Florence Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia

Only a few hour's drive northwest of Italy's capital Rome, at the foot of the Apennine Mountains, stands idyllic Florence.

This flourishing Mediterranean city full of historic buildings is one of the highlights of a trip to Europe.

Welcome to the city of Dante, Machiavelli and Michelangelo and the place where Leonardo da Vinci learned how to paint.

Welcome to " Firenze" !

Florence's written history dates back to 59 B. C. , when Julius Caesar set up camp on the banks of the Arno river.

Explore the compact Centro Storica, which was built on early Roman foundations and shop for leather sandals and handbags.

For good luck, put a coin on the snout of " Il Porcellino" .

Even though it is just a replica, it might just work!

More than 1,400 years after the first Roman settlement, the church and wealthy merchant families ruled Florence.

The Medici family were responsible for the greatest buildings and most elaborate art.