have a favourite hotel in Florence with whom we’ve worked for the last twenty years. Contact us for unique experiences based at this fabulous property.

June 2026