Florence

Florence is a compact city of extraordinary density. Every major Renaissance masterpiece — Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Brunelleschi's Dome — is within a 20-minute walk of the city's finest hotels. This concentration of art, architecture, and gastronomy in a walkable medieval centre makes Florence one of the most rewarding cities in the world for a hotel that places you at the centre of it all.

Four Seasons Firenze is the city's defining hotel: an 11-acre 15th-century garden estate in the heart of the city, with a private garden that is the largest in Florence. Portrait Firenze, a Lungarno Collection property, sits directly on the Arno overlooking the Ponte Vecchio — the most romantic view in the city. The St. Regis Florence and The Westin Excelsior face each other across the Piazza Ognissanti, both occupying grand 19th-century palazzi.

The Oltrarno — the neighbourhood south of the Arno — is Florence's most characterful quarter: artisan workshops, neighbourhood trattorias, and the Pitti Palace. The Lungarno Hotel and AdAstra are the best boutique addresses on this side of the river.

Florence's food scene is among Italy's most underrated. The city's trattorias — Buca Mario, Sostanza, Trattoria Mario — have been serving the same dishes for generations; the bistecca alla Fiorentina is the defining dish of Tuscan cuisine. The Chianti wine country is 30 minutes south by car.

April–May and September–October are Florence's best months: warm, sunny, and manageable crowds. June–August is very hot and extremely crowded. November–February is quiet and cool — the best time for museum visits without queues and for hotel value.